When it comes to planning your wedding, there will be plenty of important choices to make – ranging from the enormous to the teeny tiny. Many of these choices will be optional, but one of the biggest will be making sure you choose the right venue. After all, it’s where you and your guests will spend the entire day and can’t be changed once the big day arrives.
As you work out your wedding budget, you’ll need to make sure you dedicate enough toward your ideal venue. Whether it’s a hotel, a golf course, a vineyard, a village hall, or anywhere else you want to marry that special someone, you’ll need to budget accordingly.
Below, we’re going to take a look at the average cost of a wedding venue, what’s included in that cost, and any unexpected fees you should look out for.
How much does the average wedding venue cost?
With the average total cost of a wedding in Canada rising to $30,000 over a third of that cost is likely to go towards the venue. In 2024, the average cost of a wedding venue is around $8,000-9,500. Of course, this figure can vary dramatically depending on different factors, including the type of venue and where in the country the venue is located.
For example, on average, venues are $2,000 to $3,000 more expensive in Vancouver than in Montreal. However, that’s not to say that one is better than the other – it’s all a matter of taste, what’s right for you, and how far you and your guests want to travel.
How can the cost of a wedding venue vary?
There’s a range of wedding venues available across Canada, so whatever your budget you shouldn’t have any trouble finding something to your taste:
- Affordable: $3,000 – $8,000
- Moderate: $8,000 – $15,000
- Luxury: $15,000 – $22,000
- Super luxury: $22,000+
How does the type of venue affect the cost?
The type of wedding venue you choose affects the price, with certain types of venue costing significantly more than others on average. According to our 2024 Wedding Reports, couples are more likely to spend the most on venues for weddings at castles, stately homes and country houses, and the least on registry offices, places of worship and restaurants.
Here’s a breakdown of the average cost depending on the venue type, based on data gathered from couples planning their wedding on our platform in 2024:
- Castle: $20,000 – $25,000
- Stately home: $18,000 – $22,000
- Country house: $16,000 – $20,000
- Golf course: $14,000 – $18,000
- Event venue: $9,000 – $13,000
- Hotel: $11,000 – $14,000
- Barn: $9,000 – $12,000
- Outdoor: $9,000 – $11,000
- City venue: $10,000 – $12,000
- Restaurant: $8,000 – $10,000
- Place of worship: $7,000 – $9,000
- Registry office: $2,000 – $3,000
What does the cost of a wedding venue include?
The cost of the venue will include rental of the space itself, however, it can also include additions and the use of certain facilities, such as:
- Tables and chairs
- Linens, such as tablecloths, napkins and chair covers
- Lighting and sound
- Wine and bubbles for the tables
- Bar services
- Catering
- Coordination and setup
Exactly what’s included in the cost of the venue is something that you’ll need to confirm with the venue. For example, some venues won’t have catering facilities and will require you to arrange your own vendors.
Why are wedding venues so expensive?
Mark Dawson, the former owner and operator of Brookfield Barn in England and expert on all things venue-related, explains why wedding venues are often so expensive:
“Couples benefit from being “one-time customers” that venues are trying to attract and therefore price is a key lever. The venue market has become extremely competitive with diminishing margins. So many features at the top of couples’ lists come with high maintenance costs. For example, listed and historic buildings, extensive grounds. Remember you are paying such that the venue is maintained in a way to be at its best on your big day – and every other couple has the same expectation.”
“Exclusivity on your day means you are the sole revenue stream for the venue. So when faced with budget challenges, take time to prioritise what is most important. Is it exclusivity on the day for your wedding, is it the historic setting, is it the extensive grounds, is it having it for multiple days to set up and clear up, is it having lots of staff support from the venue for planning it all – they all drive the price point that the venue needs to continue to operate.”
What factors can affect the cost of a wedding venue?
We’ve already highlighted how the type and location can affect the cost of a venue, but there are plenty of factors that can contribute towards how much you might pay for your dream venue.
Size
Naturally, the higher the number of guests you’d like to invite, the larger the venue will need to be. Of course, it makes sense that a venue with a 30-person capacity will usually be more affordable than one that can accommodate several hundred.
Region
Where you are in Canada significantly affects how much you’ll pay for a wedding venue. For example, couples in major cities like Vancouver or Toronto tend to pay around 30-50% more than the national average. In contrast, venues in smaller towns or rural areas, like those in the Prairies or Eastern Canada, are typically much more affordable.
Dates
As you might imagine, venue prices vary depending on the season. When it comes to choosing a wedding date, spring, summer, and even fall dates are more popular than winter. As a result, you’ll likely find that it’s more affordable to secure a date in January or February than it is in July or August.
Similarly, Fridays and the weekend – particularly Saturday – are more expensive than weekdays, as well as specific dates like Valentine’s Day or New Year’s Eve.
It may be possible to grab a bargain if you’re open to a last-minute booking during off-peak times or based on a cancellation – though this risks you missing out by catching vendors and guests off-guard. Here at Bridebook, we offer late availability deals at many of our partner venues – just filter by ‘Special Offers’ when searching for a wedding venue.
Packages
The majority of wedding venues will have packages that can include anything from a glass of bubbly for the guests on arrival to a free stay for the newlyweds on the night. If you definitely don’t want one of these, you can ask your chosen venue if they can exclude some items to give you a lower price.
Catering
According to recent data on Canadian weddings, a significant portion of couples prefer venues that include catering as part of their package. For example, in cities like Vancouver and Toronto, many popular venues offer all-inclusive packages that bundle catering, often resulting in a higher overall cost. Venues that include catering can increase the total spend by several thousand dollars. In Canada, couples typically spend $10,000 to $15,000 on venues with catering, which is significantly more than choosing a venue-only option where external catering is brought in. Venues without catering are often the cheaper option if you’re only considering the venue cost.
Exclusive use
Exclusive use of the wedding venue means that you and your guests will be the only ones on the premises during your special day, so you don’t need to worry about anybody accidentally stumbling in and helping themselves to the buffet. Normally, venues that offer exclusivity will charge slightly more, but it’s definitely worth it.
What are some unexpected costs or fees at a venue?
When speaking with the venue, you should clarify early on what is and isn’t covered, otherwise you may find yourselves being hit with one or two (or six or seven!) surprise costs that can cause your budget to spiral.
Some potential hidden fees to be mindful of include:
- Taxes
- Gratuities
- Security deposit to cover loss and damages
- Cleaning fees
- Insurance
- Overtime fees
- Corkage fees
How much does it cost to decorate a wedding venue?
Once you’ve chosen your venue and signed on the dotted line, there may be additional costs to bear in mind to make sure it’s decorated to perfectly match your tastes. Decoration hire, such as unique lighting and features, may not be included in the cost and is another cost to factor into your budget.
Have you discovered your dream venue?
Are you planning your wedding and umming and ahhing over the perfect venue? Bridebook’s wedding planning tools provide you with everything you need to plan your wedding stress-free!
And if you’re looking for ways to save money on your wedding venue, we’ve got plenty of money-saving tips to help you stay firmly within your budget.
