What is a dry-hire wedding venue? It is a venue where you hire the space only and bring everything else, your caterer, your décor, your suppliers, rather than booking an all-inclusive package. You get freedom and control; in return, you take on a bit more planning. The Outfields, an open-air dry-hire field at Valentines Park in Ilford, is a clear example: a blank green canvas for up to 500 guests.
Dry hire is one of those phrases that sounds technical and then turns out to be simple. If you have only ever looked at hotels and all-in packages, here is exactly what dry hire gives you, what you bring yourself, and how to tell whether it suits the wedding you want.
At a glance
- Dry hire = you hire the space; you supply the caterer, décor, drinks and team.
- You gain full control of food, layout, styling and timings, and lose the one-size-fits-all package.
- It suits couples who want a personal, distinctive day; it asks for slightly more planning, which a good coordinator and supplier network ease.
- The Outfields is an open-air dry-hire field at Valentines Park, Ilford (IG1 4UA), for up to 500 guests, 8 minutes from the station.
What you get with dry hire
The space and the freedom
- The venue itself, for an agreed time: at The Outfields, the open field for up to 500 guests, plus indoor space for 70.
- Full choice of caterer, including a halal caterer or any cuisine you want, with no fixed in-house menu.
- Your own layout and timeline, long tables or rounds, an early ceremony or a late party, set by you.
- Your own styling, florist, colours, lighting and décor.
- Support to make it easy: an on-site coordinator and an approved supplier network so dry hire never means doing it alone.
What you bring yourself
The flip side of all that freedom is that some things are your call to arrange. With dry hire you typically bring, or book through suppliers, your caterer and bar, furniture and tableware where needed, décor and flowers, lighting and any sound or AV, and a marquee if you want covered space. None of it is hard, and a venue with an approved supplier network and a coordinator makes it straightforward, but it is worth knowing up front.
An all-in package hands you a finished day. Dry hire hands you the day you actually wanted to build.
Dry hire versus an all-inclusive package
- Control: dry hire gives you full say over food, layout and styling. A package decides much of it for you.
- Personality: dry hire produces a day that looks like yours, not a room a thousand other couples have used.
- Effort: a package is lower-effort; dry hire asks for a little more coordination, eased by suppliers and a coordinator.
- Cost: dry hire can work out more flexible because you control where the budget goes. Actual prices vary widely by venue, season and supplier choices, so always enquire for a real quote rather than relying on headline figures.
On cost: dry-hire and outdoor venue prices around London vary enormously with date, guest numbers and what you bring, and any figure you see online is only a market estimate, not a quote. The Outfields is enquire-only, so for a real number for your day, send us your date and guest count and we will come back to you.
Is dry hire right for you?
Dry hire suits you if you want a wedding that feels personal, you care about the catering, or you want a non-standard setting like an open field rather than a function room. It is less ideal if you would genuinely rather hand everything to one supplier and not think about it. Most couples who choose The Outfields want the former: the freedom to build their own day on open ground.
The practical details
- Where: Valentines Park, Ilford Cricket Club, Cranbrook Road, IG1 4UA. Elizabeth line, roughly 12 minutes from Liverpool Street. Free on-site parking, plus street parking on Cranbrook Road.
- When: evening and weekend hire, with an on-site coordinator on the day.
- Suppliers: caterers, florists, lighting, marquee and furniture through our approved network, or bring your own.
For more on the open-air side of dry hire, our guide to the open-air alternative to a hotel ballroom covers weddings on the field, and the bring-your-own-caterer guide goes deeper on catering.
See what dry hire could look like for you
Send us your date and a rough guest count and we will reply within 24 hours with availability, and a real answer on cost for your day. No pressure, no hard sell.
Frequently asked questions
What is a dry-hire wedding venue?
A dry-hire venue is one where you hire the space only and bring your own caterer, décor and suppliers, rather than booking an all-inclusive package. It gives you full control of food, layout and styling.
What is included in dry hire and what do I bring?
Dry hire includes the venue for an agreed time. You bring, or book through suppliers, your caterer and bar, furniture and tableware where needed, décor, lighting, sound, and a marquee if you want covered space. An approved supplier network and a coordinator make this straightforward.
Is dry hire cheaper than an all-inclusive package?
It can be more flexible because you control where the budget goes, but actual prices vary widely by venue, date and supplier choices. Any figure online is only a market estimate, so enquire for a real quote.
Can I bring my own caterer to a dry-hire venue?
Yes, that is the main advantage. At The Outfields you bring your own caterer, including a halal caterer, rather than taking a fixed in-house menu.
Where can I find a dry-hire wedding venue near London?
The Outfields at Valentines Park, Ilford, is an open-air dry-hire venue for up to 500 guests, an 8-minute walk from Ilford station on the Elizabeth line, roughly 12 minutes from Liverpool Street.
The Outfields, an open-air event venue at Valentines Park, Ilford. Weddings, Nikah & Walima, Eid and cultural celebrations under the open sky.