What's Actually Included in a Wedding Package? (And What Venues Don't Tell You)

You enquire at a wedding venue. They send you a beautiful PDF with three package tiers: Lace, Gold, and Platinum. The prices look reasonable. You get excited. Then you start asking questions, and the real cost starts creeping upward.

"Does that include the ceremony space?" No, that's a separate hire fee. "What about the bar?" There's a corkage fee of R45 per bottle. "And the cake stand?" That's R500 from our decor partner. "Do you provide linen?" Only white. If you want coloured linen, that's through our approved supplier at R65 per table.

By the time you have added everything up, the package that looked like R850 per person is actually closer to R1,200. And you feel like you have been misled.

This is not because venues are dishonest. Most are not. It is because the wedding industry does not have a standard definition of what a "package" includes, and every venue structures their pricing differently. What one venue bundles into their base price, another charges as an add-on.

This guide breaks down exactly what to look for, what to ask, and what typically gets left out.

The Two Pricing Models

Almost every wedding venue in South Africa uses one of two pricing structures. Understanding which model your venue uses is the first step to understanding what you are actually paying for.

Model 1: Venue Hire + Per-Person Catering

This is the most common structure. You pay a flat fee to use the venue (the building, the grounds, the ceremony space), and then a separate per-person fee for the food and service. The two fees are quoted separately, and you add them together to get your total.

The advantage of this model is transparency: you can see exactly what you are paying for the space versus the food. The disadvantage is that the venue hire fee often excludes things you assumed were included.

Model 2: All-Inclusive Per-Person Rate

Some venues bundle everything into a single per-person price. Venue hire, catering, basic decor, glassware, linen, service staff, and sometimes even a drinks package are all rolled into one number. You multiply by your guest count and that is your total.

The advantage is simplicity and predictability. The disadvantage is that it can be harder to see where your money is going, and the per-person number looks higher even though the total cost may be comparable.

At Riverside Country Estate, we use Model 1 (venue hire plus per-person packages) because we believe couples should be able to see each component of their cost. Our packages are tiered (Lace, Satin, and Silk), and each one lists exactly what is included so there are no surprises later.

What "Venue Hire" Should Include

When a venue quotes you a venue hire fee, this is what it should cover at a minimum:

Exclusive use of the ceremony and reception spaces for the duration of your booking. Confirm what "duration" means. Some venues give you the full day (8am to midnight). Others give you a set number of hours (say, 12pm to 11pm). If your decor team needs access at 7am but your hire only starts at noon, you may face an early-access fee.

Tables and chairs. Most venues include standard banquet tables and chairs. Confirm the type. Round tables? Rectangular? Tiffany chairs or plastic? If you want specialty furniture (wooden trestle tables, ghost chairs, crossback chairs), that is almost always a separate hire through a decor company. But basic tables and seating should be included.

Electricity and lighting. The venue's permanent lighting (chandeliers, downlights, wall sconces) should be included. If you want additional fairy lights, uplighting, or speciality lighting effects, that is typically a decor add-on.

Parking. On-site parking should be included and should be enough for your guest count. If the venue charges for parking or requires valet services, that is a red flag unless it is an urban venue with genuine space constraints.

Restroom facilities. Clean, maintained, and sufficient for your guest count. If the venue brings in portable toilets for larger events, confirm whether that cost is on you or on them.

Basic venue cleaning. The venue should be clean when you arrive and should handle post-event cleaning. You should not be expected to sweep the hall at 1am. However, some venues charge a "cleaning levy" if your event is particularly messy (confetti, glitter, excessive spills). Ask about this upfront.

What venue hire often does NOT include (but you might assume it does):

• The ceremony space (sometimes charged separately from the reception hall)

• A bridal suite or getting-ready room

• Sound equipment and a microphone for the ceremony

• Heating or air conditioning (some older venues charge for generator-powered climate control)

• Security or parking attendants

• A generator for load shedding backup

Always ask: "Is there anything we would need on the day that is not covered by the venue hire fee?" Force the venue to think through the full list, not just the obvious items.

What a Catering Package Should Include

The per-person catering package is where the biggest variance between venues shows up. Here is what a solid mid-range package (R900 to R1,200 per person in Gauteng, 2026 pricing) should include:

Pre-reception canapes. At least 3 to 4 varieties, served during the gap between ceremony and reception. Some venues include this in the package; others charge it separately. If it is separate, expect R80 to R120 per person for a decent canape selection.

A three-course meal. Starter, main, and dessert. Confirm: is this plated or buffet? Plated service is generally more premium and costs more. Buffet is not "lesser" but it requires different logistics (a 200-person buffet needs multiple serving stations to avoid queues). Also confirm: do you get a menu choice (guests pre-select their main), or is it a set menu for everyone?

Drinks. This is where it gets complicated. Some packages include a welcome drink and a toast drink. Some include soft drinks with the meal. Very few include a full open bar. If the package says "beverages included," ask exactly what that means. How many drinks per person? Which brands? Is wine on the table, or only served on request?

Service staff. Waiters, bar staff, and kitchen staff should be included. Confirm the ratio. A well-staffed event runs at roughly 1 waiter per 10 to 12 guests for plated service, or 1 per 15 to 20 for buffet. If the venue is understaffing to keep costs down, your service quality will suffer.

Crockery, cutlery, and glassware. Standard white crockery, stainless steel cutlery, and basic glassware (wine glass, water glass, champagne flute) should be included. If you want charger plates, coloured glassware, gold cutlery, or speciality items, that is a decor add-on.

Table linen. White tablecloths and white napkins are the industry standard inclusion. Coloured, textured, or patterned linen is almost always a separate charge through the venue's decor partner or your own supplier.

What catering packages often do NOT include:

• A full open bar (this is almost never included in the per-person price)

• Corkage fees if you bring your own alcohol

• A cake stand, cake knife, or cake cutting service

• A kiddies' menu (some venues charge a reduced rate, others do not offer one)

• Vendor meals (feeding your photographer, DJ, videographer, and coordinator)

• Late-night snacks (sliders, pizza, or a chip station after 10pm)

• Dietary-specific alternatives (vegan, halal, kosher) beyond the standard menu options

The Hidden Costs That Catch People Off Guard

These are the line items that appear on the final invoice and make couples say "I did not know about that." None of them are unreasonable charges in isolation, but together they can add R15,000 to R30,000 to your total.

Corkage. If you bring your own alcohol (which is often cheaper than buying through the venue's bar), most venues charge a corkage fee per bottle. This ranges from R25 to R75 per bottle in Gauteng. On a 100-person wedding where you go through 50 bottles of wine and 15 bottles of spirits, corkage alone can hit R3,000 to R5,000. Some venues charge per bottle opened. Others charge per bottle brought onto the property, whether opened or not. There is a big difference. Ask.

Overtime. Your booking includes the venue until a certain time (usually 11pm or midnight). If the party runs over, you will pay an overtime rate, typically R2,000 to R5,000 per hour. If you know your crowd likes to party late, negotiate the end time upfront rather than paying overtime rates on the night.

Generator and load shedding. Welcome to South Africa. If the venue runs a generator during load shedding (which it should), some pass the diesel cost to the client. This can be R3,000 to R8,000 depending on the duration and generator size. Other venues absorb this cost. Ask the question directly: "If there is load shedding on our wedding day, who pays for the generator?"

Ceremony sound. An outdoor ceremony needs amplification. If the venue does not provide a PA system and microphone for the ceremony, your DJ will need to set up early (which may cost extra) or you will need to hire a separate sound setup. Budget R1,000 to R2,500 for a basic ceremony sound system if it is not included.

Cake cutting. Some venues charge a per-slice fee (R15 to R30 per person) to cut and plate your wedding cake. This covers the kitchen staff's time and the plates used. It is a legitimate service, but it should be disclosed upfront, not discovered on the invoice.

Service charge or gratuity. Some venues add a 10 to 15 percent service charge on top of the quoted per-person price. This is common in hotel venues and less common at standalone estates, but always ask: "Is the price you quoted inclusive of all service charges?"

Decor restrictions that create costs. If the venue does not allow real candles (fire risk), you need to buy or hire LED candles. If the venue does not allow anything to be attached to walls or ceilings, your draping company needs freestanding structures, which cost more. These are not charges from the venue, but they are costs created by the venue's rules. Ask about restrictions before you brief your decor company.

How to Compare Packages Between Venues

Comparing wedding venues on price is like comparing phone contracts. The headline number means nothing without the detail. Here is a practical approach:

Step 1: Get the full list from each venue. Ask every venue for a complete, itemised quote that includes everything you will need on the day. Not just the package price, but every add-on: ceremony hire, bridal suite, corkage, cake cutting, generator, sound, overtime, service charge, parking, and anything else they can think of.

Step 2: Build a comparison spreadsheet. List every line item down the left side and put each venue's cost in a column. Add it all up. The venue with the cheapest per-person rate is not always the cheapest total.

Step 3: Factor in what is included for free. A venue that charges R50 more per person but includes the ceremony space, the bridal suite, a getting-ready room, and basic decor might be cheaper overall than the "affordable" venue that charges separately for all of those things.

Step 4: Ask about payment terms. When are deposits due? What percentage is non-refundable? Is there a price escalation between now and your wedding date? A venue that quotes today's price but reserves the right to increase it for a wedding 18 months away is not giving you a real quote.

What a Transparent Venue Looks Like

At Riverside, we publish our venue hire prices and per-person package inclusions clearly, and we make sure couples know exactly what is and is not included before they sign anything. Our Lace, Satin, and Silk packages each list every inclusion line by line. Venue hire for Willow Hall and Wisteria Hall is quoted separately and includes the ceremony chapel, the bridal suite, parking, and basic setup. We do not charge cake cutting fees, and our generator backup is included at no additional cost.

We do this because we have heard too many stories from couples who felt ambushed by their final invoice at other venues. Your wedding budget is finite. You deserve to know where every rand is going from day one.

The Checklist: What to Ask Every Venue

Print this list and bring it to every venue tour:

• What is included in the venue hire fee? (Get the full list in writing)

• What is included in the per-person catering package? (Every item)

• Is the ceremony space included or charged separately?

• Is the bridal suite included?

• What is the corkage fee per bottle? (Opened or brought in?)

• Is there a cake cutting fee?

• What is the overtime rate?

• Who pays for the generator during load shedding?

• Are vendor meals included or charged separately?

• Is there a service charge on top of the quoted price?

• What is the minimum guest count for our preferred date?

• Can we see a sample final invoice from a recent wedding of similar size?

That last question is the most powerful one on the list. A venue that is willing to show you what a real invoice looks like (with client names removed) is a venue that has nothing to hide.

At Riverside Country Estate, our wedding packages are designed for full transparency. Every inclusion is listed, every cost is disclosed upfront, and our coordinators walk you through the numbers in person so you leave with a clear picture of your total investment. No surprises on the invoice.

View Our Package Inclusions | Request a Detailed Quote

Riverside Country Estate is a wedding venue in Springs, Gauteng, hosting celebrations for 30 to 350 guests across our Open Air Chapel, Willow Hall, and Wisteria Hall. Explore our spaces