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 hire costs 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 conducted our tenth annual wedding survey of more than 4000 Australian couples to see what the average couple spends on their big day. This perfectly positions our expert team to give you the most accurate data on the average wedding venue cost in Australia.
All of these insights have been gleaned from our in-depth Annual Wedding Industry Report. Download the report for a valuable snapshot of the average wedding in 2024 and beyond. If you’re planning your wedding in 2025 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
Find the perfect wedding venue with our Venue Finder and start planning today.
What is the average wedding venue cost in Australia?
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. Our team knows that it can be hard to estimate the cost of wedding venues without industry insights — that’s where we come in!
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.
If you’re searching for a convenient and transparent solution, consider Easy Weddings packages. They’re the ideal way to recruit 5-star vendors for your wedding—all with one easy payment structure.
So, how much does a wedding venue cost? In 2024, the average cost of a wedding venue in Australia was $15987, with the average number of guests sitting at around 88 people. 92% of couples who chose to wed in 2024 required a hired wedding venue. Our wedding budget calculator is the perfect tool to help demystify your wedding spend and empower you to take control of your wedding finances.
What is the average wedding cost per head in Australia?
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 $170 to $220 per head for your venue.
“I usually tell couples to assume they’ll spend around $170-220 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 $250 to $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 2024 was above the national average, coming in at $16881. This is a significant increase from previous years, as many couples prioritised style and atmosphere during their venue search. If you’re planning a wedding in NSW, make sure you visit our breakdown of the average NSW wedding cost for invaluable insights, tips and tricks.
Victoria Wedding Venue Cost
What does a wedding venue cost in Melbourne? In 2024, the average Victorian couple spent $16545 on their venue. Our report reflected a rise in Victoria wedding costs beyond venue expenses, with categories like florists, catering, and celebrants all increasing in price for 2024 and 2025.
Victorians favoured rustic winery wedding venues in 2024—a natural pick considering the gorgeous, rolling wine country just a stone’s throw out of the city.
Queensland Wedding Venue Cost
The average wedding venue hire price in Queensland in 2024 was $15039. 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.
Queenslanders in 2024 opted for modern-minimalist style venues in garden and outdoor settings. Queensland wedding costs differ from city to county, so our specialists recommend budgeting a bit higher if you’re planning on choosing a urban venue, with some fantastic affordable finds available in rural areas.
South Australia Wedding Venue Cost
The cost of a wedding venue in South Australia for 2024 increased to $15585. Couples in South Australia favoured rustic winery venues in picturesque locales such as the Barossa Valley and Adelaide Hills. South Australian wedding costs are rising year-on-year, with the average per head spend sitting at $352 per guest with all expenses and suppliers considered.
Western Australia Wedding Venue Cost
Our friends out west reported an average wedding venue hire price of $14153 in 2024. Western Australia wedding costs have been consistent with the nationwide 5% average year-on-year increase according to our annual report.
Western Australian couples took advantage of their famously good weather, and the most popular venue was a romantic outdoor or garden location.
ACT Wedding Venue Cost
Canberra and the ACT have experienced a rise in the average wedding venue hire cost in the last year, increasing to $13554.
Tasmania Wedding Venue Cost
The average cost of a wedding venue in Tasmania rose significantly from 2020 to 2024, from $8658 to $14028. We expect this number to increase even more for 2025 and beyond, as Tassie is quickly becoming a popular destination wedding location.
What 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 2025. Rest assured, you’ll be in great hands once you find your dream venue!
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