What is a Dry Hire Wedding Venue?

A dry hire venue is a property or area that is hired for the space, and the space only. This means that any additional amenities are not typically included when hiring a dry hire venue and the likes of catering, staff, entertainment and event management will need to be sourced from elsewhere.

Whilst ‘all inclusive’ package weddings are great, dry hire is the perfect option for couples who want more control of their wedding day. They can choose their own catering and suppliers, can manage their budget more efficiently and can intertwine multiple cultures throughout the day.

When looking around venues, the different pricing structures can be overwhelming to some. Venues can offer different packages, different seasons, different tiers and different inclusions – it’s a lot! So we’ve broken down the key differences between Dry Hire and Traditional Package weddings and what’s usually included with each offering.

Dry Hire Weddings

- Hire of the venue, and the venue only
- Depending on the venue, cutlery, crockery & linen is sometimes included. It’s always worth double checking with the venue!
- All other elements will need to be booked externally. This includes: catering, event management, bar services, decorating and entertainment.
- Pricing is usually one total amount which will cover the venue hire for a set period.

Traditional Package Weddings

- Each venue usually have their own packages and package inclusions. As a standard, cutlery, crockery, linen, catering and drinks are included.
- Pricing can vary in structure. It can sometimes be displayed as price per person, as price person + venue hire fee or as one total amount based on a specific number of guests.

When booking a Dry Hire venue, you’ll have an entirely blank canvas to work on. Basic facilities will usually be included within that venue hire fee including the space itself, a kitchen for your caterers to use, lighting, tables & chairs and heating. Couples or their event managers will then be required to organise all other elements of their special day. This includes catering & staff, drinks, décor, crockery, cutlery, linen, additional furniture and staff. Depending on the venue you choose, you may find that certain elements may already be included – so it’s always worth double checking with your venue before booking your suppliers.

English venues are not usually specialized in Asian or Afro-Caribbean cuisine, and some may not have the space or equipment to cater for a Halal or Kosher menu. With Dry Hire packages, you will have the choice of your own caterers. Each venue will normally provide you with a recommended suppliers list or, depending on the venue, you may be able to bring in an external caterer of your choice.

Over the years Oakley Hall has seen a delicious selection of menu offerings from caterers, from traditional Punjabi curries and aromatic Pakistani dishes to Afro-Caribbean chicken and goat stews!

Dry Hire venues are a great choice for couples who want to personalise their special day with a specific culture, religion, cuisine and/or aesthetic in mind. From traditional Hindu mandap set-ups and Sikh Anand Karaj ceremonies with over 300 guests to a three day Pakistani celebration, the world (or venue) is your oyster!

In many cultures and religions dietary requirements are sometimes present, but they cannot always be catered for by your venue’s kitchen team. When you hire a venue on a Dry Hire basis, you will have the flexibility to choose a caterer who can suit your needs by sourcing particular ingredients, bringing a skilled team of chef’s and creating cultural dishes in the traditional way that you want them.

So many couples today also want the flexibility to tailor the order and timings of their day(s). Working with a specialised caterer or event manager for your day will help you follow cultural traditions whilst personalising the format to suit you, your partner and your guests. Some couples also like to incorporate traditional musicians, dancers and entertainment which your event manager will be able to help you book.

When looking at Dry Hire pricing for a venue, you will normally find a flat fee which can vary from a few thousand to tens of thousands of pounds. There are a number of different factors that can determine the price of the dry hire fee including:

- The venue or the space that you are Dry Hiring
- What’s included in the Dry Hire fee
- The location
- When you’re looking to get married

When comparing the costs of a Dry Hire wedding to a traditional package wedding the cost is significantly lower. For a Saturday wedding in 2026 for 300 guests, the total amounts to £82,500. But the Dry Hire fee for a wedding at the same time and for the same number of guests will be £16,500. This gives you a great budget for catering, décor, event management and entertainment.

We understand, choosing the right Dry Hire venue for your wedding is complicated, overwhelming and sometimes stressful. There’s so many considerations to think about when selecting the right venue for you and your partner.

Below are the most popular questions that we get asked by our couples during the wedding planning journey. Hopefully these will give you a little inspiration and perhaps make you think of things you haven’t even considered yet!

- What is the maximum capacity?
- Are there bedrooms onsite? If so, how many?
- Do you allow fire ceremonies?
- Do you allow fireworks?
- Are there sound restrictions?
- How much is the Dry Hire package?
- Can I hire the venue exclusively?
- Can we have external catering at our wedding? If so, do they have to be from a preferred list?
- How do I secure my booking?
- What’s the payment process?
- What’s included in the Dry Hire package?
- Will there be another wedding onsite on the same day?
- Do we have use of the gardens?

Before dedicating time to visiting a venue and before you sign the dotted line, it’s so important that you check early on that the space can accommodate your wants and needs.

When working with an external property for a wedding or event, there are always regulations and restrictions that you have to be mindful of. These regulations are put in place by venues for health and safety reasons as well as out of respect for the couple, the venue’s team, your suppliers, any non-wedding guests and for the local surroundings.

Depending on your venue’s location and Dry Hire package inclusions, you may find your event will have timing restrictions for live DJs, bands and music. You may also see or hear reference to a ‘sound limiter’ which refers to the actual volume of the music/instruments that are being played. These music and sound restrictions are very common in venues and can vary depending on the location of the venue.

It's always exciting for venues when they welcome new suppliers to their properties. For the safety of the venue structure itself and for the teams’ safety, it’s crucial for any external company to provide evidence of recent PAT tests and Public Liability Insurance. It’s never worth risking the chance for something dangerous to happen to you, your guests, our teams or the venue.

For the couple themselves, we would always recommend getting wedding insurance. This one off payment doesn’t usually exceed over a few hundred pounds and it provides a safety net to fall back on should the absolute worst happen.