When you first start looking at wedding venues, there are lots of terms and phrases that come up that you might not have heard of before. So, in an effort to familiarise you with the lingo that goes along with shopping for a wedding venue, we wanted to answer a (very!) frequently-asked question with this feature. We're often asked, "what does exclusive wedding venue hire mean?" or, put another way, "what is an exclusive-hire wedding venue?" and today, we're providing a handy explainer!

What Does Exclusive Wedding Venue Hire Mean?

Exclusive wedding venue hire or private wedding venue hire is when a wedding venue gives a couple the option to hire the entire venue, for use by themselves and their guests only. This means that there won't be any tourists, non-wedding guests or other weddings there, just your guests, the venue staff and any wedding suppliers you've hired. The benefit of this is that you and your guests will feel like you're in your own little world on the day, and the wedding will take on the atmosphere of a big, luxurious house party! Exclusive hire isn't offered by all wedding venues. Large hotels typically can't offer exclusive hire, as they will have guests staying in their rooms, eating in their restaurants, etc. on the same day as your wedding. But depending on where the ceremony and reception spaces are located (and whether they have their own private entrances), you may still be able to create a similar vibe at this style of venue.

What Kind of Venues Offer Exclusive Hire?

Exclusive hire is typically offered by alternative, castle, barn and country house-style venues, as well as some city venues, where hosting weddings and other events is their main source of income. This allows them to host weddings without having to accommodate tourists and other non-wedding guests. Some venues only offer exclusive hire, while others will offer it as an optional extra with an extra charge. Hotels tend not to offer exclusive hire, as they have guests coming and going all year 'round, although some do. Some venues and hotels with multiple spaces offer exclusive hire of a certain area, but not the whole site. So when you're chatting to prospective venues about exclusive hire, it's worth asking what specific areas or spaces will be exclusively yours on the day.

Looking for our favourite exclusive hire wedding venues? You'll find them here!