What You Need to Know About Venue Pricing for Weddings

You’ve found the perfect venue. It has stunning photos, the reviews are all stellar, you can even imagine yourself and your partner dancing the night away with everyone you love under that gorgeous oak tree. Then you see the price and think, ”Wait, what exactly am I paying for here?” Not only is that a fair question, it’s a very prudent one. As you get into the wedding planning process, you’ll quickly learn that venue pricing for weddings is one of the most confusing aspects of the entire experience because each one does it differently.

Don’t be discouraged, though, because we’re here to help. Before you sign a contract or put down a deposit, here’s everything you need to know about how venue pricing really works.

Understanding Venue Pricing Models

Not all venue pricing is created equal. Understanding the three main models that most venues use will help give you a good baseline to make sure everything is being compared apples to apples. 

All-inclusive Venues

First are all-inclusive venues, which are exactly as they sound. You pay one package price that covers nearly everything. Venue rental, catering, tables, chairs, linens, coordination, and sometimes even bar service. The benefit is simple: you know your bottom-line cost up front and don’t need to search for separate vendors. It’s also nice to handle just one contract and have a single point of contact. Fewer moving parts means less coordination stress on your plate. This is the category we fall into at Montgomery Creek Ranch because it eliminates stress and surprise costs for the couples we work with.

The downside, if it feels like one to you, is less flexibility in choosing caterers or vendors. This model is best for couples who value convenience, a streamlined planning process, and an all-in-one option that keeps their to-do list manageable.

Pricing depends heavily on the venue and state you live in, but a typical mid-range estimate for all-inclusive packages is $8,000–$15,000. Guest count and added inclusions can shift this number.

À La Carte Venues

Next are à la carte venues. These come with a baseline rental fee and individual add-on services you can choose from. Add-ons often include catering, bar service, rentals, and day-of coordination. This model gives you maximum flexibility but also requires more legwork than the all-inclusive option. You’re essentially building your own package once you add your venue rental fee.

The biggest benefit is total control—over vendors, menu, and budget allocation. The downside is the increased number of contracts, more coordination, and costs that can add up faster than expected. This option works well for couples with strong vendor preferences or for those who want DIY elements on their wedding day.

Pricing varies widely, but you can expect around $3,000–$8,000 for the venue space. Catering usually ranges from $75–$150 per person, and rentals often cost $2,000–$5,000.

Renta-Only Venues

Finally, we have rental-only venues. You rent the space and bring in everything else—catering, rentals, alcohol, and event coordination. This option is often the most affordable upfront. However, it can become deceptively expensive when you start adding all the outside items you’ll need.

The biggest advantage is complete creative freedom with a potentially lower base cost. The flip side is that you’re responsible for setup, breakdown, alcohol liability, and coordinating multiple vendors who may have never worked together before.

A $2,000 venue can easily turn into a $15,000+ total once everything is added. Because of that, this option is usually best for experienced planners or couples who already have a day-of coordinator included in their budget.

What’s Typically Included in Venue Pricing

Now that you have a good grasp on the different types of venue packages, knowing exactly what you’re getting from each venue quote is the next step. Here’s what to look for. 

Most venues have the following standard inclusions:

• The space itself: Ceremony and reception areas, getting ready rooms, and parking are the usual inclusions when it comes to the space itself.
• Time allowance: Most venues include 6-8 hour rental periods. Rehearsal access is sometimes separate, so this is something you should ask about.
• Tables and chairs: Usually included, but confirm if they’re basic or upgraded. For example, chiavari chairs vs. folding chairs can make a big difference.
• Setup and breakdown: Professional venues will usually handle this, whereas rental-only spaces might make you responsible for it. This is another thing to check when you’re talking to your short list of venues. Don’t underestimate the value of not having to assemble 150 chairs the morning of your wedding day.

Some of the most common upgrades or add-on options include:

• Extended hours: If you want more time to party, somewhere in the ballpark of $200-$500 per additional hour is typical.
• Linens and napkins: While basic options may be included, special colors and fabrics will almost certainly cost extra.
• Lighting: Different types of lighting (uplighting, string lights, spotlights) often aren’t included in base pricing.
• Bridal suite or groom’s room: Some venues charge separately for premium getting-ready spaces, if they’re even offered at all.
• Coordination services: Day-of coordination is sometimes included, while full-service planning services rarely are a standard part of venue packages.

And here are the items that are (almost) never included:

• Alcohol: Even all-inclusive venues usually charge separately for bar service, understandable. Pricing varies widely, but plan to budget between $15-$35 per person for bar service, depending on whether it’s a beer/wine only offering or a full open bar.
• Florals and decor: Decorations will always be your responsibility unless the venue specifically offers design packages.
• Photography, videography, and entertainment: These items will always be separate vendor contracts.
• Cake or dessert: This might be included with catering, but specialty cakes will almost always cost extra.
• Transportation: Shuttles or valet parking are typically add-ons at most venues.

In addition to all the items listed above, there might be other special options included at some venues. For example, our packages at MCR include our 6,000 square foot lodge for getting ready and accommodating your guests overnight, which saves our couples thousands in hotel costs. It’s always a good idea to weigh the benefits of unique add-on items like this when comparing quotes from each of the venues on your short list.

Questions to Ask Before You Book

Here’s the truth: good venues want you to ask questions. We’d rather spend an extra 30 minutes on your tour answering everything thoroughly than have you feel uncertain or surprised later. The questions below aren’t pushy or unreasonable, they’re the basics every couple deserves to know before making a decision. Be sure to take notes (mental or written ones) during your tours, and don’t be afraid to follow up via email if you think of something later. The questions listed below will not only protect your budget, they’ll also ensure there are no surprises on your wedding day.

Pricing and Contracts:

1. What exactly is included in the quoted price? You should get a detailed itemized list, not just a vague “everything you need” response.
2. Are there any additional fees not mentioned in this quote? Service charges, admin fees, vendor fees, etc.
3. What’s your cancellation and rescheduling policy? Like any big-ticket cost, it’s important for you to know if your deposit is refundable, transferable, or forfeited entirely should any unforeseen circumstances arise.
4. What’s the payment schedule? The standard payment structure is: deposit at booking, 50% at 6 months, and the remaining balance 2 weeks before your wedding date. A red flag to keep in mind is venues asking for 100% payment months in advance of your date.

Logistics and Restrictions:

1. What are your noise/music restrictions and curfews? Even if the venue might not have a curfew rule, there might be local restrictions that require music to end at 10pm.
2. Can we bring our own alcohol? And if so, what are the corkage fees and insurance requirements?
3. Do you have liability insurance, or do we need our own? Most venues require couples to carry event insurance worth around $150-$300.
4. What’s your weather backup plan? For outdoor venues: is there a covered space or tent options? And if not, who pays for tent rental?

Experience and Support:

1. How many weddings do you host per weekend? If a venue has multiple weddings scheduled on your day, that means shared staff attention and potential overlap of the facilities.
2. Will we have a dedicated coordinator? Knowing exactly who to call with questions not only gives you a go-to contact, it also eliminates so much stress.
3. Can we see a sample timeline from a recent wedding? This shows how realistic their time estimates are in a real-world setting.

These are all examples of questions we answer in our initial consultation because we want couples making informed decisions, even if they ultimately choose a different venue. Much of the typical wedding stress comes from lack of communication and unmet expectations. The good news? Both of these things are mostly preventable when you ask the right questions up front and feel comfortable with the team at the venue you choose. Getting clear answers before you sign a contract benefits your budget and your timeline, but most importantly it protects your peace of mind. 

Do Your Homework & Trust Your Instincts

Despite what you may have heard, venue pricing doesn’t have to be mysterious or stressful!  And knowing what to look for and which questions to ask is a great place to start. Like any big decision, just make sure you do your homework, do apples-to-apples comparisons of each of your finalists, and, most importantly, trust your instincts when something just feels a little off.

Keep in mind that a great venue will be transparent about costs, enthusiastic about answering all of your questions, and genuinely invested in your experience throughout the whole process — not just when it comes to getting you to sign the contract. At Montgomery Creek Ranch, we’ve built our entire approach around that principle, and as a result the couples we’ve been lucky enough to host have felt cared for and supported throughout their wedding planning process.

Wherever you choose to celebrate, make sure you feel informed, valued, and excited about your decision. Your venue sets the foundation for your entire wedding day, so choose one where transparency and trust come standard.