Getting Married At A Golf Course: Pros and Cons

Congratulations! You’ve finally decided to tie the knot!

While this can be a very exciting time in your life and that of your bride/groom-to-be, weddings also require a tremendous about of planning and organization.

One of the biggest questions you’ll ask yourself is, where will we get married?

There are plenty of options – a destination wedding by the ocean, a traditional ceremony in a church, or, maybe you’re thinking about exchanging your vows on the beautiful grounds of a golf course.

If that’s the case, this article will be for you. Here, we’ll explore some of the pros and cons of getting married at a golf course. Let’s get started!

Table of Contents

• Pros of Getting Married At A Golf Course 
• Cons of Getting Married At A Golf Course
• Other Considerations For Golf Course Weddings
• The Takeaway – Should You Get Married At A Golf Course?

Pros of Getting Married At A Golf Course

Let’s start with the good stuff. There are a number of benefits to having a golf course wedding. Let’s take a look!

1. Beautiful Setting

Most golf courses have beautiful backdrops and positively stunning vistas. Some are by the ocean or in the mountains. Others are located on rolling hills or in majestic valleys.

These gorgeous views are absolutely perfect for hosting an event like a wedding. And, when the ceremony is finished, golf courses provide a prime location for wedding photos!

Most golf courses have a designated area for wedding ceremonies. They will pick the most scenic spot with room to accommodate plenty of guests.

2. Quality Service

Golf courses have experience running dozens of events throughout the year. This repetition has allowed their staff to develop efficient systems to help set up and take down your wedding. Here’s a look at just a few of the services offered by golf course wedding destinations:

• Set up
• Takedown
• Planning assistance
• Catering
• Bar service
• Master of ceremonies
• Accommodations.

Of course, these services vary depending on the location, however, if you choose a golf course with a history of hosting weddings, it’s a fair bet they’ll offer every service you can think of!

The nice thing about this is that it allows you to have as much (or as little) help as you need. If you’re someone who gets stressed out easily, you can outsource the entire planning process to the golf course staff.

If you’re the hands-on type, that’s okay too – just tell the staff what you need them to do and you can take care of the rest!

3. Free Golf Passes For The Wedding Party

Most golf course wedding packages include a few free golf passes for the members of your wedding party.

Making sure your friends and family get in a free round of golf before or after your wedding is a great way to show your appreciation for the help and support they’ve given you during this important time of your life.

4. On-Site Caterer and Bar Service

The combination of beautiful scenery and a first-class facility seems to attract all sorts of events throughout the year.

In fact, golf courses host dozens of events every year- weddings, golf tournaments, charity dinners, awards ceremonies, and plenty more.

With this much experience hosting classy events, you can be sure that they’re going to be prepared. That’s why most golf courses will even offer fully licensed caterers and bartenders to see to the dining and drinks needs of your guests.

5. Can Accommodate Ceremony and Reception

Have you ever been to a wedding where the ceremony and reception are held at two different places?

If so, you’ll know that this can sometimes be a major inconvenience. The bride, groom, and guests just want to keep the good vibes rolling, yet a commute to a new venue for the reception can sometimes be a buzz kill.

Having your wedding ceremony and reception at the same venue is the best way to let the positive mood and energy from the ceremony carry over to the reception.

Golf courses have enough space for both the ceremony (usually outdoors) and the reception (indoors or outdoors) so you can keep the celebration going all day and into the night!

6. Perfect Location For Pre/Post Wedding Photos

Finally, you’re going to want to get some pictures of your big day.

If that’s the case, there’s no better place for pre/post wedding photos than a golf course. Magnificent backdrops in a natural setting will help create all the memorable photos you need to commemorate this special day.

Any golf course that regularly hosts weddings will know the best spots to take the perfect pictures of the bride, groom, and wedding party.

The best part? No commute to a picturesque location – you’re already there!

Cons of Getting Married At A Golf Course

It’s not all sunshine and rainbows. Here is a look at the two biggest downsides of having a golf course wedding.

1. Can Be Expensive

A wedding at a golf course requires a professional staff and a first-class venue. These things generally don’t come cheap.

This means you might pay more for a golf course wedding compared to other venues. Some of the amenities and services you’ll need to pay for include:

• Catering service
• Bar services
• Wedding planning services
• Bride’s dressing area
• Ceremony arch
• Dance floor
• Podium and/or stage
• Tables and chairs
• Linens, silverware, glassware
• Outdoor lighting
• Venue set up and clean up
• Day-of coordinator
• Champagne toast
• Bridal suite
• Parking

Of course, the price you’ll pay will depend on how many of the above services you require the golf course to perform or provide. If you plan on taking care of most of the setup yourself (table ornaments, decorations, etc…) you might be able to save a few dollars.

However, the important thing to keep in mind when considering the cost of a golf course wedding is that you’re paying for convenience.

Getting married is a big deal – you shouldn’t need to worry about whether the caterer will be on time or if the bartender you hired is good at his/her job.

Your only focus should be enjoying the day with your significant other.

2. Unpredictable Weather

Due to the beautiful scenery and perfectly manicured grass found on most golf courses, the majority of golf course weddings will take place outdoors.

Unfortunately, mother nature doesn’t always cooperate.

Rain, high winds, or even snow could put a damper on your wedding day. Luckily, most golf course wedding venues realize this and have a plan of action in place for such events.

They can transfer your ceremony or reception inside to avoid undesirable weather conditions.

Other Considerations For Golf Course Weddings

Here are a few more things to think about when considering a golf course wedding.

How Much Does It Cost To Get Married At a Golf Course?

On average, golf course weddings range from $5,000 to $25,000 with some prices climbing as high as $50,000. The price you pay will vary depending on the services you select, your guest count, and the overall quality of the venue.

To give you an idea, to get married at San Juan Hills Golf Club in Southern California, you would need to pay just over $15,000. This price includes the ceremony and reception for 100 guests. Amenities for this price would include:

• Ceremony
• Reception
• Day-of coordinator
• Valet/shuttle service
• Security
• Ceremony chairs
• Arch
• Cocktail tables
• Heat lamps
• Hors d’oeuvres served
• Tables
• Linens, napkins
• Glassware, plates, silverware
• Wedding cake
• Additional dessert(s)
• Coffee/Tea station
• Votive candles
• Dance floor
• Stage
• Special lighting

Of course, if your budget is below $15,000, you can cut out the services/features that you find least necessary.

Do Golf Courses Offer Full-Service Weddings?

Yes, most golf courses will offer much more than just the venue. They’ll also provide a full staff for your wedding and essential wedding services like catering and bar service. In most cases, they’ll even work with you to plan things like seating arrangement and other smaller details.

Do Golf Course Wedding Venues Have A Place For Guests To Stay?

It depends on the golf course. If having on-site accommodations is important to you, I would recommend searching for golf resorts that also accommodate weddings. Because these are resorts, you know that they have plenty of room for your guests!

What Is The Best Time Of Year For A Golf Course Wedding?

When people think about a golf course wedding, they usually think outdoors. In this case, the best time of year to get married at a golf course depends on your location.

For example, those in the Northern United States can choose to tie the knot in spring, summer, or fall. Each of these seasons can offer excellent weather and a beautiful setting.

Those in the Southern states might want to stick to the spring, fall, or even winter and avoid summer weddings due to extreme heat. The last thing you want is to sweat through your expensive dress or suit at the ceremony!

The Takeaway – Should You Get Married At A Golf Course?

There are many great reasons to have your wedding at a golf course:

• Beautiful setting
• Quality service
• Free golf passes
• On-site caterer and bar services
• Can accommodate ceremony and reception
• Great location for pre/post wedding photos.

However, there are also a few things you should watch out for:

• Cost
• Inclement weather

Take some time to weigh the pros and cons of getting married at a golf course. If you think the benefits outweigh the drawbacks, then great! A golf course wedding is perfect for you!

However, if you’re a little uneasy about the cons, that’s okay too – there are plenty of other fantastic wedding venues to choose from for your special day!

Hopefully, this article helps you decide if a golf course wedding is the right choice for you!