The Difference Between Wet Hire and Dry Hire Wedding Venues

Threeriversclub
3 min readAug 2, 2022

This blog will cover the differences between “dry hiring” and “wet hiring” a wedding venue, and how you can benefit from a dry hire wedding venue.

Planning a wedding can sometimes seem far more complicated than it should be, especially if you don’t know your options. The process can be a lot less tedious and time-consuming if you know what you’re working with! So, what is wet and dry hire?

‘Dry hire’ is a term used to classify venues that offer usage of their space and nothing else. ‘Wet hire’ refers to venues that allow usage of additional services besides space, like caterers and DJs.

There is no saying whether the dry or wet hire is better, as it boils down to the opinions of those having the wedding. However, dry hiring has its pros and cons, which will be mentioned.

Pros of Dry Hire Wedding Venues

Dry hire wedding venues are excellent for those who want a clean slate to spew their creative juices on. If you have several ideas for your wedding that are unique to you and your partner, dry hiring a wedding venue is likely to be your dream come true.

There is Increased Flexibility Regarding Your Planning

One of the biggest pros of dry hiring a wedding venue is that you have unlimited flexibility with aspects like cuisine and beverages. If you want to opt for an out-of-the-box menu or are religious and require your food to be halal, dry hiring will be your best friend.

Say you have a friend who happens to be a DJ and doesn’t mind reducing their rate for your wedding as a favour. You would’ve hit the jackpot if you decided on a dry hire venue!

You Could Save More If You Dry Hire

Dry hiring gives you the freedom to choose any supplier and allows you to weigh all your options before making a final decision. By sourcing several suppliers on your own, you’ll receive a number of quotes you can choose from instead of only having one option.

Having various quotes gives you the chance to decide which supplier will be most cost-effective and valuable for you and your partner.

Dry Hiring Allows You To Get As Creative As You Like

One of the primary reasons people choose to dry hire is because of the autonomy it brings! Dry hiring allows you to personalise and add special touches that make your wedding unique and memorable.

By being given the choice to be as creative as you wish, you won’t be limited in your creative efforts. Even if you and your partner aren’t insanely creative individuals but still want to dry hire, looking at how your venue was set up for previous weddings can give you some inspiration.

Cons of Dry Hire Wedding Venues

In contrast to the points mentioned above, dry hiring a wedding venue also presents a set of cons. The negative sides of dry hiring can be overlooked if you favor the pros more. However, the cons are there nonetheless.

Dry Hiring Can Be Stressful

The first con of dry hiring is that most of the planning is your responsibility, as you’ll be in charge of sourcing the suppliers that’ll bring your wedding to life. You’ll need to book the services separately and handle any issues yourself. The level of responsibility that comes with dry hire can be highly stressful to some.

Costs Add Up With Dry Hire

Although you’ll be in charge of the logistics and can pick which supplier will best suit your budget, some may find that the costs tend to pile up. Since you’ll be dealing with separate quotes, the cost might not seem like that much for that specific supplier. However, bear in mind that the total of your wedding might not be much less than you anticipated.

Final Thoughts

Planning a wedding can often be taxing and stressful, especially if you’re not willing to compromise on your budget. Your wedding shouldn’t leave you bankrupt and should be fun for all parties involved, so, keep in mind that options are plenty and there’s something for everyone!

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