If you have seen the movie Bride Wars you know how important your wedding venue is and how it is even more important to secure your booking for it as soon as possible. Growing up, when you envision your wedding day, it’s all about what you will wear and where you will say “I do!”

But the wedding venue is typically one of the most expensive components to consider, so it is best to budget accordingly at the start of your wedding planning process. The average cost of a wedding venue in 2023 was $15,060.

Today, we will walk you through everything you need to know with booking your wedding venue including all of the factors that could lead to you paying more.

What is the Average Cost of a Wedding Venue?

Couples should expect to spend 30-50% of their budget on their venue alone, and with the average cost of a wedding in the US being $30,119 in 2023, that puts the average cost of a wedding venue at up to $15,060, but depending on the needs of your wedding, you could be looking at $50,000 or more for your dream wedding venue.

When you start building your wedding venue budget, you will need to have some details like location and size nailed down to get a true picture for what you can expect. Plan for what you want first, and then you can adjust the factors that are not as important to you if you are nearing the height of your wedding venue allowance.

6 Factors That Impact the Cost of Wedding Venues

1. Venue Location

As with many wedding vendors, pricing differs greatly in large cities vs small towns or rural areas. This has a lot to do with the differences in the cost of living between states like Alabama vs New Jersey or New York. For example, a wedding venue in Chicago, Illinois for 125 people would cost $16,531 - $20,205 while a wedding venue in Gardner, Kansas for 125 people would only cost $12,625 - $15,431. If you live in a big city, but you do not have the big budget to match, consider lowering your guest count to save on costs if you want to avoid getting married elsewhere.

Let’s look at some more 125 person weddings in various popular wedding markets:

• San Diego, California: $19,679 - $24,053

• Houston, Texas: $14,930 - $18,248

• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: $19,725 - $24,109

• Miami, Florida: $11,890 - $14,532

• Boston, Massachusetts: $18,052 - $22,064

• Alanta, Georgia: $14,962 - $18,286

• Cincinatti, Ohio: $14,962 - $18,286

2. Venue Type

As you start your wedding venue hunt, you may notice differences in pricing based on the type of venue. Hotels, country clubs, and event spaces will cost much more as shown in the national average figures above while churches, beaches, or civil buildings will be your cheapest options coming bin below $3,000.

Venues like beaches or national parks, while public, most likely have permit fees associated with hosting a wedding there. Be sure to check with the city to clarify these costs as they can vary greatly. A wedding permit for Long Beach, New York costs $50 while a wedding permit for Brooklyn Bridge Park is $425. Also keep in mind you will have to hire a separate rental company which may cost more than rentals through a venue, but overall, beaches are very affordable.

3. Size and Capacity

If you have a larger guest list, you are going to need a larger space. And larger spaces tend to require greater operation costs to heat, cool, and light the room or area. Many venues also offer catering, so a higher number of guests will incur a higher catering bill. Lastly, a larger guest count may require a large insurance payment to the wedding venue as more wedding guests equals more risk.

4. Season and Date of Your Wedding Day

For most US locations, wedding season peaks twice a year in the fall and spring. While this makes sense as it gives you the best chance at perfect temperatures and gorgeous blooms or foliage, it also brings on an extremely high demand for wedding vendors and due to this, venues may have higher peak season rates. If you want to save money, try having an off-season wedding during the hottest or coolest time of year. Alternatively, consider having your wedding on a weekday. Even during the peak season, a venue may be willing to offer lower rates for weekdays.

5. Services and Amenities Included

Some venues such as hotels or golf clubs might require you use their on-site catering, wedding planning, and bartender services. This, along with other amenities not found at other venues leads to higher base prices from them, but may not necessarily cost you more in the long run once you factor in having to hire a catering company on top of booking a barn or historic building with limited kitchen capabilities.

Similarly, some venues will offer all-inclusive packages that include chairs, tables, and linens, other decorative items for centerpieces, and even an in-house videographer. Other venues may offer these services but only a la carte which could cost you more than an all-inclusive venue.

When you are choosing to use in-house services offered by the venue, keep in mind they may cost more due to the convenience the venue is providing you with. While it may save you the headaches of having to coordinate many different vendors, it could cost you in the long run.

6. Duration of the Event

The duration of your wedding ceremony and reception will be a huge factor in the overall cost of a wedding venue. You may see wedding venue rates for all day packages or by-the-hour reservations. If you are getting married on the beach or in a church, you may only need to pay for a few hours at your reception venue. If your venue does not offer by-the-hour rates, do not be afraid to ask if it is something they offer! If you choose to pay by-the-hour, be sure to allot time for setup, deliveries for the florals and wedding cake, and tear down. You will likely have late fees added on if you are not out on time, so do not be afraid to kick your wedding party out if they are having a little too much fun!

Hidden Wedding Venue Costs to Consider

Tying the knot unfortunately comes with its fair share of unforeseen costs, so as you build your budget, consider these fees you may see on your final wedding venue bill:

• Taxes and Service Fees: You may see service charges for the labor or credit card processing fees. Additionally, gratuities may be automatically added for the catering or bartending staff.

• Insurance: Some venues may charge you for insurance in case anything is damaged during your ceremony. This could be higher if you have a large guest list. To limit any confusion, take photos at the start of setup so you have a baseline of the state of the venue.

• Decorations and Setup Fees: Read your contract closely and ask questions ahead of time about if there are separate fees for setup.

• Cleanup and Breakdown Fees: Note any breakdown fees, and if you want to save money, see if extra hands can be offered by family and friends to help the process.

How Have Wedding Venue Prices Changed Over Time?

As inflation rises and falls, so do venue prices. Americans saw a major jump in the price of weddings at the turn of the century when weddings started taking shape as what we know today rather than just a shot party and surpassed an average of $20,000. Now, destination weddings have become more popular as well as fun extras like photo booths, live ceremony paintings, and fireworks; all things that contribute to that overall average. This rise continued, hitting a high of $28,732 in 2007 before slightly dipping again. Things remained steady until the pandemic and now we have see another massive shift from just under $25,000 in 2019 to just over $30,000 in 2023. With venues often making up 50% of a wedding’s costs, this means we have likely seen an increase of $5,000 in the average cost of a wedding venue since the year 2000.

While we may have experienced a dip in costs during the pandemic as an incentive to keep venues booked and afloat, we have likely since experienced an increase in costs due to the financial damage and rehabilitation of wedding vendors, settling debts that were accrued during the height of the pandemic and making up for business expenses that were put off during hard times.

Tips for Managing and Reducing Wedding Venue Costs

If some of these numbers are overwhelming and feel out-of-reach, consider these tips for lowering your wedding venue costs:

• Booking Early: Booking your wedding date as soon as possible not only secures your space before someone else can, but it also secures the lowest rate possible as the venue’s pricing may increase as your engagement goes on. It also helps you avoid any last minute fees and gives you the best chances of getting both the venue you want AND the date you want.

• Flexible Dates: If you are flexible with the date you tie the knot, consider getting married during the off-season or on a weekday. This opens up more room for negotiating as it is less likely the venue will have a client otherwise.

• Negotiation Tactics: Approach your point-of-contact with confidence, kindness, and ease. Be sure to respect the work, time, and effort they put into their weddings while always making it clear how passionate you are about making this work within your budget. If you have any services to offer a trade with, do it! Even just offering extra hands at setup and breakdown could help your costs. Otherwise, consider shortening your ceremony or getting ready off site. You never know how open they might be!

• All-Inclusive Packages: All-inclusive packages definitely save couples time, but do they also save them money? In some cases, you may be paying less than outsourcing your rentals, planning, or catering. It potentially saves you on extra fees and service expenses, however, it could cost you more depending on what extras you add and if the venue views it as a convenience to you since it saves you from separate payments and separate communications. It also takes some of your own voice out of the decision making process, so research you package options to be sure you are actually saving money.

Questions to Ask When Booking Your Venue

As you start reaching out to venues, it will feel so nice to go in prepared and knowledgeable about your wedding funds. Be prepared to ask about:

• Availability and Pricing: Secure that date and that rate! Double check they are even available and in your price range before continuing.

• Wedding Size: Can the venue accommodate your guest list?

• Inclusions and Exclusions: Ask about the possible hidden fees before the contract is prepared to save time and stay on your venue’s good side.

• Vendor Policies: What are the limitations on the vendors you hire? Are you required to use any in-house vendors? Are there restrictions on the lighting allowed for your DJ or arrangements allow for your florist? Is there a cap on the number of live band members you can have?

• Cancellation and Refund Policies: While it is rare, and we can only hope you will not have a reason to cancel, clear the air by asking about the cancellation and refund policy. It is always a good idea to have all of the info up front to prevent panic down the road.

If you need some help, hire a wedding planner ahead of booking your venue to help bridge the gap in asking the tough questions and make sure nothing is overlooked. Our Day can help you find a wedding planner will meet all of your needs for the big day from scoping out wedding officiants to picking out silverware!

Plan the Perfect Wedding with Our Day

Summarize the information provided in this article. Describe how the tips and information provided can help the reader find and book the perfect wedding venue at a reasonable price.

Introduce Our Day as a fantastic or relevant tool to help. Explain how Our Day works, describing several key features that it provides, and linking to those vendor pages on the client’s website as appropriate.

Conclude the article by reviewing how Our Day is ideal for assisting with sourcing and hiring wedding vendors. Encourage the reader to contact Our Day and sign up to get started.

So the countdown begins! Take these tips and secure the wedding venue of your dreams whether it’s an all-inclusive venue or a rustic countryside barn. The right place is out there and it won’t even break the bank if you budget accordingly.

If you need some venue inspiration, check out the Vendor Marketplace at Our Day to see what is available within your needs.

To get started, just register for Our Day and we will send you vendor matches that fit your vision for your dream wedding!