Choosing your wedding venue is often the first step in planning your special day. There are typically two options you can choose from an estate or hotel wedding. Now, which one is right for you?! This blog will help you decipher the difference between the two and the pros and cons of each. Let’s start with what each venue type is:

An estate wedding venue is a type of wedding venue that is typically located on a large property and offers a blank canvas for you to create the exact vision you have for your big day. These venues offer a unique and picturesque setting for weddings, with beautiful gardens and breathtaking views that make the extra work of putting it together so worth it! Estate wedding venues often provide a range of spaces to choose from, including indoor and outdoor options. They sometimes offer on-site lodging, catering, rentals and other services. They are popular for couples who want a private and intimate setting for their wedding, with a focus on uniquely creating the wedding of your dreams. Choosing an estate as your wedding venue can provide a more personalized experience for you and your guests. It’s not a typical wedding venue, and it can make your special day stand out.

Hotel weddings are held within a hotel or resort. Hotels offer convenient, a all-in-one location as well as packages and on-site accommodation that can make hosting your wedding and planning easy. These can range from small quaint hotels to large and luxurious resorts. They offer a variety of spaces to choose from, often including ballrooms, or outdoor spaces.. They are popular for couples who want convenience. Hotels seem to provide a more stress-free wedding planning experience, with everything needed in one location. Hotel wedding venues can often feel more affordable than other types of wedding venues as they offer packages that include everything you need. They offer a reliable and professional experience with a focus on comfort and convenience.However, they often lack the uniqueness and privacy that most couples seek for celebrating their big day.

Yes, With an estate wedding, there is a great deal more planning and logistics that go into the process. However, most couples find it SO worth it to create their very own unique wedding experience. Luckily there are planners, day-of coordinators, and often venue coordinators/ managers that can help get you off on the right foot to ensure nothing is missed and the day goes off without a hitch. Most estates actually require a planner or coordinator for this very reason. As this is likely the first time you have planned an event like this we highly recommend hiring someone who is familiar with the property you choose to help with the process and eliminate stress. Estate venues may also be located in remote or hard-to-reach locations, which can make logistics challenging. But don’t let this deter you, it is easily attainable with the right vendors. These venues often require you to provide transportation, parking, and to consider other factors when planning your wedding.

Getting married at a hotel often means you don’t have to plan every little detail. Hotels typically offer a more all-inclusive experience with in-house vendor recommendations & amenities such as catering, bar, decor, tables, and chairs, etc… Don’t worry, you still get a say in the planning process, you just don’t have to worry about every little detail. This option definitely takes a little of the pressure off so you can focus on other areas of your special day. Rather than having a blank canvas to work with you have a little bit of help to get started with. Logistics are often a bit more simple with Hotel weddings as all the amenities are already on-site.

Estate weddings can often be more expensive but they don’t have to be! While the initial, base, venue cost can seem lower in the beginning than a hotel once you start adding rentals and vendors needed to make the day come together they start to add up. Estate weddings are typically a blank canvas where you can create whatever vibe that meets your wedding vision. It is for you and your budget to decide what type of wedding experience you would like to create. Some estates will include basic rentals but you’ll need to budget accordingly and be prepared to pay for additions to make your dream wedding come to life. In Hawaii adding a tent and the necessary rentals to accommodate your catering team are often the biggest supplementary cost. Estate weddings typically also give you more freedom for the vendors you can choose to work with which can help in cutting costs.

For hotels, this can be both a pro and a con. Depending on your hotel of choice the initial cost can feel a bit overwhelming. Up front, a hotel wedding may seem pricey however this is because they typically offer all-inclusive packages for you to choose from. These packages bundle all your vendor needs into one cost. For example, the ceremony, cocktail hour and reception space, catering and bar needs, cake and desserts, staffing, and sometimes even an in-house coordinator. They may also include, room discounts and blocks for your guests and sometimes decor and entertainment. You can often even get discounts by booking through a hotel and using their recommended vendors. The bundled packages are a plus as they include many of the vendors you would have to additionally book but it can also feel like a lot when you see the entire cost upfront. Furthermore, some hotels may require you to book their vendors, pay extra fees, etc which you may have more freedom with at a different vendor. There is also often less wiggle room for vendor negotiations and personalization of your packages.

While some Estates offer on-site accommodation there are plenty that does not. This means coordinating lodging and transportation for guests on top of all the other bits and pieces that go into planning a wedding day. While some may see this as a con it can also be a pro as it leaves a little more freedom! There is something special and exciting about arriving at the wedding venue once it is all setup and ready to go rather than being on the property for the entire process. Guests can also be more open to choosing where they stay and what fits their budget.

This goes for the planning process as well as on the wedding day! Everything you need is on one property. Having everything right there is incredibly convenient on a busy wedding day. From where you are staying, to where you are getting ready, to the ceremony, cocktail hour and reception location it is all in one place. It is also convenient as an accommodation recommendation for any guests you have coming from out of town.

Many estates are located in picturesque locations, such as beautiful gardens that offer gorgeous views that are specific to the location! This provides a stunning backdrop for your wedding photos and creates a romantic atmosphere and experience for the guests and couples alike. With Estate weddings, you will likely have more spacious outdoor areas for both reception and ceremony. Some also offer indoor or covered options as a backup for the weather. Outdoor estate venues are subject to weather conditions, which can be unpredictable. You’ll need to have a backup plan in case of rain or other inclement weather. Tents are a great option for this! Depending on the size of the estate there will often be a capacity cap which is sometimes lower than hotels depending on the property.

Hotels are so spacious and are made for hosting large numbers of people. This means there are more than likely multiple spaces on the property for you to hold each portion of your event. You can move from place to place for ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception, or do it all in one space. Additionally, if you choose an outdoor space there will likely be a convenient backup plan on the property in case of rain, which is something you always want to consider in Hawaii.

Estate venues often offer a range of spaces to choose from, including indoor and outdoor options. This allows you to customize your wedding to your preferences and accommodate different weather conditions. This also goes for vendor choices, while estates may provide a list of recommended vendors most are open to working with any vendors you choose. This is one of our favorite parts of working at Estate’s is that we see a wider range of vendors!

Hotel weddings often mean less flexibility. You get what you get, and having to use hotel-approved vendors or decor can limit some personality and creativity for your big day. Unfortunately, there will be changes you can’t make to most hotel’s in-house decor or set-up regulations. Hotels often have a list of vendors they allow to work on their property which can limit your flexibility in choosing ones that fit your budget and wedding needs.

Like with any venue, estates come with rules and restrictions but they are often a little looser than at a hotel wedding. There is often more time for set up and breakdown which is incredibly helpful for your vendors. Noise restrictions aren’t often as big of an issue as you are in a private location. There can however be some restrictions on decorations, or other aspects of your wedding (ie. use of open flame) to keep the property in top condition for future events!

For Hotels there will likely be more rules and restrictions put in as it is also servicing other guests. At a hotel wedding, you must follow all rules and regulations (ie. quiet time, setup and breakdown access times, photo locations, noise etc.). There will be time limits on certain spaces, where you can go, strict last-call and lights-out rules and some hotels will even require you to book a certain number of rooms on top of your package.

Privacy is probably one of the top reasons couples opt for an Estate wedding. An estate wedding venue offers a private and intimate setting for your special day. You are typically renting an entire property just for you! You won’t have to worry about strangers wandering around or interrupting your ceremony or reception.

Let’s just say it, unless you bought out the entire hotel for your wedding there will be hotel guests around your venue during your big day. There may even be multiple weddings or other events going on at the same time. This takes away some privacy during your event. If you value privacy and want your event to feel a bit more intimate this may not be the best option for you.

In conclusion, choosing an estate or hotel wedding is completely up to you and what your wedding vision is. There are so many factors to consider such as your budget, preferences, and logistical needs. Review these factors to help decide if an estate or hotel wedding venue is the right choice for you. Both venues can provide a beautiful and memorable experience. However, it is important to weigh the pros and cons before making a decision. Every couple is unique, and so is their wedding! We hope this list can be helpful for choosing which is the best fit. Will it be an estate or hotel wedding for your special day!?

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