Cost of venues...is $22,000 outrageous?

Hello, I’m getting married in DT Vancouver BC. My venue cost is $10,000 for 50 ppl. That includes hors doeuvres, signature cocktails, 3 course meal, cake, gratuity and day of coordinator.

For a reference point, we are paying 23,000 for our ceremony/reception venue, and it includes hors d'ouvers, 3 course dinner, wine on the table, open bar, late night snack, day of coordinator, bride and groom suites all day, gratuity and HST, and they will do most of the set up and tear down. So personally with what's included in yours it seems expensive. I'm in southern Ontario.

I agree though, when you start planning you often have no idea what is a normal cost, how much you should spend, etc. I've found this community super helpful with stuff like that!

I wouldn't go with that deal since it doesn't have much to work with besides the basics. I paid about $11,500 including gratuity charge for 72 guests. I would consider the other venues that are offering more for the less price range.

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Thanks for letting me know! Ya I suspected the same, at the end of the day it would be like a 32,000 dollar wedding with alcohol and everything else, which is far more than I wanted to spend. The venue is close to a park so that's probably why it's so much money.

I'm so impressed with the level of feedback from this community!! You guys are the best.

Agreed with what many have said. It’s pricey given that it doesn’t include alcohol. But you have to keep in mind what you’re getting for that price and the quality etc. Out of curiosity may I ask which venue? We saw one venue we loved in Cambridge (I believe it has now shut down) that was roughly $260/person but that included alcohol (still very pricey nonetheless).
Also/ yes ... gratuitous is added based on the total Bill so that may be a bit pricey

I think that is way too much for not including alcohol

That does sound steep especially since it doesn’t include alcohol. What else does it include? (I’m mostly wondering about: officiant, table linens/cutlery, tables for food/activities, day of relief room for the couple (not overnight, just where you chill before the ceremony), any day of coordination) or is the price basically for the space and the food?
Also, you shouldn’t pay HST on a gratuity. It should be built into the price after the subtotal. Perhaps the pricing and contract could use a little more looking over in case they have some other weird things too.

That is quite high, especially without an open bar. I'm now really curious as to what the food menu is for that price.

To put into comparison, I can get the following for $22K:

1) A ceremony and reception in a swanky downtown Toronto hotel for 75 people with hors d'oeuvres, five hour bar, wine during dinner, three course plated dinner, one night room and breakfast next morning for the couple, and valet parking.

2) A ceremony and reception for 120 people in an uptown hotel with hors d'oeuvres, five hour open bar, four course plated dinner, room for the couple for the night + their anniversary, coat check, spa day for the couple, and parking.

This is all Toronto pricing. I can get more if I go further into the suburbs or out of the Greater Toronto Area.

Most venues do not include a DJ. a photographer or decor in their packages. But I am surprised they didn't at least give the wedding couple a room for the night. Sounds like covid hit them hard and they're really pricing aggressively to make up for it.

The gratuity is normal. Mine was 18%. But $22,000 for food and venue only... that’s essentially $220 per plate. I would think this is okay if alcohol is included, but without alcohol that is quite steep. How much more is alcohol per person? Most people usually give $100 as a gift per person (some will give more some will give less)...

If it was a package with alcohol I wouldn't think that was horrible but I think that is way too much without. Do you have many options where you are to keep looking around?

My ceremony and reception for 50 guest was costing about 9000$. That is 3 Corse dinner open bar, house wine use of the bridal sweet and outdoor patio with heating. This also includes a discount for being on a Friday and before official wedding season starts.


22000 dosent sound unreasonable.

This seems a little high...

Our venue doesn't charge as a "package", but charges seperately for food, alcohol, and ceremony services.

To compare, our venue is charging $1000 for ceremony set up (arbour and chairs)
Our reception venue is free of charge if the event is catered, so for catering for 100 guests, it will cost us approx. $40/plate plus HST and 15% gratuity for a total of about $5,200.

We are opting out of tray passed appetizers - but even if we did get them it would add on approx. an extra $2000.

So for the services you are receiving (minus the sparkling wine toast), our venue would charge approx. $8,200.

Technically, our decorator will do set up and tear down. We are paying an extra $3000 for a decorator with set up and tear down, so that would put our total to $11,200 if you include the set up and tear down aspect. About half of your quote.

We also get a night in the honeymoon suite included, and a 15% discount on hotel rooms for guests.

You pretty much have to decide if your dream venue is worth the extra cash!! I think you can definitely get a lower price on the things you are receiving elsewhere.

In terms of other costs:
DJ - we are paying $850 for ceremony and reception music
Photographer - $2300 for 8 hours of coverage
Liquor - We were quoted $3500 for an open bar but this is an overestimate and we are refunded the balance not consumed

At first i was going to say no, its not crazy. But after reading your description and seeing that this does not include open premium bar, then yes I think thats too much.

Essentially, its $220 per plate which is already an above average rate if there WAS open bar included, so without open bar its alot.

May I ask which venue this is?