The “Wedding Weekend” Trend: Why You Need a Venue with On-Site Lodging

It is the morning of your wedding.

In the traditional scenario—the one we’ve seen in movies for decades—you are waking up in a hotel room in Pembroke Pines. Your bridesmaids are scattered across three different floors or driving in from Fort Lauderdale. You are packing bags, checking tracking apps to see where the limo is, and coordinating a convoy of cars to get to the venue. The stress starts before the coffee is even brewed.

Now, imagine a different morning.

You wake up in a sun-drenched master suite. You walk out onto a private balcony overlooking five acres of lush gardens. Your best friends are downstairs in the kitchen making mimosas. The florist is already setting up the arch by the pond, and you can see it happening from your window. There is no rushing. You aren’t traveling. Instead, you are already home.

This is the Wedding Weekend experience. And in 2026, it is no longer just a luxury for the ultra-wealthy—it is the new standard for couples who value connection over chaos.

As we discussed in our recent post on 2026 Wedding Forecast: The Colors, Themes, and Vibes Defining the New Luxury, the “One Day” wedding is fading. Couples are trading the 5-hour reception for a 3-day immersive retreat.

But to pull this off, you need a venue that offers more than just a ballroom. You need a home.

At Saint Patrick Palace, we have pioneered the private estate wedding model in Broward County, offering on-site luxury accommodations for up to 18 guests. Here is why securing a venue with lodging is the smartest investment you can make for your 2026 wedding—and how it transforms the entire feel of your celebration.

1. No More “Blur”: Slowing Down Time

Ask any married couple what they remember most about their wedding day, and the answer is almost always the same: “It went by so fast. It was a blur.”

When you rent a venue for a standard 8-hour window (setup, event, breakdown), you are fighting the clock from the moment you arrive. You have 30 minutes for photos, 15 minutes to eat, and 2 minutes to say hello to your college roommate before the DJ plays the last song.

The Multi-Day Solution: When you book a Wedding Weekend at a private estate, you are buying time.

• Friday: You arrive at noon. You unpack. You have a pool party with your bridal party. You host a relaxed rehearsal dinner on the veranda as the sun sets over the Town of Davie.

• Saturday: The wedding day. Because you are already on-site, there is no travel time. No “load-in” panic. You have hours to relax, take photos, and actually talk to the people you love.

• Sunday: The farewell. Instead of a rushed goodbye in a hotel lobby, you host a bagel brunch by the pool. You open gifts. You debrief the night before.

By spreading the celebration over 48 to 72 hours, you eliminate the “blur.” You create space for genuine connection.

2. The Logistics of Luxury: Why On-Site Lodging Wins

Let’s talk about the unsexy part of weddings: Logistics. Moving 150 people from a hotel to a ceremony site to a reception site is a logistical nightmare. It involves shuttle buses, traffic on I-595, and the constant fear that “Uncle Bob” went to the wrong venue.

The Saint Patrick Palace Advantage: We are located centrally near Pembroke Pines, Weston, and Southwest Ranches, but once your VIPs are inside our gates, the travel stops.

The Bridal Party Headquarters

Our estate features a Main Residence and a separate Guest Cottage, sleeping a total of 18 people. This allows you to house your “core team”—parents, siblings, and the bridal party—under one roof.

• No “Did you bring the rings?” panic: Everything is in the house.

• No “Where is the Groom?” text messages: He’s in the Guest Cottage playing billiards.

• Hair & Makeup Efficiency: Your beauty team comes to you. They set up in the master suite with natural light, and your bridesmaids can rotate in and out while relaxing in their pajamas.

The “Safe Haven” for VIPs

For elderly grandparents or families with young children, a standard wedding is exhausting. If Grandma gets tired at 9:00 PM, she usually has to wait for the shuttle or call an Uber. At a venue with on-site lodging, she simply walks upstairs to a quiet bedroom. She is safe, comfortable, and still “at the wedding” without being in the wedding.

3. The Financial Case: Why “Estate” Beats “Hotel Block”

A common misconception is that renting a private estate for the weekend is more expensive than a traditional venue. But when you run the numbers, the value proposition shifts.

The Hotel Math:

• First, there is the base ballroom rental.

• Then, you must add a separate rehearsal dinner venue ($2,000+).

• Next, budgeting for a post-wedding brunch location is required ($1,500+).

• On top of that, cover three nights of hotel rooms for yourself ($1,200+).

• Finally, most couples need a “Getting Ready” suite because standard rooms are too small ($500+).

The Estate Math: When you book a Wedding Weekend Package at Saint Patrick Palace:

• The Rehearsal Dinner venue is included (The Veranda).

• The Brunch venue is included (The Pool Deck).

• The “Getting Ready” suite is included (The Master Bedroom).

• Accommodation for 18 people is included.

The “Split” Strategy: Many of our couples choose to split the cost of the accommodation with their wedding party. Instead of your bridesmaids paying $300/night at a generic hotel in Fort Lauderdale, they contribute that toward the estate rental. They get a luxury experience with a pool and kitchen for the same price, and you significantly offset your venue cost.

Read More: Curious about how to structure your budget? Check out our deep dive: (The Logistics of Luxury: What It Really Takes to Execute a Private Estate Wedding in South Florida)

4. The Vibe: “House Party” Energy vs. “Banquet Hall” Stiffness

There is a tangible difference in the energy of a wedding when everyone feels “at home.” Hotels are public spaces. Even in a private ballroom, you are guests in a corporate facility. There are rules, security guards, and other guests in the elevator.

A private estate offers the energy of the world’s most luxurious house party.

• The Rehearsal Dinner: Instead of a stiff restaurant meal, imagine a catered paella station by the pool or a wood-fired pizza truck in the driveway. (Our Open Vendor Policy allows this freedom—read more in (Airbnb Wedding + Open Vendor Policy = A Delicious Food Affair)).

• The After-Party: When the reception ends, the core group moves into the living room or out by the fire pit. Shoes come off. Ties get loosened. These are often the best conversations of the weekend.

5. Navigating the “Guest List Politics”

One question we get asked often: “If the venue sleeps 18, where does everyone else stay?”

This is actually a strategic advantage. It allows you to create a tiered experience.

• Tier 1 (The Inner Circle): Parents, Siblings, and the Wedding Party stay on-site. This honors them and ensures they are available for photos and duties.

• Tier 2 (The Guests): Because Saint Patrick Palace is located in the Town of Davie, we are less than 15 minutes from excellent hotels in the City of Plantation, Weston, and Sunrise.

By keeping the general guest list off-site, you preserve the intimacy of the estate for your closest VIPs, giving you a sanctuary to retreat to when the social battery runs low.

Your Sample Itinerary: The Perfect South Florida Wedding Weekend

Still wondering how it flows? Here is a sample timeline for a 2026 couple booking a weekend at Saint Patrick Palace.

Friday: The Arrival

• 12:00 PM: Check-in. The bridal party claims their rooms in the main house; the groomsmen take the Guest Cottage.

• 2:00 PM: Pool time. A chance to decompress before the madness begins.

• 5:00 PM: Vendor load-in begins for the tent/rentals (managed by your planner—see The Wedding Planner Debate: Is Hiring One Worth It? ).

• 7:00 PM: Welcome Dinner on the Veranda. Tacos and Margaritas. Casual, fun, and intimate.

Saturday: The Big Day

• 9:00 AM: Yoga on the lawn or coffee by the pond.

• 11:00 AM: Hair and makeup begins in the Master Suite.

• 3:00 PM: First Look in the Gardens.

• 5:00 PM: Ceremony on the Waterfront Dock.

• 6:00 PM: Cocktail Hour on the Patio.

• 7:00 PM: Dinner & Dancing on the Travertine Terrace.

• 11:00 PM: The “Send Off” (for the guests). The “Stay On” (for the VIPs).

Sunday: The Farewell

• 10:30 AM: Brunch delivery (bagels, fruit, coffee).

• 11:00 AM: Guests drop by to say goodbye and pick up their cars.

• 1:00 PM: Check-out.

Conclusion: Don’t Just Rent a Venue, Move In.

Your wedding is the only time in your life when all the people you love will be in the same place at the same time. Do not waste that time sitting in traffic or coordinating Ubers.

By choosing a venue with on-site lodging, you are prioritizing presence. You are giving yourself the gift of time.

Saint Patrick Palace is one of the only luxury estates in South Florida that offers this capability with commercial-grade event infrastructure.

• Privacy: 5 Gated Acres.

• Capacity: 150 Event Guests / 18 Overnight Guests.

• Freedom: Open Vendor Policy.

Ready to see your Wedding Weekend home? We are currently touring for 2026 dates. Come see the bedrooms, the pool, and the party space that could be yours for the weekend. Schedule your tour today.

Starting Your Search? Don’t miss our guide on How to Pick Your Wedding Date: The Ultimate Guide to Securing Your Dream Day in South Florida to find the perfect weekend for your estate takeover.