# What does dry hire mean for a wedding venue? Dry hire generally means hiring the venue space itself, without catering, drinks, furniture or other services bundled in. It is not a fixed legal term, so treat it as a labelling question: ask each venue exactly what the hire covers and keep accommodation, catering and hire prices separate. A note on definitions first. Dry hire is not a term with a fixed meaning in French marriage guidance or in venue listings generally. So there is no universal checklist you can rely on. What the phrase usually signals is a stripped-back arrangement: you pay for the place, and you build the rest of the day around it. Because no listing site can set the boundaries for every venue, the only safe approach is to make each venue define its own inclusions in writing. ## How to pin down what a hire actually includes The Rare Venues directory is built around this exact problem. Listings carry dated facts, and the site tells you to verify rather than assume. Its own checklist says to check venue identity, event date and guest capacity, and to keep venue-hire, accommodation and catering prices separate. That last point is where dry hire confusion usually starts. References: [https://rarevenues.com/](https://rarevenues.com/). - Ask for the hire price and what it covers: the space only, or space plus tables, chairs, glassware and kitchen access. - Ask whether catering is exclusive to the venue or whether outside caterers are permitted. - Ask whether accommodation is included in the quoted price or billed separately. - Ask about access times, setup windows and any indoor alternative if the weather turns. - Confirm the full quote and availability directly with the venue before committing. References: [https://rarevenues.com/](https://rarevenues.com/). ## A concrete comparison Imagine two listings from the directory. One shows a starting price with a read package scope link; the other shows a starting price marked accommodation extra. The headline numbers look similar, but they may describe completely different arrangements. The first might bundle services you would otherwise source yourself; the second explicitly moves sleeping guests out of the quoted figure. A couple comparing only the two starting prices would be comparing unlike things. The directory itself warns that capacities and starting prices need confirming with the venue, and that a listing does not confirm availability. References: [https://rarevenues.com/](https://rarevenues.com/). ## The French legal ceremony is a separate matter Whatever a venue's hire terms, the legal marriage in France must take place at the town hall, in a room open to the public. The mayor may celebrate a wedding in another communal building on the commune's territory, though the public prosecutor can oppose this. A privately hired château or domaine, however beautiful, is not where the civil marriage happens. Many couples hold the legal ceremony at the town hall and then host the celebration at the venue. The town hall must also be in a commune where at least one partner has an enduring link, such as domicile or residence, or where a parent lives. References: [https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F930?lang=en](https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F930?lang=en). Timing matters too. The bans are displayed for ten days, and the marriage cannot be celebrated before the tenth day after publication. The day is fixed in agreement with the town hall, provided the marriage file is complete. So venue availability and town hall availability both need to fit the same calendar. References: [https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F930?lang=en](https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F930?lang=en). ## Practical next step When you shortlist a venue, send each one the same short list of questions covering hire scope, catering rules, accommodation, access times and the full quote. Then compare answers side by side rather than comparing headline prices. That turns an undefined label like dry hire into a decision you can actually make. References: [https://rarevenues.com/](https://rarevenues.com/). ## Sources - [https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F930?lang=en](https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F930?lang=en) — accessed 2026-10-18 - [https://rarevenues.com/](https://rarevenues.com/) — accessed 2026-10-18 Published 2026-10-18. Rare Venues editorial; AI-assisted preparation. ## Next step - [Start a search on rarevenues.com](https://rarevenues.com/) - [Explore towns & areas →](https://rarevenues.com/areas/) - [Haute-SavoieThe French AlpsExplore the destination ↗](https://rarevenues.com/locations/haute-savoie/) - [Find a venue](https://rarevenues.com/find/)