Wedding Blog: Top Tips for Planning a Dry Hire Wedding Day

I have just completed my fifth wedding season in the gardens and I learn something new with each couple we see happily married here. As a dry hire venue we operate in a different way to the majority of wedding venues so I thought, with engagement season fast approaching, that it might be useful to share some things to carefully consider when looking at a dry hire venue.

Firstly, and quite crucially, what exactly is Dry Hire?

It is when the venue is supplied as a blank canvas, and you, as the hirer, get to choose, source and arrange all aspects of your day. This gives you a great deal of freedom and the option to focus on what is important to you as a couple, it is also a fun way to work with your friends and family to create a truly unique day.

The other side of this is that it will require more input, planning and organisation than a package venue would, so it won’t be the right option for everyone. It tends to work best for people who are very creative, have strong opinions on food and drink and who enjoy a spreadsheet or two!

Read on to see some important points to consider when deciding what sort of venue is right for you…..

Read contracts very carefully and thoroughly and never be afraid to ask lots of questions. It is particularly important for dry hire weddings that you fully understand what the venue is providing and what exactly you are responsible for sourcing and arranging.

I would make a list of all the things you will need to supply. If neccessary ask the venue to check this and make sure you have included everything.

All dry hire venues work slightly differently so it is vital you understand what you are getting before you sign a contract. Doing this at an early stage will make sure you are within budget and ensure you avoid additional, unexpected expenses later on.

Don’t see Dry Hire as a budget option. The venue hire will be lower than places that include packages. Make sure you factor in all the things you will need to get an accurate like for like comparison.

Creating your own bespoke day is not cheap, but done right, dry hire does provide some wonderful opportunities to be budget savvy. There will be no corkage charge, meaning you can source your alcohol from wherever you like, and you are not tied in to expensive drinks packages. It also means that if you are a wine buff you can enjoy putting together a perfect wine pairing for you and your guests. Essentially you get to choose where the bulk of your budget goes, we often attract real foodie couples who want to focus on great tasting, utterly delicious food for their guests. Without a set package, you can distribute your budget according to your passions and priorities.

The option to do the decorations yourself is also a great way to keep costs down, if you want to, as well as making sure that your day is a true reflection of you. Having a beautiful backdrop means you don’t need to spend much on flowers and decorations, unless that is your thing, in which case, there is plenty of scope and space to go crazy! Enlisting help from friends and family is another way to keep costs down, whilst also creating a fun bonding activity. In my experience, people genuinely love to help, it is a way of them showing their love for you and their support of your marriage.

Creative freedom - Take full advantage of this, it is one of the biggest positives to dry hire. You are being given a blank canvas and the freedom to create a truly unique day that really reflects you as a couple. Pinterest is now your best friend! Start a scrapbook and really enjoy the ideas process, you are only going to do this once. Working together on this first project as a married couple can give you such a sense of achievement and feels like a very fitting way to begin your future adventures together.

But where should you begin? Dry Hire weddings are not as daunting as they may first seem, firstly you are going to be dealing with wedding professionals, this is what these guys do, what they love, use their knowledge and expertise, ask for recommendations and advice. In my experience wedding suppliers love nothing more than chatting about weddings!

Here at Riverhill we have a recommended suppliers list, these are all people who have worked here previously, often for many years, they know us and the venue well and it adds another layer of security for you as you know you are getting someone reliable and trustworthy. When looking at venues, if they do have a recommended suppliers list, it is worth asking how suppliers get onto the list.

Always deal with as few suppliers as possible. You will often find that your marquee company can source your generator and your toilets, often they can help with furniture, lighting and bar building. Your caterer will have access to equipment hire, staffing and crockery. It will make your life easier to always put your suppliers in touch with each other, this way they will be making sure they are getting what they need. They know what they are dealing with better than you probably will and will ask the right detailed questions about electricity supplies, access etc. You can also always refer them to the venue for questions on access and set up. Always be sure to tell every supplier that it is a dry hire venue so they are prepared to bring everything they will need.

Ensure that everyone has clearly defined roles and that you have covered everything. A full running schedule is a valuable working document for you to be able to run through the flow of the day from set up to break down and make sure that there is a plan in place, and a person assigned to each element.

Communication is key! Ensure that your suppliers are communicating well with each other and with the venue. I would say it is very important to keep in touch with the venue, let them know what you are planning ahead of time. The more they know, the more they can advise and support you. I really like to meet up with our couples for coffee and chat about how their plans are coming together. It is a great way to get to know each other and feel comfortable here before the big day and it means we can make sure nothing has been missed.

I really hope that this has been helpful. As I said, wedding professionals do love to talk about weddings so please get in touch if you would like to talk through your options for Riverhill. We can still take a couple more bookings for Summer 2024, or we are taking bookings for 2025 and beyond. Don’t forget Christmas and NY are peak engagement times, so it is worth looking at venues and suppliers as soon as possible!

For more Wedding inspiration please have a look at our Wedding page……And if you are preparing to ask a life changing question this festive period, we hope you get the best answer of all! Good luck. x