Exclusive Use FEE
What precisely does this include?
Rates for Exclusive Wedding hire of Fiordland Lodge includes private use of the entire property, accommodation for up to 29 people and includes full breakfast the following morning for your in-house guests.
How much can I then expect for Food and Beverage?
Wedding menu’s average out at $100 per person which includes continuous canapes directly after the wedding ceremony itself and includes a sit down 3 course menu. An average beverage spend would be around $45 per person.
Are there any hidden costs to the venue which we may have overlooked?
There are no other onsite charges for staff, crockery, table cloths cutlery or any set-up and clean down that occurs with relation to your wedding.
What else do I need to take into consideration with the costs of a wedding at Fiordland Lodge?
A photographer and florist are always going to be your 2 main additional costs outside the venue hire itself. You may need to hire in chairs dependant on the size of the wedding and you also may need a PA system again dependant of the size of the wedding.
Logistics
What is the maximum number of guests we can have for the Wedding Breakfast?
We can fit 100 in the Lodges GREAT ROOM for a sit-down meal on round tables.
What time can we arrive at Fiordland Lodge on our Wedding Day?
Exclusive hire of Fiordland Lodge starts at 11am. We provide our Executive Suite complimentary for the bride and groom the night before the wedding so often the bride stays the night prior to the big day. Overnight guests can arrive from 1pm, this way we can ensure the bride is out of sight before anyone else arrives and that the room is set up before guests arrive.
Can we drop anything off the day before our wedding?
Yes, you can drop table plans, name cards, favours etc. the day before your wedding.
Do you allow children at Fiordland Lodge?
Yes, we welcome children.
Do you have any high chairs we can use?
Yes, we have 2 high chairs which you are welcome to use.
What time do we need to leave the Lodge the next day?
We serve breakfast from 7am - 10am and all rooms will need to be vacated by 11am. This is so that we have time to clean and service the rooms before other guests start arriving.
Will I need a microphone for the speeches? If so, do I have to provide my own?
A microphone and PA system is recommended for speeches and for ceremony itself. We can provide you with a contact for both.
Can you provide an easel to hold our table plan?
Yes, we provide an easel which can hold your table plan.
What time do we have to finish the party?
To conform with our Premises, licence all wedding parties must finish by 12 midnight.
Can we have a long top table?
Yes - you can have a long top table but please bear in mind that a long top table takes up the space of 3 round tables so can reduce the capacity in the Great Room.
When do I have to confirm final numbers?
We need an idea of your final numbers 4 weeks prior to your wedding date and actual final numbers need to be confirmed at least 5 working days before your wedding.
Do you have a cloakroom we can use?
We don’t have a dedicated cloakroom but we do have a hanging rail by the front door, where guests can leave their coats.
Can you recommend any local suppliers? (florist, photographer etc.)
When your wedding is confirmed we will give you a comprehensive contact list with details of local suppliers such as photographers, florists, cake makers etc.
Can my photographer come to the Lodge before the wedding to look round?
Yes, they can, ideally they would advise the manager firstly.
Do you have a dance floor?
Our restaurant transforms into the dance area which has wooden floors. This is not a wooden dance stage but works fine as a dance floor.
Do I have to lay the name cards etc. out on the morning of our wedding or can you do that for us?
We can lay the table with your name places, favours, menus etc but prefer this job is allocated to one or two of the bridesmaids who can lay these out for you on the morning of your wedding.
Can we have fireworks?
Yes, we have a comprehensive fireworks menu and supplier for firework displays. We do not allow BYO fireworks.
Wedding Ceremony
How many people can Fiordland Lodge host for an outside wedding?
We can entertain weddings for up to 100 guests on the property for outside wedding ceremonies.
Can we have a rehearsal and when would this be?
Yes, rehearsals are usually held a day or two before for the wedding.
Will a Lodge staff member attend my rehearsal?
Yes, Andy or the Duty Manager will be present but additional staff do not normally attend rehearsals.
Is there music provided at the ceremony outside?
A microphone and PA system is recommended for the ceremony itself and for maybe background music. We can provide you with a contact for both
It is possible just to book the grounds for our wedding?
No this is not allowed as it will interfere with the day to day running of the lodge and breach our day to day lodge house guest’s privacy.
Do you have Wine Barrels?
Yes, we have 2 wine barrels onsite that we provide free of charge for wedding ceremonies.
Do we need to hire chairs?
Any functions of 40 or more yes you would be required to hire in chairs. We have a chair menu available for you to make your selection.
What is the Wet Weather plan?
Fiordland Lodge has a few inside alternative options to host wedding ceremonies should it be raining outside. This can be discussed with you at the wedding show about.
Can we have a Heli Wedding Ceremony?
Fiordland Lodge can offer weddings exclusive landing rights in beautiful remote locations in the Fiordland National Park. We can cater for just the bridal party for small and large groups. Fiordland Lodge offers many heli-wedding options that will make your special day truly unforgettable. Direct from the lodge lawn, let us whisk you & your wedding party away to a special location guaranteed to provide the most stunning backdrop for your wedding.
Catering & Wine
Can we bring our own caterers in?
A lot of emphasis goes into the dining at Fiordland Lodge and it is essential that we offer a consistently high standard of catering and therefore only offer our own kitchen team for weddings.
Do you cater for special dietary requirements?
Yes, as long as we know in advance then we can cater for all dietary needs.
What age do you classify a child?
Anyone aged 11 and under is classified as a child.
How are canapés and after ceremony drinks served?
All beverages and canapés are trayed and served by staff straight after the ceremony. After this the bar will be open but staff will also be walking around your guests doing top ups and tray service.
What type of Menu can you offer us?
The wedding menu can take many forms, from a simple self-service buffet to an elaborate five course meal. In the more traditional version, a seated dinner is generally preceded by canapes or hors d'oeuvres whilst the wedding party are having photos and contains three courses: a first course, a main entree, and a dessert. It is our pleasure to customize the menus to reflect your individual style and taste.
Can we bring our own wine in?
Wine and champagne must be purchased through Fiordland Lodge and we don’t offer a corkage service. If there is something specific you would like to offer to your guests which isn’t on our wine list, we will be happy to try and source it on your behalf. Special requirements can be discussed with the lodge manager.
Do you have a standard estimate of alcohol consumption per person?
An average beverage spend would be around $45 per person.
Can we taste the wine before we select it?
Yes, you can taste all of our house wines from the wine list before choosing.
Bedrooms
Do you have a Bridal Suite?
We have an Executive Suite which is our dedicated bridal suite; all 12 bedrooms are individually appointed so the bride and groom can then allocate the other rooms to their guests accordingly.
Where does the bride normally get ready?
Most brides get ready in the Executive Suite as it has lots of natural light, plenty of mirrors, lots of space and its own bathroom.
How many people can stay overnight in the Lodge?
We have 10 double rooms and 2 Log Cabins, so we can accommodate 29 guests overnight.
Can we bring our own cots and / or bedding?
Yes children can bring their own cots and / or bedding.
Can we stay over the night before our wedding?
You can choose to hire the Lodge the day before your wedding for a pre-wedding party if you’d like to. We offer a competitive Dinner, Bed & Breakfast rate for the night before, based on a minimum of 10 guests. Please enquire for further details.
Do you have other hotels / B&B’s locally?
Yes, there are plenty of other hotels and B&B’s locally.
Decorations & Accessories
We welcome your ideas and input into decorations in the Lodge but please bear the following in mind:
Can we have candles around the Lodge?
Candles can be used on the tables as long as they are in a safe candle holder or jar.
Can we have confetti or rose petals?
We don’t allow the throwing of confetti or rose petals in the Lodge or grounds. Confetti and rose petals leave a residue and can get trampled into our wooden floors making them impossible to lift.
Booking Process
When can we come and have a look round the Lodge?
We would be delighted to show you round Fiordland Lodge to bring to life what we can offer you for your special day. Please contact Andy to book an appointment.
How long can you provisionally hold a date for us?
We do not allow provisionally holds on wedding reservations.
What deposit do I have to pay when I confirm a date?
Once you have a date, we will send out a contract and once a deposit invoice for 50% of the Lodge Hire fee is received we confirm your wedding date back to you. Seven days prior to your wedding date the balance of the Lodge Hire fee is due. The balance of payment to include all catering, drinks etc requires settled the morning of departure.
Will I have one contact at Fiordland Lodge when planning my wedding or will I deal with a number of different people?
Andy Cunningham, Co-owner and Manager of the lodge is your only contact and coordinates all weddings at Fiordland Lodge. Andy will also be there on your wedding day to ensure that everything runs to plan. On wedding days Andy works from 6.30am right through to when the first dance starts.