Why a Wedding Weekend with Exclusive Use Just Makes Sense

Let’s be real, weddings are a big deal. You spend months (sometimes years!) planning this one incredible day… and then bam, it’s over in what feels like a blink. That’s why more and more couples are stepping away from the one-day wedding rush and choosing a whole weekend to soak it all in. Honestly? We’re here for it. My own wedding was a three-day celebration, and I wouldn’t change a thing.

And when you pair a weekend wedding with exclusive use accommodation? That’s where the magic really happens.

Here’s why it works — and why so many couples (and their guests) are loving it.

1. You Actually Get to Spend Time With People

A single-day wedding is beautiful, sure, but it’s a blur. You spot your cousin across the room, someone hands you a champagne, and next thing you know, you’re being bundled into a car with confetti still in your hair.

With a weekend wedding, everything slows down. You get Friday night welcome drinks, Saturday’s big day, and a relaxed Sunday brunch to finish. Lawn games, slow mornings, laughs around the firepit,  it’s like a mini holiday with your favourite people. And that’s honestly what makes the memories.

2. Weekend Weddings are Way Less Stressful (Trust Us)

We’ve seen the chaos of couples trying to bump in and out on the same day. It’s not fun. But with venues like The Hideout, you get the whole place to yourself, often from Thursday or Friday through to Sunday or Monday. That means plenty of time to set up, rehearse, unwind, celebrate and pack down, without a stopwatch ticking in the background.

You’re not just booking a wedding date, you’re giving yourselves space to enjoy the whole experience.

3.  The Day-After Feels Are Real

Waking up with a foggy head and a full heart, surrounded by your mates, is pretty special. You don’t have to rush off or say your goodbyes in the carpark. Instead, you can enjoy a proper coffee, swap stories from the dancefloor, or even head down to the river for a swim (seriously, best hangover cure ever).

These quiet, unscripted moments often end up being the ones you treasure the most.

4. More Opportunities to Personalise the Whole Experience

When you’ve got the whole venue to yourself, there’s freedom to shape the weekend your way. Want a pizza night under the stars? Morning yoga with local instructors? A bushwalk, bonfire or DIY cocktail bar? Go for it.

With the extra time and space, you can add personal touches that reflect you as a couple, not just what fits into a 10-hour hire window.

5. Exclusive Use Means It’s All Yours

The best part of exclusive use? No strangers wandering in and out. No awkward shared spaces. No working around other events.

At The Hideout, you’ve got the homestead, cabins, gardens, bar area, firepit, and the river all to yourselves. You can unpack, settle in and feel like it’s your own little world for the weekend. And when your family and friends arrive, they feel part of it too, not just like guests at a venue, but part of something more.

6. A Weekend Wedding is Often Better Value Than You Think

A wedding weekend with exclusive use can seem like a bigger investment at first, but when you look at what’s included, accommodation, venue, flexibility, facilities, and time, it starts to add up in the best way.

At The Hideout, you can sleep up to 23 in beds, with plenty of extra space for camping. There’s room for your caterers, musicians, and florists to set up with ease. Plus, it’s BYO,  so you have full control over what you spend on food, drinks, and styling.

7. Weekend Weddings Just Work for Regional Weddings

If your guests are already travelling, and let’s face it, a lot probably are, a weekend wedding just makes sense. People are more than happy to make a trip of it, especially when they can stay onsite or close by. The area around Howqua and Mansfield is packed with things to explore, so it’s a win-win for your guests too.

I’ve helped plan sit-down dinners for 200 to low-key gatherings with fairy lights and bare feet. And every time, it’s the full weekend celebrations with exclusive use that bring out the magic. There’s just something about slowing it all down, being surrounded by your people, and having space to soak it in.

If you’re dreaming of a wedding that’s less rushed, more real, and completely you, a weekend at The Hideout might be exactly what you’re looking for.

Keen to see it for yourself? Get in touch — we’d love to show you around.

Kellie and Saskia