How to maximise your venue budget
When it comes to wedding planning, few decisions carry as much weight — or cost — as your venue. It’s more than just a location; it shapes the entire experience, from the atmosphere to the flow of the day. Whether your overall budget is €40,000 or €400,000, choosing the right venue is about more than aesthetics — it’s about making a smart investment that unlocks the rest of your celebration.
With the right approach, your venue budget can work harder, giving you the freedom to prioritise the parts that really bring your day to life: incredible food, unforgettable music, and the kind of personal details your guests will remember long after the last glass of prosecco. Let’s break those big decisions down!
Guests Stay on Site
If your venue offers accommodation, it’s more than just a bonus convenience — it can be a strategic part of your wedding planning (and budget). When guests stay onsite and cover their accommodation, it can help offset overall costs.
Hot Tips:
With everyone in one place, there’s less need for shuttles or complex travel logistics. That’s time, stress, and money saved — and it means no one’s stuck waiting for the last shuttle bus or older guests worrying about when the first one is!
When comparing venues with accommodation on-site vs off, it is important to factor in transport costs. These can be surprisingly hefty and will help you understand the true comparison.
Planning is generally nicer when you have to coordinate guests less! Not forgetting your guest experience is smoother and generally calmer (fewer questions for you!)
Lucy Loves for this: Borgo Corsignano
Choose a venue with a flexible policy
By being able to choose your own vendors you can completely control all budget decisions and costs
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Prioritise your vendor spend based on what matters to you and your wedding vision.
Be open for advice from your venue on what works well or vendors who are experienced at working there.
Lucy Loves for this: La Tonnara di Scopello
Plan B on site
Spending extra on a backup option you might not even use can feel like a frustrating gamble — but because most venues require you to book Plan B in advance, it’s a decision that needs to be made early on.
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Venues with indoor spaces or an on-site marquee are worth exploring to avoid this added expense.
Always check if the wet weather option comes at an additional cost and when this would need to be booked and paid for. Some venues charge for the use of indoor spaces, so assume nothing!
Lucy Loves for this: Villa Arvedi
Photo credit: Studio Chloe David
Equipment on site
When comparing venues, one often-overlooked detail is what’s already on-site — and it can make a big difference to both your budget and logistics.
Some venues come fully equipped with chairs, lounge furniture, dancefloors, and even bar setups already in place.
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Check what is included in the standard rental fee and ask for a breakdown.
When comparing venues, make sure you factor in the cost of external hire and transport fees which will come with, against a venue which has everything on-site.
Some venues won’t move furniture so it is worth clarifying what can stay and what can be removed.
Lucy Loves for this: Borgo del Carato
Choosing a venue isn’t just about the aesthetic, although we know that’s the fun part! We have seen couples time and time again fall in love with a venue, forget to ask the right questions and be hit with a surprise invoice when they are too deep in the planning process to do anything about it!
In The Club you will receive the support you need to avoid overspending and overcommitting; with access to a wedding planner 24/7 to sense-check your big and small decisions. Join our planning membership today and get it right each and every time.
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