Booking your dream venue is the first major decision you’ll make in your wedding planning journey, and it’s also usually the largest investment. In this article, we take a look at wedding venue budget trends across Australia, so you know roughly how much you can expect to pay for your venue.
Your wedding venue will usually be the largest expense of your wedding budget. Setting your budget early and knowing what most couples spend on a venue is important so that you can make informed decisions throughout your wedding planning journey.
This year, we did a massive wedding survey of 4,200+ Australian couples to see what the average couple spends on their big day. If you’re planning your wedding in 2024 and beyond and you’re not sure what to expect regarding wedding venue costs, keep reading!
Need help finding the perfect venue? Our free Venue Finder service will match you with a list of your most suited wedding venues.
How our Venue Finder service works:
- We pair you with a list of wedding venues matched to your needs and budget
- We schedule site inspections for you at your preferred venues
- We finalise the details and arrange a contract for your chosen wedding venue
How much should I spend on a wedding venue?
Did you know, on average, the venue cost makes up 45% of the entire wedding budget? Of course, it’s worth noting that the number of guests you invite will directly impact how much you’re spending on your venue per head.
Every venue has its own way of selling packages. While some simply charge a minimum spend or minimum guest count and set a per-head price, other wedding venues set their pricing with a room hire fee or flat rate to use different spaces. Some venues do a combination of the two, using a hire fee for the ceremony space and minimum food and beverage spend for the reception.
In 2023, the average cost of a wedding venue in Australia was $15,230, with the average number of guests sitting at around 90 people. Based on this, the average cost of a wedding venue per head came to around $170.
Our Venue Specialists recommend that you have a vague idea of how many people you want to invite when you start talking about your wedding venue budget. Darcy Allen, our resident wedding expert, says you can expect to pay around $160 to $200 per head for your venue.
“I usually tell couples to assume they’ll spend around $160-200 per guest just on their venue and catering, but that number really ranges depending on location and the type of venue they’re after,” explains Darcy. “Because it’s really the biggest number in the budget, once you settle this part, it makes the rest of the budget easier to map out because you instantly have a clearer sense of what you have left to spend in different categories.”
It’s worth keeping in mind that most couples plan their weddings on a Saturday night, so the average couple is looking at per-person pricing at its peak. Non-Saturday weddings, daytime weddings, and cocktail-style receptions will have lower price points and are well worth considering as peak dates are booking up quickly for 2024 and beyond. On the flip side of that, higher-end venue pricing can range from $200-300 per person for bespoke menu creation and exclusive venue use.
Find a VenueNew South Wales Wedding Venue Cost
In New South Wales, the average cost of a wedding venue in 2023 was above the national average, coming in at $15,640. This is a significant increase from previous years, as many couples prioritised style and atmosphere during their venue search.
View Sydney Wedding VenuesVictoria Wedding Venue Cost
What does a wedding venue cost in Melbourne? In 2023, the average Victorian couple spent $16,015 on their venue.
Our local Melbourne Venue Specialists recommend budgeting in that sweet spot of $160-200 per guest to keep things realistic and similar to what we’re tracking throughout Victoria.
Browse VIC Wedding VenuesQueensland Wedding Venue Cost
The average cost of a wedding venue in Queensland in 2023 was $13,474. If you’re getting married somewhere more urban, like Brisbane, your venue cost would likely increase to be a bit closer to the national average.
In many rural areas of Queensland, budgeting a range of $100-130 per guest is probably sufficient, though you’ll want to allow closer to $180 per head if the destination is closer to a city or a more popular wedding destination like the Gold Coast.
Browse Queensland VenuesSouth Australia Wedding Venue Cost
The cost of a wedding venue in South Australia for 2023 increased to $15,209.
View Adelaide Wedding VenuesWestern Australia Wedding Venue Cost
Our friends out west reported spending an average of $14,525 on their wedding venue in 2023.
To set a realistic wedding budget for your WA venue, our Venue Specialists recommend looking at previous years’ average wedding costs and calculating closer to $160 per guest.
View Perth Wedding VenuesACT Wedding Venue Cost
Canberra and the ACT have experienced a rise in the average cost of a wedding venue in the last year, increasing to $13,311.
In the ACT, our Venue Specialists suggest setting a range of $130-160 for your wedding venue budget, though there are many high-end venues in Canberra that may cost more.
View Canberra Wedding VenuesTasmania Wedding Venue Cost
The average cost of a wedding venue in Tasmania rose significantly from 2020 to 2023, from $8,658 to $12,842. We expect this number to increase even more for 2024 and beyond, as Tassie is quickly becoming a popular destination wedding location.
Browse Tassie Wedding VenuesWhat type of venue should I hire?
If you’re still searching for your dream wedding venue, consider your overall wedding priorities and the styles that resonate with you. This year, the most popular venue styles were outdoor and garden venues as well as rustic and romantic spots.
What’s the overall atmosphere you’re envisioning? Do you have a theme in mind that will be suited more to a particular venue style? Have you weighed up all the pros and cons of cocktail vs. sit-down weddings? All these details can work together to help you find what style of wedding venue will best suit your vision.
If you’re still not sure where to start with your venue search, our expert Venue Specialists are here to help! After a quick chat about your wedding plans and budget, they’ll match you with a list of beautiful venues to check out.
What should I look for in my dream wedding venue?
It can be hard trying to work out what to look for in a venue when you’ve never planned a wedding before! This is why we find looking at what couples have done in the past such a good guide for newly engaged couples.
One thing that couples love when looking for their venue is a dedicated wedding coordinator who listens to all of their ideas. This makes couples feel like the venue team really wants to help plan the day for them, especially when they provide suggestions of what will or won’t work for their vision.
Making sure all your cost inclusions and extras are clear from the initial enquiry or quote is also a big plus as it means you can budget accordingly for your other suppliers. Couples also like it when venue coordinators touch base to see if they have more questions or need more help, rather than just getting in touch when they need something.
On the whole, wedding venues are one of the highest-ranked vendors for a wedding day. In fact, venues scored a massive 4.9 out of 5 stars for their customer service and couple happiness score in 2023. Rest assured, you’ll be in great hands once you find your dream venue!