You and your spouse-to-be sit side by side in a beautiful and tasteful setting that’s intimate and cosy. You’re surrounded by your family and friends as you enjoy delicious, freshly-prepared food, then spend the evening dancing to a selection of cheesy tunes… there’s nothing quite like a restaurant wedding. It also has the added benefit of being one of the most affordable ways to tie the knot.
In this post, we’re going to explore how much a restaurant wedding costs, including the average cost, what to expect for your money and why a restaurant wedding might just be the best choice for your big day.
What is a restaurant wedding?
A restaurant wedding is when you have your entire wedding – including the ceremony and proceeding reception – in a restaurant. This can also extend to a pub or a function room within a similar venue.
A restaurant wedding is perfect if you’re looking for a smaller, more intimate way to tie the knot. You can avoid the craziness that sometimes comes with a larger wedding, as well as help to keep costs down.
Restaurateurs are more than familiar with providing customers with a first-class experience. The same can be applied to your wedding. Of course, you’ll hire a registrar and perhaps a celebrant to oversee the ceremony, but the team at the restaurant can take care of the food and service as you celebrate with a post-ceremony meal, which can then become a reception in the evening if there’s space that allows for a dance floor.
With everything you need right there at the restaurant, including great decor, catering, drinks, staff and more, it’s a fantastic option for budget-conscious couples whothat want to have an intimate yet beautiful wedding.
What’s the average cost of a restaurant wedding?
In the UK, the average cost of a restaurant wedding is £5,526, which makes it the third cheapest type of wedding venue you could have after a registry office wedding and a church wedding.
A restaurant wedding is brilliant for couples looking for a more budget-friendly option for their big day. The average cost of a wedding venue in the UK is £9,877, and a restaurant wedding costs almost 45% less than this amount. It’s worth noting that this amount covers only the cost of the venue and the food, which means you’ll still have to budget for your attire, transport, rings and everything else to do with your wedding. It’s also important that you discuss this with the restaurant manager to make sure you don’t have any unwelcome surprises, such as there being a minimum spend on drinks.
Because of their capacity, restaurant weddings are generally much smaller than weddings you might host at a hotel, country house or castle. So, rather than inviting 80+ guests, you might have closer to 30 or so. But, this is perfect if you’re looking to keep things smaller and only invite your closest family and friends.
So, if you’re looking to get married but don’t want to spend anything close to the average, why not speak to the manager of your favourite restaurant and see what they can do for you?
Here at Bridebook, we have hundreds of restaurants that are perfect for hosting wonderful restaurant weddings. We also have plenty more information on average wedding costs in our ultimate guide.
Why is a restaurant wedding a brilliant option for your big day?
As we’ve already highlighted, having your wedding at a restaurant is in the top three3 cheapest venues. Whether it’s your local pizza joint, your favourite curry house or the function room in a nearby pub, opting to have a restaurant wedding will likely save you thousands of pounds.
But, as well as the far more affordable cost, there are plenty more reasons why a restaurant wedding might just be the best choice for you:
- Provides a familiar, relaxed and intimate setting.
- Offers a cosy and welcoming ambience.
- It’s unique and charming.
- The food will be of the highest quality and in keeping with your chosen venue.
- Service will be exemplary.
- It’s a convenient and flexible way to have your ceremony, breakfast and reception in one location.
- Because it’s a smaller venue, the cost of flowers and other decor will be low.
- Lowers the cost of your transportation.
- Keeps your guest list small.
- Saves you from falling foul of the Great British weather.
What factors can affect the cost of a restaurant wedding?
While the average cost of a restaurant wedding is £5,526, there are certain factors that mean you might pay more or less than this. These include:
- The size of the venue – The bigger the restaurant is, the more you’re likely to pay.
- The location of the venue – A pub in the middle of the countryside will usually be much more affordable than a high-end restaurant in London.
- The season – During busy seasons, such as summer and Christmas, you’ll have to pay more.
- The day – Expect to pay more on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
- The number of guests – The more guests you invite, the more expensive it will be.
- The food – Letting guests order off the regular menu will be more expensive than serving everyone the same set menu.
- Customisations – If you’re asking for a lot of customisations, the price will be higher.
- Service charge – Ask the restaurant if there will be a service charge included on the final bill.
- Minimum drinks spend – Check whether there’s a minimum drinks spend and if you’ll have to make up the difference if this isn’t reached.
- Entertainment and music – Whether you choose a DJ or live music, the cost will fluctuate.
There are then the other costs that are associated with a wedding, such as your photographer and/or videographer, transport to the venue, rings, cake, and attire – these can all have varying costs depending on your style, tastes and preferences.
To discover ways to cut costs for your big day, read our ultimate guide to saving money on your wedding.
What are the pros and cons of a restaurant wedding?
If you’re seriously considering a restaurant wedding, you may want to weigh up the pros and cons to make sure it provides you with everything you want on your big day.
The pros of a restaurant wedding
- The cost is a huge pro. Remember, you may pay less 30% more than two-thirds less than the average cost of a wedding venue in the UK.
- The food will be the star of the show, made by experienced chefs whothat cook similar food every day of the week.
- The atmosphere will be intimate, with only your closest loved ones there with you. If you’re hosting in a pub, you can always invite more guests in the evening to party at the reception.
- Logistically, a restaurant wedding is simple, with everything you could need right there.
The cons of a restaurant wedding
- You’ll have to be quite ruthless with your guest list to make sure you’re not too cramped.
- Your favourite restaurant might not be the best choice, especially if it doesn’t have an open floor plan.
- Depending on the restaurant you choose, there might not be room for a dance floor.
- You’ll likely have to choose the sort of cuisine that the restaurant specialises in, though they may have some options that are more in keeping with traditional wedding food.
How to choose the right restaurant for your wedding
The first thing you should do is familiarise yourself with your top contenders. Book a table so you can get a feel for the atmosphere, the service and – most importantly – the food. If you like it, speak to the manager and let them know what you’re considering – they can tell you if it’s something they offer and what they can do to help make your wedding extra special.
We recommend choosing a restaurant that the two of you have a special connection with. Perhaps it’s somewhere you had your first date, or where you got engaged, or where you spent many Saturday nights enjoying a meal and a bottle of wine together.
You’ll also want to think about practicality. Is there space for you to walk down the aisle with your guests watching on? Is there room for all the guests you’d like to invite? If there’s no function space, can the tables be moved to fit a DJ and dance floor? Think about what you’d like for your wedding and whether the restaurant could accommodate everything.
Browse our huge selection of restaurants to find your ideal restaurant wedding venue.
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