RealWeddings has helped Australian couples plan their weddings since 2002.
Credit: Bluementhal Photography
This page explains exactly how a venue or supplier earns a place in our guide, and what that place does and doesn't mean.
Open wedding directories list every business willing to sign up. We don't. In each region we feature three venues in each style, such as three waterfront venues in Melbourne, and three suppliers in each category that doesn't have styles, such as photo booths.
That limit is what lets us stand behind every listing. When a venue appears as one of Melbourne's waterfront venues, there are only two others we'd say the same about.
Before a venue or supplier is offered a place, our editors look at three things:
Fit. The business has to genuinely belong in its style or category. A venue listed as waterfront makes the water part of the day, not a glimpse from the car park.
Track record. We look at the weddings they've delivered, their public reviews and their reputation among other wedding professionals. We want consistency, not one good season.
Complete, accurate information. Every listing is built from information the business gives us directly, through an editorial interview, and is checked by our team before it goes live. If we can't confirm the details couples need, the listing doesn't go up.
Some places in the guide are held as free editorial selections. Others are paid positions. We're upfront about that because it matters to how you read the guide.
What a fee doesn't buy is the place itself. Every business has to meet the same standard before a position is offered, paid or not. Nobody can buy their way onto RealWeddings, and every listing is presented the same way.
Enquiry forms that sit between you and the business. Contact details on every listing go directly to the venue or supplier. We don't collect your details to pass on.
Popular-vote or directory awards. The only recognition we show is our own editorial selection and independently verifiable industry awards.
Copied reviews. Where we show a Google rating, it links straight to the business's Google profile so you can read the reviews yourself.
Every listing is fully re-assessed at least once a year, and each regional guide is updated every few months and shows when it was last updated. If a venue or supplier no longer meets the standard, it loses its place.
The real weddings on RealWeddings are submitted by the couples and businesses involved. We always get the photographer's permission before publishing their work.
No. Many excellent venues aren't in the guide simply because the three positions in their style and region are already filled. Being included tells you a venue has met our standard. Not being included isn't a judgement.
Three is enough to give you a real choice, and few enough that we can stand behind every one. Any more and the guide becomes a directory.
Only after it has met our selection standard. Payment never comes first, and it can't replace the standard.
Businesses can introduce themselves through our List Your Business page. We'll assess them against the same criteria when a position in their style and region opens up
RealWeddings is a commercial wedding directory. Suppliers in our guides are partners: most pay a fee to be featured, and some are included at no cost while we build a new region.
Each guide has a limited number of positions, and we only offer them to businesses that meet our standards. We review your established trading history, verified business details, the quality of past work, and client feedback. We never sell or edit reviews.
Where a real wedding feature or article is a paid partner feature, we label it as one.
