Ask most wedding venues what they charge and you will get a brochure, a follow-up call or a promise to send across a proposal. What you rarely get is a straight answer. Here is ours.

Let's be honestWhy venue pricing is so vague

A BarnYard wedding is not a fixed price. It depends on which package you choose, how many guests you are inviting, which spaces you are using and the time of year. That is not evasion. It is how venue pricing works anywhere, and any venue that quotes you a single number without knowing those things is telling you very little.

What we can do is explain exactly what shapes the cost so that when you enquire, you are not walking in blind. Plenty of couples will not even contact a venue if pricing is not mentioned somewhere online. We would rather you arrive informed than surprised.

Your starting pointThe four wedding packages

We offer four packages: Traditional, Twilight, Intimate and Signature. Each is built around a different kind of day, from a full celebration in the Arboretum for up to 300 guests to a smaller, more personal gathering in the Apple Barn.

Traditional is a full daytime wedding in the Arboretum: ceremony, three-course wedding breakfast, evening reception and bar until midnight. Twilight shifts the emphasis to the party, with a later afternoon ceremony and an evening of food and dancing. Intimate is for up to 30 guests in the Apple Barn, a private ceremony and sit-down meal on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday. And Signature is full private hire: every building and outdoor space at The BarnYard exclusively yours for the day.

The package you choose sets the framework for the price. Your guest numbers, date and day of the week then move you within that range.

The full pictureWhat is actually included

The Traditional Arboretum package is genuinely all-inclusive. It covers venue hire from 9:15am to midnight, hot and cold canapés after your ceremony, a choice of welcome drink, a three-course sit-down wedding breakfast or a daytime BBQ, half a bottle of wine per person, mineral water on every table, a glass of Prosecco for your toast, and your evening food for all your daytime guests plus up to 20 additional evening guests. We also include round and trestle tables, elegant Chiavari chairs, starched white tablecloths and napkins, white china, polished cutlery, crystal glassware, three large crystal chandeliers, warm white fairy lights, foliage garlands, uniformed waiting and bar staff, an informal toastmaster, a table plan easel, a complimentary personalised BarnYard wedding sign, and our Leave in Luxury transport concierge service for you and your VIPs at the end of the night.

We are an all-inclusive venue by nature. Our kitchen, our team and our spaces sit under one roof, which means fewer suppliers, fewer moving parts and far less for you to coordinate.

What sits outsideThe extras you will need to budget for

Being honest means naming the things that are not in the package price. These are the most common additions:

  • Entertainment: Your band, DJ or ceremony musician is separate. We have a list of recommended suppliers who know the venue well, or you are welcome to bring your own. Performers will need their own public liability insurance and PAT-tested equipment, and our team will confirm the exact requirements with you.
  • Photography and videography: Entirely separate. The right photographer is one of the best investments you will make for your wedding day, and costs vary widely.
  • Flowers and styling: The BarnYard is a beautiful space that needs very little dressing, but elaborate florals or bespoke table styling are your budget to plan.
  • Guest accommodation: We do not have on-site bedrooms. Our local hotels and taxi guide covers the options your guests will use most.
  • Stationery and favours: Table plans, menus, orders of service, those are entirely down to you.
  • Kent Registrars' fees: These are charged directly by KCC and are separate from anything The BarnYard charges. We book your ceremony with the Registrars on your behalf, but their fees go to them.

The question behind the questionAre there any hidden fees?

This is what couples are really asking. They have read the forums. They know about corkage charges that appear after the deposit is paid, overtime fees that kick in at midnight, and cake-cutting charges that nobody mentioned at the viewing. These things are real, they happen at venues across the UK, and they are a fair concern to raise with us directly.

Here is where we stand:

  • Corkage: We do not offer corkage. Outside beverages are not permitted at the venue. All drinks are served from our fully licensed bar, which stocks a wide selection at competitive prices. If you have a specific drink in mind for your welcome reception, speak to our team and we will do our best to accommodate it.
  • Overtime: Our bar closes at 11:30pm and the venue closes at midnight as standard. If you want to push the finish time, a late bar licence extension is available at £550 for an extra hour (closing at 1am) or £350 for half an hour. This is arranged in advance, not presented to you mid-evening.
  • Cake cutting: There is no charge to cut and serve your wedding cake. It is announced by our DJ as part of the evening and handled by our team at no extra cost.
  • External supplier fees: We do not charge your photographer, florist or band a fee to be on site. Your suppliers are welcome at The BarnYard without any additional cost to you or to them.
  • Damage deposit: A refundable £500 damage deposit is taken with your final balance and returned in full after the wedding, provided there is no damage. It is not a charge, it is held and given back.

In fact, our brochure says it plainly: no hidden costs. If there is anything not on this list, ask us. We would rather you know before you book than discover it afterwards.

Timing and datesHow the calendar affects the cost

Saturday weddings in peak summer months (June, July and August) carry the highest prices. Fridays and Sundays sit below that, and Sunday-to-Thursday dates in quieter months are meaningfully lower. The quietest autumn and winter dates are the most affordable for an Arboretum wedding, with the Traditional package starting from £6,000 for a Sunday to Thursday. The same package on a Saturday in peak summer rises to around £15,950 in 2027.

December is a special case. The Arboretum is beautifully dressed for Christmas throughout the month, and the pricing reflects both the season and the setting. If a festive backdrop is part of your vision, build it into your budget conversations early.

Winter and midweek dates offer some of the best value at The BarnYard, and the orchards and surrounding grounds have a quiet, stripped-back beauty in those months that summer cannot replicate. If your guest list is flexible on timing, it is always worth talking through the full calendar when you visit.

The realistic totalWhat a BarnYard wedding actually costs

All prices are inclusive of VAT. The Traditional Arboretum package starts from £6,000 for a Sunday to Thursday wedding in the quietest months, based on a minimum of 50 adult guests, with catering, evening food and everything listed above included. A Saturday in peak summer rises to around £15,950 in 2027. Twilight weddings in the Apple Barn start from £3,450 venue hire, with catering priced separately. The Intimate package is a flat £5,000 for up to 30 guests on a Monday to Wednesday in 2026.

Because we are all-inclusive where it counts, the price you see at enquiry is much closer to what you actually pay than at venues that start low and build upwards through add-ons. The couples who most regret their venue choice usually booked the one that seemed cheapest, then found the real cost in the extras. Whether you choose The BarnYard or not, we would rather you know what to look for.

Quick answersCommon pricing questions

Do you have a minimum spend?
Yes. Minimum guest numbers apply to each package and vary by season. For the Traditional Arboretum package the minimum is 50 adult guests in quieter months, rising to 80 adults in peak summer. These minimums are built into the starting prices above.

Can we see a full quote before committing?
Yes. We do not ask for a deposit without walking you through exactly what is included first. If you have a specific budget, tell us at the viewing and we will be upfront about whether we can work within it.

Is the deposit refundable?
To secure your date you pay an initial reservation fee of £1,250 and sign our Terms and Conditions. A second payment of £2,750 follows to confirm your full-day booking. Full cancellation terms are set out in those T&Cs, and we strongly recommend taking out wedding insurance to protect yourself against unforeseen circumstances.

Are prices quoted inclusive of VAT?
Yes. All BarnYard wedding prices are inclusive of VAT, stated clearly on every pricing sheet we send.

Can we pay in instalments?
Yes. The payment structure is: £1,250 to secure your date, a second payment of £2,750, and the final balance due no later than seven days before the wedding. Your final wedding meeting is held about twelve weeks before the day for Arboretum weddings, six weeks for Twilight, where you finalise details and the balance. We can also talk through handy payment plans at your viewing.

What if our guest numbers change after we book?
Final numbers are confirmed at the wedding meeting twelve weeks before the day. If numbers drop significantly it is worth talking to us early, as minimum guest numbers apply to each package. We will always do our best to find something that works.

Can we bring our own alcohol?
No. Outside beverages are not permitted at the venue unless expressly agreed with our team in advance. All drinks are served from our bar. If you have something specific in mind, come and talk to us about it.