Dry-hire venues are booming. Bridebook reported searches for dry-hire wedding venues up 188% year on year in June 2026. The appeal is obvious: you choose every supplier, often for less than an all-inclusive venue. The catch is that a dry-hire venue is an empty room, barn or field. Everything else — the bar, the music, the lights, sometimes even the power — is down to you. This checklist covers what to ask the venue and what to book.
Questions to ask the venue first
Does the venue hold a premises licence, and can outside bars sell under it? If not, a Temporary Event Notice will be needed.
What power is available, where are the sockets, and is there a limit? Bars, sound and lighting all need it.
Is there a curfew or a noise limit, and is there a sound limiter fitted?
What are the access times for set-up and breakdown, and can vehicles get close to where the bar will stand?
Are there restrictions on candles, haze or fixing anything to walls and beams?
The bar
You have two main choices: a fully staffed bar that brings its own stock and licence, or dry bar hire, where you supply the drinks and we supply the bar and team. Our guide to dry hire vs a staffed bar compares the two honestly.
Either way, check the bar brings fridges, ice, glassware or premium plastics, and service equipment. A dry-hire venue won't have any of them.
For volumes and timings, use our wedding drinks planning guide.
Sound
You'll need sound for three moments: the ceremony (so people at the back hear the vows), the speeches (a reliable radio mic) and the evening party.
Lunar Sound covers all three from one set-up, which saves moving kit around mid-day.
Lighting
Barns and marquees go dark quickly, especially in autumn and winter. Plan for the room as it will look at 9pm, not at 2pm.
Festoon and uplighting from Lunar Rig change the whole feel of a bare space, and illuminated LOVE letters from Lunar Lights give guests an obvious photo spot.
The easy way: one crew for all of it
Every extra supplier at a dry-hire venue means another arrival time, another set of power needs and another phone number on the day. Booking bar, sound and lighting together means one crew, one plan and one point of contact — which is why our packages exist.
More wedding planning: weddings by Lunar Events Group