What does a typical wedding venue hire cost include in the UK?

When you hire a wedding venue in the UK, the base cost usually covers the hire of the rooms or grounds for a set number of hours, plus furniture like tables and chairs. Many venues also provide basic table linen, glassware, cutlery and crockery, and some include a dedicated wedding coordinator on the day. Some venues include a room for the couple to get ready, and a few offer a free night's stay for the couple after the wedding. However, the hire fee rarely covers food, drink, cake, flowers, lighting, sound equipment, or decorations. Some venues require you to use their in-house caterers, while others allow outside caterers for an extra fee. You may also pay for a ceremony fee if you are marrying on site, and there may be extra charges for an outdoor ceremony, a late finish, or a bar. Always ask for a full written breakdown of what is included and what is not. Check whether VAT is added to the quote. Also ask about corkage if you plan to bring your own wine, and whether there are restrictions on confetti, candles or fireworks. For legal ceremonies, the venue must be licensed, so confirm this with the registrar.