Finding the Right Wedding Venue Should Not Take Weeks
Choosing a wedding venue is one of the first big decisions couples make, and it can quickly become overwhelming.
There are beautiful venues everywhere, but they are spread across Google, Instagram, wedding portals, recommendations and old saved posts.
That is why we started saving wedding locations ourselves.
Over the years, we created our own collection of venues we have photographed at, places we have visited, locations we would love to work at and places we simply discovered and thought were worth remembering.
Today, that list has grown to around 70 venues in our own database and more than 200 pinned locations on Google Maps.
The goal of this article is simple:
To help you create a shortlist faster and save you hours of searching for wedding venues.
Our Google Maps List of 200+ Wedding Venues
If you are currently looking for a wedding venue, the easiest place to start is our Google Maps list.
It includes more than 200 wedding locations across Slovenia and nearby countries.
You can open the map, browse by location and quickly see which venues could fit your wedding.
This is especially useful if you are still deciding between regions or if you are open to a wedding in Slovenia, Croatia, Italy or Austria.
We keep adding new places when we discover something interesting, so the list continues to grow.
What Makes a Wedding Venue Really Good?
A beautiful venue is not automatically a good wedding venue.
From a photographer's perspective, the best locations are usually the ones that make the whole wedding day easy.
One of the biggest advantages is when everything can happen in the same place.
Preparations, ceremony, congratulations, couple portraits, dinner and party can all happen without guests constantly getting into cars and moving between locations.
That gives you more time to actually enjoy the wedding.
It also makes the timeline much easier.
Having Everything in One Location Makes a Huge Difference
This is probably one of the first things we would look for when choosing a wedding venue.
If everything happens in one place, you remove a lot of unnecessary logistics.
You do not have to think about:
- Traffic
- Parking
- Guests getting lost
- Delays between locations
- Moving decorations
- Transport for older guests
- Photographers losing time driving
- The couple constantly checking the clock
Even a 20-minute drive can easily become much longer once 80 or 100 guests need to move at the same time.
A venue where the whole wedding can happen in one location simply makes the day feel more relaxed.
Look for Different Spaces Within the Venue
We really like venues that offer several different areas for different parts of the wedding.
For example:
One space for preparations
A separate ceremony location
A garden or terrace for congratulations
A different area for dinner
An indoor or covered space for bad weather
Somewhere separate for the party
This gives the wedding much more variety.
It also makes the day feel like it is progressing naturally rather than everything happening in the exact same room.
From a photography perspective, different spaces also give the final gallery much more visual variety.
A Great Wedding Venue Should Have Good Photo Options Without Leaving
One of the best things a venue can offer is enough variety for photographs directly on the property.
Ideally, we want to have access to several different backgrounds and types of light without taking the couple away for a long time.
That might include:
- Nature
- Architecture
- Gardens
- Open landscapes
- Shade
- Indoor spaces
- Sunset locations
- Interesting textures
- Clean backgrounds
- Covered areas in case of rain
When all of this exists around the venue, the couple portrait session becomes much easier and faster.
We can create very different photographs without driving somewhere else.
And that means the couple gets back to their guests sooner.
Sunset Can Completely Change a Venue
Some wedding venues become especially beautiful later in the day.
A location that looks fairly simple at noon can look completely different during sunset.
This is why we always think about light when looking at a venue.
Where does the sun set?
Is there an open view?
Are there trees or buildings blocking the light?
Is there somewhere close to the reception where we can take the couple for ten or fifteen minutes?
You do not need a huge landscape for beautiful sunset photographs.
You just need the right light and a place where you can use it.
Shade Is Extremely Important for Summer Weddings
This is something couples often forget when visiting venues in spring or autumn.
If your wedding is in July or August, think about where your ceremony will actually happen in the middle of summer.
A beautiful open lawn can become very uncomfortable if everyone is sitting in direct sun.
Shade is important for:
- The couple
- Guests
- Older family members
- Children
- Photography
- Overall comfort
If the venue offers natural shade or allows the ceremony to be positioned in a better direction, that can make a huge difference.
Always Ask About the Rain Plan
This is one of the most important questions to ask before booking a venue.
Do not only ask:
"What happens if it rains?"
Ask to actually see the backup location.
There is a big difference between a venue technically having an indoor option and having an indoor option where you would genuinely be happy to hold your ceremony.
You should know:
- Where the ceremony moves
- How many guests fit comfortably
- Whether the space has natural light
- Whether dinner needs to be rearranged
- Whether guests are covered during cocktails
- Where family photographs can happen
- Where couple portraits can happen
Rain does not have to ruin a wedding.
But the venue needs to give you good alternatives.
Noise Restrictions Can Become a Big Problem
One thing couples sometimes discover too late is that the venue has strict noise restrictions.
Some venues need to lower the music after 10 PM.
Others have neighbours nearby who complain about noise.
This is something you should know before you sign anything.
If having a proper party is important to you, ask:
- Until what time can music play outside?
- When do doors and windows need to close?
- Is there a sound limit?
- Can the party continue indoors?
- Until what time can a DJ or band play?
- Have there been problems with neighbours before?
A beautiful wedding venue can become a frustrating choice if the party needs to end just when everyone starts dancing.
Ideally, the Venue Should Be Private
We generally prefer venues that are closed to outside guests during the wedding.
If you are paying to have your wedding somewhere, it is nice to feel like the place is actually yours for the day.
At public hotels, restaurants or tourist locations, there may be random guests walking through the space.
That is not always a problem, but it changes the atmosphere.
A private venue gives you more freedom and usually creates a much more intimate feeling.
This is especially important during:
- The ceremony
- Couple portraits
- Dinner
- Speeches
- The party
Accommodation Nearby Is a Big Advantage
A wedding venue does not necessarily need to have 50 rooms itself.
But there should ideally be enough accommodation nearby.
This becomes especially important when guests are travelling from different parts of Slovenia or from abroad.
Having accommodation close to the venue means:
- Guests can drink without worrying about driving
- Nobody needs a long transfer at 2 AM
- The wedding feels more relaxed
- Destination wedding guests can stay together
- The next morning can become part of the experience
If the venue itself has accommodation, even better.
But if not, check what is available within a short drive.
Multiple Locations Can make the Day Much More Complicated
Some couples fall in love with one location for preparations, another for the ceremony and a third for the reception.
It can work.
But it adds a lot of logistics.
Every additional location means:
- More driving
- More parking
- More chances for delays
- More time away from guests
- More complicated photography coverage
- More coordination for everyone involved
We usually prefer weddings where as much as possible happens in one location.
It keeps the energy of the day together.
A Venue Should Work for the Whole Day, Not Just the Ceremony
Sometimes couples choose a venue because they fall in love with one specific spot.
Maybe it has an amazing ceremony view.
That is great, but try to imagine the whole wedding there.
- Where will guests be before the ceremony?
- Where will congratulations happen?
- Where will they go if it rains?
- Where will dinner happen?
- Where will the party happen?
- Where will people go if they want a quiet conversation?
The best venues have a natural flow between different parts of the day.
What We Look for as Wedding Photographers
From our perspective, an ideal venue usually has a combination of these things:
- Everything can happen in one location
- Helpful and flexible owners
- Enough accommodation nearby
- Several different areas around the property
- Good light
- Shade
- Interesting architecture
- Nature
- A good sunset spot
- Indoor options
- A proper rain backup
- Privacy
- No major noise restrictions
- Enough variety for couple portraits
- Easy movement between different parts of the day
A venue does not need to have all of these.
But the more it has, the easier the wedding usually becomes.
Why We Created Our Wedding Venue Map
We started saving locations because we were constantly discovering new places.
Some are venues where we have already photographed weddings.
Some are places we have visited ourselves.
Others are venues we found through the years and would genuinely like to photograph at.
Eventually, the list became too useful to keep only for ourselves.
Couples spend a huge amount of time searching for wedding venues.
They open dozens of tabs.
They save Instagram posts.
They ask friends.
They search Google Maps.
They forget which venues they already looked at.
We wanted to make that process easier.
How to Use Our Google Maps List
The map is not meant to tell you which venue you must choose.
It is there to help you discover options and create your own shortlist.
We recommend opening the map and saving the places that immediately catch your attention.
Then narrow them down based on:
- Location
- Number of guests
- Budget
- Accommodation
- Style
- Rain plan
- Privacy
- Party restrictions
- Travel time
- Available dates
You do not need to contact 30 venues.
The goal is to quickly find five or ten that genuinely fit your wedding.
Create a Shortlist Before Contacting Venues
This will save you a lot of time.
First, decide what matters most.
For example:
- Do you want everything in one location?
- Do you need accommodation?
- Is a late party important?
- Do you want a mountain, vineyard, coastal or castle setting?
- Do you want an outdoor ceremony?
- How many guests will you have?
- Are most guests coming from Slovenia or abroad?
Once you know those things, the huge number of venues becomes much easier to manage.
You can immediately eliminate locations that do not fit.
Visit Your Favourite Venues in Person
Photos are useful, but they do not tell you everything.
If possible, visit your final choices before booking.
Pay attention to things that are not obvious online.
Walk through the wedding day in your head.
Look at:
- Where guests arrive
- Where preparations could happen
- Ceremony space
- Shade
- Rain backup
- Dinner area
- Party space
- Toilets
- Parking
- Accommodation
- Noise restrictions
- Areas for photographs
Also pay attention to how the owners communicate with you.
That relationship matters.
Do Not Choose a Venue Only Because It Looks Good on Instagram
Instagram can make almost any venue look amazing.
Beautiful photographs usually show the best corner, in the best light, on the best day.
Your wedding needs more than one beautiful corner.
The venue needs to work when:
- It is 35°C
- It rains
- Dinner runs late
- Guests need somewhere to sit
- Children need space
- The party starts
- Someone needs a taxi
- 100 people need to move at once
The practical side of the venue matters just as much as the visual side.
The Best Venue Is the One That Lets You Enjoy the Wedding
This is probably the biggest thing we have learned from photographing weddings.
The best venues make the day feel easy.
The couple is not constantly travelling.
Guests know where they need to go.
The venue team helps when something changes.
There are good alternatives if the weather turns bad.
And the couple can spend most of the day with the people they invited.
That is much more valuable than choosing a venue only because one photograph looked impressive online.
Our Google Maps Wedding Venue List
If you are currently searching for a wedding venue, start with our map.
We have collected more than 200 wedding locations across Slovenia and nearby countries over the years.
Some we know personally.
Some we have photographed at.
Some are places we would still love to visit.
And some are simply venues we found and thought were worth saving.
Instead of spending hours searching from scratch, you can use the map to quickly discover locations and build your shortlist.
We will keep updating the list whenever we discover a place worth adding.
Final Thoughts
Finding a wedding venue does not need to become a full-time job.
There are hundreds of beautiful places around Slovenia and the surrounding region, but the right venue is not only about how it looks.
Think about how the wedding will actually feel there.
Can everything happen in one place?
Are the owners helpful?
Is there enough accommodation nearby?
Is there a good rain plan?
Can you party without worrying about noise restrictions?
Is the venue private?
Are there several different spaces for different parts of the day?
And can you create beautiful photographs without spending hours driving somewhere else?
Those are the questions that usually matter most.
Use our Google Maps list to discover venues, create a shortlist and save yourself hours of searching.
Then visit your favourites and choose the place where you can actually imagine enjoying the whole wedding day - not just taking one beautiful photograph.
