How Much Does a Wedding Venue Cost in 2025?
If you've recently got engaged or are planning your dream day, one of your first big questions will be: How much are wedding venues? Setting a realistic venue budget is one of the earliest and most important decisions for your wedding. Prices can vary wildly depending on venue style, location, what's included and the time of year.
In this guide, we'll break down average wedding venue costs, reveal hidden extras, and help you answer: how much should you budget for your wedding venue? Along the way, we'll share practical tips so you can secure the right setting without stress.
Which Factors Can Affect the Cost of a Wedding Venue?
Before diving into the numbers, it's essential to know what drives wedding venue costs in the UK for 2025. The choices you make can change your quote by thousands. Here are the main cost factors:
Location
Venues in big cities or famous destinations, especially in London, tend to be pricier than rural properties.
Seasonality
Peak dates (May to September) and Saturdays command the highest rates, while midweek weddings can be 20–40% cheaper.
Guest Count
Larger guest lists often require bigger venues or additional hire fees, increasing the overall budget.
Venue Type
Historic estates, boutique hotels, barns, and marquees all have different base rates depending on exclusivity and features.
Day and Duration
Full-day bookings cost more than half-day or evening-only hires. Some venues offer savings for shorter or off-peak celebrations.
Included Services and Restrictions
Some venues include catering, décor, or coordination in the price, while others are ‘dry hire' only. Additional charges may apply for in-house or preferred suppliers.
By weighing up these details early, you'll have a clearer sense of how much wedding venues are likely to cost for your ideal date, style, and location.
Read our guide on how to budget for your dream wedding!
What Is Included in the Cost of a Wedding Venue?
When asking How much are wedding venues?, it pays to look closely at what's included in each quote. Here are the essentials to check:
Venue Facilities
Are tables, chairs, linens, and basic décor part of the package, or will you need to hire them separately?
Catering and Bar
Some venues include in-house catering or a drinks package, while others expect you to bring your own suppliers (and might charge a fee).
Staffing and Coordination
Is a dedicated wedding coordinator or team provided to handle the day's logistics, or is this an extra?
Setup and Cleaning
Are post-event cleaning and set-up/pack-down included, or will you need to organise additional help?
Clarifying these details with venues can help you avoid extra costs and ensure your budget covers everything you need for a seamless celebration.
Understanding Dry Hire Venue Costs
Some couples prefer complete control over their wedding day. For them, ‘dry hire' venues are often attractive - but what does this mean and how does it affect your venue budget?
Venue Only
Dry hire means you're paying just for the venue space - no catering, furniture, or extras included.
Average 2025 Costs
Dry hire venues in the UK usually start from around £2,000 and can rise to £10,000 or more for sought-after properties.
What's Not Included
You'll arrange catering, décor, furniture, and even staff separately - so costs can climb quickly if not planned carefully.
Flexibility vs Extra Work
While you have freedom to personalise, there's added admin and potential for unexpected charges if requirements change.
It's worth comparing dry hire to packaged options, factoring in the benefits and responsibilities that come with each approach.
What is dry hire? Read our full guide!
Wedding Packages That Include Venue Hire Costs
Instead of piecing everything together, many couples consider all-inclusive or semi-inclusive wedding packages - especially at venues such as Stone Court House. Let's explore why these are popular for 2025:
- Packages often cover hire of the main spaces, food and drink, tables and chairs, some décor, and a dedicated coordinator, offering clarity and simplicity.
- Average UK package prices for 2025 range from around £5,000 for intimate weekday weddings to upwards of £15,000 for Saturday celebrations during peak season.
- Packages can be customised to suit your style: menus, floristry, setups and even guest accommodation can be tailored for the perfect fit.
- The biggest advantages? Time and stress saved, transparent pricing, and potential savings by bundling popular requests.
Always ask for a full list of what's included, keep an eye out for upgrade or ‘hidden' charges, and use them as a point of comparison against dry hire costs.
Plan Your Perfect Day - And Your Budget
Knowing how much wedding venues cost and what affects pricing gives you the best chance of finding a setting you love - without any nasty surprises. Start by deciding what matters most: location, style, exclusivity, or value. Don't forget to account for peak season surcharges (especially May to September) and consider a weekday celebration for potential savings of up to 40 percent.
When you're ready to explore venues, our hotel in Maidstone, Stone Court House, is ready to welcome you. Our romantic, historic rooms and luxury packages combine style and flexibility. Have questions about wedding venues? We're here to help.
Contact us via reservations@stonecourthouse.com or call us on 07500 070065. Your dream wedding is closer than you think.