10 Reasons Why Hotel Weddings Are Actually The Best

Looking for wedding venues with accommodation near you? Here are 10 reasons why urban boutique hotels and luxury resorts take the cake for the best city wedding venues.

After all the craziness of the last year, couples are more and more interested in anything they can do to make wedding planning as easy and seamless as possible. It’s no surprise that as a result, city wedding venues with accommodation are rising in popularity.

Consider your hotel wedding venue a one-stop-shop for everything from plush accommodations and top-notch service to inclusive wedding packages and flawless facilities. Below are the top 10 reasons to host your wedding at a hotel wedding venue.

*Created in partnership with our friends at Marriott Bonvoy

#1 Location, Location, Location!

From Pier One Sydney Harbour, Autograph Collection’s sweeping views of Sydney Harbour and its famous bridge to W Brisbane’s riverfront location that shows off the city skyline, Marriott Bonvoy hotels are always in the most desirable locations.

Not only will your guests have an easy time accessing your wedding location, but you’re also likely to have beautiful views from your wedding ceremony and reception. The inner-city locations also lend well to giving you various options for your wedding photos session nearby.

Pier One Sydney Harbour Hotel Venue Highlights:

* Location on Sydney Harbour with event pier access

* Marquee under Sydney Harbour Bridge

* Waterfront reception space with floor-to-ceiling windows

What Pier One Wedding Couples Are Saying:

“The venue was phenomenal! We had spectacular views of the bridge and Lunar Park, as the venue was directly under the harbour bridge. Our guests were blown away.” – Hine T

#2 Inclusive Wedding Packages

All Marriott Bonvoy hotels offer wedding packages for their unique spaces that can be tailored to suit each couple’s vision. Usually, the package includes food and beverage, basic event furniture, a dancefloor, and a dedicated event coordinator. Depending on the hotel, a ceremony hire fee may be optional or included in the package.

At Sydney Harbour Marriott, for example, most couples marry on the rooftop terrace or heritage spaces and follow with a reception in one of the five-star dining spaces inside or outside in the park-side garden. What couples love about wedding packages at hotel wedding venues is that they make planning really easy as you have one dedicated event manager who’s responsible for all aspects of the day.

Many hotel wedding venues also have established relationships with top-tier wedding suppliers who know the space inside-out. You’ll likely have the option to get recommendations from your event manager or have them handle the suppliers directly so that all you have to do is show up on the day!

Sydney Harbour Marriott Hotel Venue Highlights:

* Rooftop terrace overlooking Macquarie Place Park

* Award-winning bars, restaurants, and reception spaces

* Opera House and Bridge view rooms for pre- and post-wedding stays

What Sydney Harbour Marriott Wedding Couples Are Saying:

“We got engaged at the Marriott County Hall in London, and to have our reception at Sydney Harbour Marriott was the culmination of a fairytale. Perfect wedding, perfect location, perfect service. Thank you to all involved!” – Charlie C

#3 Thoughtfully Curated Menus

Hotels in the Marriott Bonvoy group are well-known for their superior dining and service standards. This seamlessly extends to weddings, with a customer-first approach that extends well to accommodating special dietary requests and varying cultural requirements.

At W Brisbane, the well-known paddock-to-plate culinary kings behind Three Blue Ducks run a CBD restaurant overlooking the Brisbane River. Think wood-fired cauliflower and roasted whole fish.

W Brisbane Wedding Venue Highlights:

* Sweeping views of Brisbane River and city skyline

* Luxury spa for massages, facials, body treatments

* Restaurant by Three Blue Ducks on-site

What W Brisbane Wedding Couples Are Saying:

“Great accommodation and fantastic service!” – Jo P

#4 One Location for Everything

Running around to ten different locations during your wedding weekend is stressssssful! Any wedding planner will tell you to avoid this as much as possible, which is why it’s awesome to have a wedding venue where everything you need is on-site. This is where Marriott Bonvoy hotels reign supreme. Spas, restaurants, gorgeous suites, modern event spaces — it’s all in one place!

At The Westin Perth, there’s luxury accommodation so you can get ready for your wedding in a large Presidential Suite. You might kick off the wedding weekend with a cocktail party in the Haven Lounge then host your big extravaganza in the grand ballroom the following day.

The Westin Perth Wedding Venue Highlights:

* Grand ballroom with city skyline views

* Bespoke wedding packages designed for you

* Bodhi Day Spa for massages, facials, body treatments

What Westin Perth Wedding Couples Are Saying:

“Most amazing time of our lives… felt like royalty the whole time. It was like we were the only people in the world and the staff were totally professional and beyond lovely. Thank you” – Jenni G

#5 Reliable, Experienced Service

There’s nothing worse than having to worry about service on your wedding day, and all the hotels in the Marriott Bonvoy collection work hard to ensure your day runs seamlessly. Many of the group’s hotel brands have received accolades around the world for their uncompromising standards of service.

At Aloft Perth, couples consistently rave about how helpful and hands-on the wedding team is. This rooftop venue includes a gorgeous terrace overlooking the Swan River and a modern reception space with floor-to-ceiling windows and panoramic views of Perth and the surrounding hills.

Aloft Perth Wedding Venue Highlights:

* Modern rooftop ballroom overlooking Swan River

* Open-air rooftop terrace with river and Perth hills backdrop

* Impeccable service and wedding coordination

What Aloft Perth Wedding Couples Are Saying:

“Amazing Venue with AMAZING VIEWS! Great customer service — bent over backwards for us” – Ro O

#6 Hotel Weddings Feel Like Destination Weddings

Even if you’re hosting your wedding in your own city, getting married at a hotel wedding venue has all the feels of a destination wedding. You’ll be in staycation mode, and you can have all your closest friends stay on-site throughout the weekend to keep the festive vibe going.

Newly opened, the W Melbourne is a fabulous example of a wedding venue with accommodation that makes you feel like you’re on vacay the moment you check-in for your wedding weekend. The event spaces here feel like private museums and the suites have a real rock-n-roll feel.

W Melbourne Wedding Venue Highlights:

* Pillarless reception venue bathed in natural light

* Stylish function spaces with views of Melbourne skyline and Flinders Lane

* Modern-luxe hotel suites with luxury amenities

#7 Hotels are Experienced Hosts

The hotels in the Marriott Bonvoy collection have been hosting events and weddings since the moment they opened. They’re seasoned hosts, which means not only do they respond swiftly to the varying needs of different guests, but they often anticipate those needs before they arise.

Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park is a glittering example of a Marriott Bonvoy hotel that gets everything right, from the moment you arrive to check into your plush wedding hotel suite to your last guest’s departure. Here, you can expect a fully customised wedding experience with all the bells and whistles.

Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park Wedding Venue Highlights:

* Towering windows overlooking Hyde Park & Middle Harbour

* Glamorous, modern event spaces

* Experienced events and dining team

What Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park Wedding Couples Are Saying:

“The Sheraton on the Park couldn’t have done a better job with creating our dream wedding. They listened and valued our opinions and made sure we had nothing to worry about on the night. The room was set up beautifully and the food was spectacular.” – Paige G

#8 Transportation Nightmares No More!

Having your wedding at a hotel venue is a sure way to avoid having to deal with costly and annoying transportation bookings for your guests. Instead, they can stay the night on-site and eliminate all the hassles of rideshares and shuttle busses.

The Westin Brisbane offers discounted accommodation rates for wedding guests, so it’ll be easy to convince your Bride Tribe to stick around for a night or two.

The Westin Brisbane Wedding Venue Highlights:

* Private pool deck that’s perfect for cocktail hour

* Outdoor ceremony option on the pier

* Timeless ballroom in central location near City Botanic Gardens

#9 Earn Points on Awesome Accommodation

Retiring to cosy, stylish accommodation after your wedding festivities is easily one of the highlights of the night. With Marriott Bonvoy hotel bookings, you earn points for every room booked. You’ll also earn points for hosting a wedding at any Marriott Bonvoy hotel — points that can be used toward, say, your honeymoon.

A newcomer to the Richmond scene, Element Melbourne offers stunning, stylish suites with city skyline views. This hotel is so accommodating that even your pets are welcome as overnight guests.

Element Hotel Richmond Wedding Venue Highlights:

* Private outdoor terrace overlooking Melbourne skyline

* Stylish suites and modern event spaces

* Accommodation options include private balcony with a hot tub

#10 Flexible Event Spaces

Wedding venues with accommodation often include event spaces that are easily adaptable to different types and sizes of events.

In the case of The Ritz-Carlton, Perth, the beautiful Elizabeth Quay Ballroom features floor-to-ceiling windows and walls that can be moved to create the ideal size space for your wedding — either a small, private room or a larger, single space. The wedding experience here is entirely flexible and tailored specifically to each individual couple’s vision.

The Ritz-Carlton, Perth Wedding Venue Highlights:

* Personalised service, tailored to you

* Expect a bespoke fine dining experience

* Luxurious accommodation

What The Ritz-Carlton, Perth Wedding Couples Are Saying:

“We held our wedding at The Ritz-Carlton, Perth in early 2020 in The Elizabeth Quay Ballroom. Our experience was unforgettable. The property’s facilities and rooms are magnificent, the staff all provided exceptional service to us and our guests, and our dedicated Wedding Specialist provided us ongoing support and managed all the fine details of the event. Truly a first-class process and outcomes.” – Jason P

Convinced that a city wedding venue with accommodation is right up your alley? View more Australian city hotel wedding venues below.