An all-inclusive wedding venue bundles the event space with core services, typically catering, bar service, staff, tables, chairs, linens and tableware, and on-site coordination, under one contract. What is included varies by venue, and service charges, tax, gratuities, upgrades and outside vendors such as your photographer, florist and music are usually extra. Ask every venue for an itemized list of what its package covers.
"All-inclusive" is one of the most used phrases in wedding venue marketing, and one of the least defined. Two venues can use the same word and quote packages that cover very different things.
This guide breaks the phrase down line by line: what is usually included, what sometimes is, what almost never is, and the questions that turn two quotes into a fair comparison.
What Does All-Inclusive Mean at a Wedding Venue?
An all-inclusive venue, sometimes called a full-service venue, provides the space and most of the services needed to host a wedding, so you sign fewer contracts and manage fewer vendors.
The opposite is a venue-only or "blank canvas" space: you rent the room and bring in a caterer, bar service, rentals and staff yourself.
Most venues sit somewhere between the two. That is why the label matters less than the list behind it.
The Line-by-Line Breakdown
The table below reflects general industry practice, drawn from wedding planning guides and venue package pages. It is not a description of any one venue.
| Line item | Usually included | Sometimes included | Usually extra |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reception space and hours | Yes | Extra hours | Overtime |
| Ceremony site | Yes, often for a fee | Off-site ceremony | |
| Catering (cocktail hour and dinner) | Yes | Late-night food | Menu upgrades |
| Bar service and bartenders | Often | Premium or top-shelf bar | Extended bar hours |
| Wedding cake or dessert | Yes | Custom cake from an outside baker | |
| Servers, setup and cleanup | Yes | ||
| Tables, chairs, linens, tableware | Yes | Specialty linens, chairs or china | |
| Day-of coordination | Often | Full planning service | |
| Getting-ready suites | Yes | ||
| Decor and lighting | Centerpieces, uplighting | Custom design | |
| Photographer, florist, DJ or band | At some packaged venues | Usually separate vendors | |
| Service charge, tax and gratuities | Yes |
What Is Usually Included
The Space and the Hours
The rooms you use and the length of time you have them. Ask how many hours the package covers, when vendors can begin setup, and what an extra hour costs.
Food: Cocktail Hour Through Dinner
Most all-inclusive packages include passed hors d'oeuvres or a cocktail hour display, and a dinner served plated, family style or from stations. The key question is whether the food is cooked on site or brought in by a partner caterer.
Bar Service
Many packages include bar service for a set number of hours, with a defined level of drinks: beer and wine, a standard bar or a premium bar. Ask which brands are poured and how long the bar is open.
Staff, Setup and Cleanup
Servers, bartenders and the crew that sets and clears the room are usually part of an all-inclusive package.
Tables, Chairs, Linens and Tableware
Standard tables, chairs, linens, china, glassware and flatware are normally included. Specialty pieces are where upgrade fees appear.
Coordination on the Day
Many venues include a coordinator or manager to run the timeline on the day. This is not the same as a full wedding planner, who helps with design and vendors months ahead.
What Is Sometimes Included
- The ceremony site, if the venue has one, sometimes with a separate ceremony fee
- The wedding cake or a dessert display, and sometimes a champagne toast
- Getting-ready suites for the couple and the wedding party
- Basic decor, such as centerpieces or uplighting
- Late-night food at the end of the reception
- Packaged vendors such as a DJ or photographer, offered at some venues
What Still Costs Extra
Even a true all-inclusive package rarely covers everything. These are the lines couples most often find on the final bill.
- Service charge and gratuities. Often billed as a percentage on top of food and beverage.
- Sales tax on the package and the service charge.
- Upgrades: premium bar, extra courses, specialty linens, chairs or china.
- Outside vendors: photography, video, florals, music, hair and makeup, transportation and stationery.
- Attire, rings and the officiant, unless the venue packages one.
- The marriage license, which is always the couple's responsibility.
- Fees for outside vendors the venue does not normally work with, such as an outside baker.
The fastest way to compare quotes: ask each venue for a per-guest figure, then ask what is included in it and what percentage is added on top for service charge and tax.
Per-Guest Packages, Venue Fees and Food and Beverage Minimums
Venues price in three common ways, and each changes what "all-inclusive" means.
| Pricing model | How it works | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Per-guest package | One price per guest that bundles the room with food, drink and service, so the total scales with your guest count | What is included per guest, and what is added on top? |
| Venue fee plus catering | A flat fee for the room and time, with food and drink quoted separately | Which caterers are allowed, and what do kitchen, rental and staffing fees add? |
| Food and beverage minimum | A minimum amount you must spend on food and drink to book the space | Does the minimum include tax and service charge? What happens if we spend less? |
What Is a Food and Beverage Minimum?
A food and beverage minimum is the lowest amount a venue requires you to spend on food and drink for your event. If your order comes in below it, you generally pay the minimum anyway.
In general, tax and service charges do not count toward the minimum and are added on top, which is why a minimum can understate the final bill. Ask how the minimum is calculated before you sign.
All-Inclusive or Build Your Own?
| All-inclusive venue | Venue-only space | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of contracts | One main contract | Several: venue, caterer, bar, rentals, staff |
| Planning time | Lower | Higher |
| Food quality control | One kitchen and one team | Depends on the caterer you hire and the kitchen they are given |
| Flexibility | Choose from the venue's menus and options | Choose every vendor |
| Hidden costs | Service charge, tax and upgrades | Kitchen fees, rentals, delivery and setup charges |
| Best for | Couples who want fewer decisions and one accountable team | Couples who want full control and have time to manage it |
For more on the catering side of this choice, read our guide to in-house catering versus an outside caterer.
What TillingHouse Provides
TillingHouse at Suneagles Golf Club in Eatontown is built around one idea: the things that matter most on the day should come from one team, in one place. Here is what the venue provides, as published on our site.
- The rooms: the Ballroom for up to 500 guests, the Byron Nelson Room for up to 75, the Parlor with its 1926 fireplace, the Parlor Bar and the garden terraces.
- Ceremony and reception on one property: a ceremony in the Parlor or on the garden terraces, cocktail hour in between, and the reception in the Ballroom.
- In-house culinary: every course prepared in our own kitchen under Chef Ryan DePersio and Executive Chef Dennis Mathews, from passed hors d'oeuvres and cocktail hour to the final bite of cake. There are no outside caterers to manage.
- A tasting before the menu takes its final form.
- Bridal Suite: a private dressing suite with an on-site hair and makeup salon, three salon chairs, a separate bridal station and two bathrooms.
- Family Suite and Game Room: a sitting area for family and the youngest members of the wedding party, and a room with billiards, shuffleboard and barber-shop service.
- An events team that plans with you from the first tour, and a courtesy hold on your date while you decide.
- On-site parking at the property.
See the rooms and amenities on our weddings and private events page, and the kitchen's approach on our cuisine page.
Package details, bar options and pricing depend on your date, guest count and the day you picture. We walk through every line openly on a private tour, so you leave with a real number rather than a range. For more on how venue pricing works, read how much a wedding venue costs in NJ.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is included in an all-inclusive wedding package?
In general: the event space, catering, bar service, staff, tables, chairs, linens and tableware, and day-of coordination. Some packages also include the ceremony site, cake, getting-ready suites, basic decor or vendors such as a DJ. Always ask for an itemized list.
What does it mean when a wedding venue is all-inclusive?
It means the venue provides the space and most of the services for the wedding under one contract, rather than renting the room and leaving you to hire a caterer, bar, rentals and staff separately.
How much should an all-inclusive wedding venue cost?
It depends on your date, day of the week, guest count, menu and bar level. Most all-inclusive venues price per guest, so compare per-guest figures and confirm what is added on top for service charge and tax.
Are gratuities and service charges included?
Usually not. Service charges and tax are commonly added as percentages on top of the package. Ask each venue for both percentages before comparing quotes.
Does all-inclusive include a photographer, florist or DJ?
Usually not. Photography, florals, music and attire are typically booked separately, although some venues offer packaged vendors.
Can we bring our own caterer to TillingHouse?
No. All food at TillingHouse is prepared in-house by our culinary team, which means one team is accountable for the food, the service and the timing.
How do we get exact package pricing from TillingHouse?
Send your preferred date and approximate guest count through our contact page. Our events team will confirm availability and walk you through the options and pricing on a private tour.
See What Is Included, in Person
The clearest way to understand a package is to walk the rooms and ask about every line. Tell us your date and guest count, and our events team will arrange a private tour. Request a tour or call (732) 443-3008.
Planning your celebration?
We would love to show you around. Reach out to schedule a private tour.