Ask what “dry hire” means here
The term changes shape depending who you ask. One owner means a field and a gate. Another means a barn, toilets, furniture and someone to open up for you. Neither tells you enough to book on its own, so get the inclusions, exclusions and hire period written into the agreement, along with exactly which areas your guests and suppliers can use.
A field hire booking usually leaves more for you to coordinate yourself. Ask which suppliers you are free to choose and whether an approved list applies. A barn wedding venue or another outdoor wedding venue may already bundle some of that together. Compare the actual wedding you would have at each place, same guest numbers, same timings, not the headline price.
Put both quotes on the same sheet
Go through these rows for each option. Against every item, note whether it is included, what the separate quote is if not, who is actually supplying it, and anything still waiting on an answer. A blank cell is a question you haven't asked yet, not a saving.
| Budget line | What to compare in both quotes |
|---|---|
| Hire | Areas, exclusivity, deposit, taxes and payment dates. |
| Structures | Marquee or tipi, covered catering space and delivery. |
| Flooring | Dance floor, dining floor and paths between facilities. |
| Power | Available supply, generator, fuel, distribution and lighting. |
| Toilets | Units, accessible provision, servicing and collection. |
| Catering | Food, staff, kitchen equipment, water and waste handling. |
| Furniture | Tables, chairs, linen, bar and delivery or collection. |
| Labour | Installation, coordination, clearing up and dismantling. |
| Overnight | Camping area, tents, facilities and departure arrangements. |
| Rain | Covered capacity, wet routes and changes if ground softens. |
| Access | Delivery vehicles, parking, unloading and ground protection. |
| Setup days | Extra hire days, supplier access hours and final clearance. |
Keep refundable deposits separate from what you're actually spending, but budget the cash to pay them anyway. Ask whether each supplier quote includes delivery, installation and removal, because those details can move a comparison a long way even when the headline hire looks the same.
Give two guest counts
Tell the owner your daytime and evening numbers, then state separately how many might stay overnight. Permission to hold a wedding does not automatically mean camping is on offer. Ask which area is available, what accommodation counts, when guests can arrive, and which facilities still work overnight.
Check how dinner guests, evening arrivals and campers actually move around the site. A toilet block that's too far away, or a narrow entrance, can change your furniture layout, your lighting plan and your delivery schedule. Send suppliers a site plan and get them out for a visit if anything needs measuring on the ground.
Agree the wet-weather and handover plan
Ask where everyone would gather in sustained rain, and whether that space actually holds your full guest count. Confirm who decides about vehicle access once the ground goes soft, and what the alternative is. Put supplier arrival times, keys, opening hours, rubbish removal and the final handover into one shared schedule, not four separate conversations.
Before paying a deposit, use the field hire checklist to close the remaining gaps. Keep the places you are comparing in your saved shortlist, then request the same itemised information from each owner. You can judge the full cost and the amount of organising each option asks of you.
