How much does it cost to open a wedding venue?

Many venues are in the $750,000 to $1 million range, and a lot more than you think are in the $1 million to $3 million range. It’s a capital-intensive business and there’s no way around that if you’re going to open a venue.

Are there any wedding venues that are profitable?

Many more venues than you expect, even the ones that look seemingly successful or are hosting a lot of events, are barely breaking even or losing money. From the outside, this may be very hard to see. You’re seeing venues that have built beautiful spaces, that have most of their Saturdays booked.

Who are the owners of a wedding venue?

As a wedding venue owner myself and a coach to wedding venue owners, I’ve been blessed to have hundreds of in depth conversations with perspective, new, and very established wedding venue owners. You’ll be really interested to hear some of the things that I’ve learned about how much wedding venue owners make.

Is it possible to break even as a wedding venue?

This business is a lot of work, and if you get in over your head in terms of debt and assume you’ll book 50, or 100, or 150 weddings a year, you could find yourself working nonstop and breaking even. That’s just not where you want to be. There are several different models in this business and on this point, I want to speak to venue-only venues.

What are the fees for a wedding venue?

Taxes and fees: From cake cutting fees, corkage costs, service charges, and more, your wedding venue contract may include additional fees you might not have expected. Be sure to talk to your venue coordinator to clarify these additional expenses before signing on the dotted line.

Do you have to pay for parking at a wedding venue?

Parking: If many of your guests will be driving to your venue, you may have to pay for valet parking or other parking fees. Taxes and fees: From cake cutting fees, corkage costs, service charges, and more, your wedding venue contract may include additional fees you might not have expected.

Why are there hidden fees at a wedding?

Service Fees Why It’s Hidden: No, these service fees aren’t a tip for the event staff—but another fee that venues charge to cover their own cost of hiring servers, coat checkers, and bathroom and parking attendants. Additionally, going with an outside baker or your own wine can raise the price.

Which is the most expensive decision when booking a wedding venue?

Choosing your wedding venue is a major decision (and a pricey one too). According to our 2018 Real Weddings Study, booking a wedding venue is the most expensive decision couples make while planning. Given the high stakes, you want to make sure your wedding venue contract is comprehensive.