Experts Explain the Average Wedding Venue Cost in the U.S.

Once the wedding planning process begins, one of the most important tasks to check off your to-do list is choosing your ideal venue. After all, the venue answers the crucial question of where you and your partner will be saying “I do” and celebrating with all of your family and friends. It also helps inform the rest of the decisions you'll need to make, including details related to catering, décor, and photography.

In addition to being a big element in the planning process, a venue is often one of the largest wedding expenses. So, how much does it actually cost to secure a wedding venue? Here, we consult with three industry experts from different parts of the U.S. to find out the average cost of wedding venues, along with tips and tricks for booking.

Average Wedding Venue Costs Around the Country

Just like any other element of wedding planning, venue costs can vary greatly depending on location, size, amenities, and the time of year in which you are booking. In short, there isn't one specific average number, since venue prices vary so greatly based on location in the U.S., but spending somewhere in the $10,000 to $15,000 range seems to be most common. According to Chanda Daniels, creative director of Chanda Daniels Planning + Design, a good starting amount to allocate in your budget for a venue in the San Francisco Bay area is $25,000. “If you are looking at a private estate, a good place to start is $60,000, and that is the base.”

On the other hand, Neillie Butler, the founder of Alabama-based destination wedding planning company Mariée Ami, says that historic mansions, private estates, wineries, and vineyards range from $7,000 to $20,000 in her area (the south). “Luxury hotels and resorts will usually start at $10,000 to $50,000 and can go well beyond that cost depending on the quality of amenities, the security and privacy of the property, the duration of your wedding events, the vendors required to make your vision come to life in that space, and more.”

Ashley Tangerini, the lead wedding planner at Mavinhouse Events in New York and New England, says pricing in her area of service can range from $5,000 to $15,000 for just the venue alone; an all-inclusive venue typically ranges in cost from $35,000 to $100,000. “Different wedding venues include varying offers within their packages. While some have an in-house caterer and bar service and roll those costs into the venue price, others are just renting out their venue space and it’s on the couple to bring in everything else including catering, rentals, etc.,” she says.

Additional Wedding Venue Fees

When booking a venue, the average cost generally only covers the base rate for booking. This does not include additional fees required for booking and costs associated with executing a beautiful event. “Add-on fees for your chosen venue could come in the form of insurance requirements, equipment rentals, bar packages or corkage fees, catering fees, security or valet services, and more,” says Butler. “It’s important to go over every line item with your venue and each of your vendors so you don’t overlap fees and services.”

Rental Fees: In addition to the base rate for the venue, Butler says there may be rental fees required for tables and chairs, linens and dinnerware, audiovisual equipment, and other furniture for the ceremony and reception spaces.

Catering Fees: Unless you’re booking an all-in-one package, catering fees will still need to be budgeted. “Catering fees could incur whether you use the venue’s onsite food and beverage, or even if you’re bringing in your own caterer as some venues have a list of preferred vendors and charge a fee if you work with vendors outside of that network,” says Butler.

Daniels advises reviewing the list of required caterers before booking if the venue has one. “There is often a disconnect between the venue cost and the cost of the preferred caterers, so please review the list and make sure the catering options are within your catering budget allocation and they are someone you like,” she says.

Insurance Fees: Double-check with the venue so you know what’s required for event insurance. This can vary from space to space and will be an additional fee on top of the base booking fee.

Setup Time: The base fee of your wedding venue will likely cover a specific window of time. Daniels advises double-checking what time is needed outside of your ceremony and reception timing. “Some of the additional things that you should consider include whether the actual rental fee covers the hours needed for all creatives to come and set up. Or will that be an additional cost—and if so—how much more in labor and production do I need for each creative to set up the day before and strike the day after?” she says.

Tips for Saving Money on Wedding Venue Costs

Your venue will likely take up a large piece of your overall wedding budget (unless you're getting married in a public space like a park or at home). If you’ve found the perfect venue, there may be options to cut down on costs associated with booking and additional fees. “Don’t just think about your venue budget, look at the big picture of your overall budget,” says Tangerini. “If your wedding venue is your top must-have, you can cut costs by hiring a DJ instead of a band, or even trim down your guest list a bit. There are plenty of ways you can slim down your budget in other places to accommodate for the splurge on the venue.”

Butler suggests considering a wedding date in an off-peak season, which will typically have lower venue costs. Trimming down your guest list may also help to reduce the additional costs of catering, tables, chairs, and linens.  

Before booking, check with your venue regarding customization options. “Some venues may offer flexibility in their packages so that you can customize your amenities and services to fit your wedding vision,” adds Butler.