How to Find an Affordable Wedding Venue That Doesn't Sacrifice Style

Finding a wedding venue is one of the biggest (and priciest!) decisions you'll make as you start planning. Turns out that nearly 40% of your total budget will go toward your event's location, so choosing an affordable wedding venue can mean the difference between overspending and saving big—and leave room in your budget for other things. But with thousands of venues out there, finding one that's actually affordable might seem easier said than done. Fortunately, we've got a hack on The Knot Vendor Marketplace that will help you narrow down all the venues near you to find ones within your price range—and target particular types of event spaces that tend to be more affordable. We've also got some expert tips and tricks to help you on your venue search. Ready to get started finding the best affordable wedding venues out there? We've got you covered.

In this article:

• How Much Is an Affordable Wedding Venue?
• How to Find Affordable Wedding Venues Near You
• Affordable Wedding Venue Types
• Tips for Selecting an Affordable Wedding Venue

How Much Is an Affordable Wedding Venue?

Affordability is a relative term, and means different things to different couples based on their own financial situation. When it comes to finding an affordable wedding venue, you'll have to consider your own wedding budget, as well as the average cost of a wedding venue in your area.

According to The Knot Real Weddings Study, the average couple spends around $11,200 on their wedding venue. Of course, that's just an average and the cost of a venue depends on a variety of factors, your wedding location in particular. More rural areas tend to be less expensive than cities—for example, the average cost of a venue in Kansas is $4,000, whereas in New Jersey it's over $26k. Check out our full state-by-state breakdown to find the average cost of a venue in your area. Venues that come in under that average number would be considered more affordable spaces for that part of the country.

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How to Find Affordable Wedding Venues Near You

With so many venues out there, it can be daunting to narrow down the list to the most affordable options. Fortunately, The Knot Vendor Marketplace can be a great hack in finding and booking budget-friendly venues. Here's how:

1. Search For Venues in Your Area

First things first: Head over to The Knot Vendor Marketplace and enter your wedding location into the search field. You'll then see a list of all the venues in your area.

Explore our affordable wedding venue roundups: Chicago | Los Angeles | Colorado | Florida | Maryland | Michigan | Minnesota | New Jersey

2. Filter by Price

You'll notice several filters at the top of the page, including one for price. There are four different price point options, ranging from inexpensive to luxury. By checking the appropriate boxes, you can filter out the more expensive venues in favor of more affordable options.

3. Check the Storefronts

Once you've filtered by price, take a look at the Storefronts for the remaining options. Many venues have their pricing information right on their page (look for the pink "View Pricing" button), plus you can also check out photos, read reviews and more.

4. Reach Out for More Info

Once you've narrowed down the list to a few venues you're interested in, send inquirie to request package details and more detailed pricing information. It's so easy—simply fill in the "Message Vendor" sidebar on the right, click "Request Quote" and you'll have all the info you need in no time.

5. Schedule Tours

A big part of choosing a wedding venue is actually visiting it in person. Select two or three venues you'd like to visit, and schedule tours. When you visit a venue, make sure to ask questions and make sure you feel comfortable with what you're getting for the cost.

Affordable Wedding Venue Types

While there are affordable wedding venues in pretty much every category, certain types of venues offer more money-saving options. Here's a list of venue types to look for as you're starting your search:

1. All-Inclusive Venues

What's an all-inclusive venue? Well, it's a venue that includes services beyond the space rental. Usually that means catering, but can also include rentals, music, flowers, officiant, lodging and more. Having all of these services packaged together can mean big savings.

2. National Parks

Nearly every national park allows weddings, and the cost (and scenery) make this venue pretty appealing. You'll need a permit to host your ceremony at a national park, which is usually a couple hundred dollars. Reception venues will likely cost more, but are still quite affordable—and often, a national park venue fee will be tax deductible (bonus!).

3. City Halls, Courthouses & Government Buildings

If you're cool with a straightforward, no-frills wedding, going the City Hall or Courthouse route is definitely an affordable option. You'll need to keep your guest list super-small, and will only be able to host your civil ceremony at these locations, but can host a reception elsewhere afterwards.

4. Restaurants

We love a restaurant wedding for many reasons, but most of all because it's an affordable venue with pretty much everything you need under one roof. Of course there's delicious food, plus restaurants are usually already well decorated, so you won't spend much on additional decor. If you're hosting a small wedding, you can rent out part of the restaurant or a private room. Larger weddings may require you to buy out the entire venue, which can be pricier.

5. Private Homes—Sort of

You might think that hosting a wedding at home is the most affordable option of them all. While it's true that you won't have to pay a rental fee for your own backyard, you'll likely have to bring in everything from tents to generators, portable restrooms and more. These expenses can add up very quickly, and at-home weddings often cost more than weddings at more traditional venues.

Tips for Selecting an Affordable Wedding Venue

Ready to start your affordable wedding venue search? There are a few things to think about as you embark on your venue hunt. Here are a few of our top tips:

Set your budget first.

It's impossible to know how much you can spend on your venue if you haven't set your budget. Decide if you'll be paying for your wedding yourself, or if you'll be receiving family contributions, and calculate your total budget. About 40% of your total budget should be reserved for your venue costs—once you have that number, you can start your search in earnest.

Pick your priorities.

What are the most important attributes you're looking for in a venue? Do you want outdoor space? Onsite lodging? Does it need to be near an airport or other transportation hub? Picking two or three top priorities (and writing them down!) will help you narrow down the list of available event spaces.

Be flexible about your wedding date.

The time of year and date of your wedding can have a major impact on your venue cost. Many venues offer lower rates for events held on days other than Saturday during the off-peak season (usually winter in most places).

Consider your guest count.

It's a proven fact: The fewer guests you invite, the more you'll save. According to The Knot Real Weddings Study, the average cost of a wedding with 50 or fewer guests is $14,400, as compared to the $38,000 for over 100 guests. By keeping your guest list tight, you'll be able to consider small wedding venues which tend to be more affordable. There's even data to

Enlist a planner.

It may seem counterintuitive that hiring a planner will help you save money, but it's absolutely true. Planners know which venues are the most budget-friendly, and can use their connections to ensure you get the most bang for your buck.

Look for natural beauty or already-established decor.

The cost of decorating a wedding venue can add up quickly. That's why choosing an outdoor venue surrounded by natural beauty can mean big savings—you can focus on the beauty of nature and skip the extra decor. Of course, hosting an outdoor wedding means you're at the mercy of Mother Nature—so be sure your venue has an adequate rain plan.

Host your ceremony and reception in the same place.

Find a venue that can do it all. Hosting your ceremony and reception at two different venues means you'll have to pay two separate site fees. Many venues offer a discounted ceremony rate if you book your reception at the site.

Target tax-deductible venues.

When looking for an affordable wedding venue, target nonprofits like historic buildings, gardens, museums or parks. Your site fee could be written off as a tax-deductible donation, which will help you save.

Find out what's included.

Different venues include different services in your wedding packages, so as you compare venue pricing, make sure you're comparing apples to apples. Sure, a particular venue may cost more than another, but if their fee includes catering, flowers, a DJ and more, it may actually be a better deal.

Look for additional fees.

Additional fees are quite common in wedding venue contracts. These fees include things like corkage fees, cake cutting fees, cleaning fees, permit fees and more. While these fees are likely standard and won't be waived, they're important to keep in mind as you're calculating your venue budget.

Read the contracts carefully.

Once you've selected the venue you'd like to move forward with, go through the contract with a fine-tooth comb. Make sure you understand the payment terms and schedule, and know what you're getting for your money. If you have questions or concerns, don't hesitate to ask. Only sign on the dotted line when you feel 100% comfortable with the agreement.