How much does a Mona Farm wedding cost?
Planning a wedding involves many moving parts, and one of the first questions most couples ask us is: “What will it cost?” Budgeting for your wedding is a big part of the planning process, and it’s important to know exactly what you’re getting for your investment.
In this post, we break it down transparently and clearly — so you can plan with confidence and compare us fairly to other venues.
Our wedding costs are structured across three key areas:
Venue Hire Fee
Food & Beverage
Accommodation
1. Venue Hire Fee
What’s Included and Why It Matters
When comparing venues, you’ll often see a “venue hire fee” or a “base hire fee.” What this covers can vary dramatically from venue to venue depending on how they operate.
Some venues offer what’s known as dry hire. This means the venue hire fee only covers an empty space, and you’ll need to arrange (and pay for) things like a marquee, toilets, power, lighting, catering equipment, staff, furniture, glassware and crockery separately.
Other venues (like us) take a different approach. Our Venue Hire Fee has been designed to include the key elements you’ll need to host your wedding, so you can avoid last-minute financial surprises.
While the starting price may look higher compared with a dry-hire venue, it usually works out to be more cost-effective (and far less stressful) once you factor in all the extras.
mona farm venue hire fee
our venue Hire Fee Includes:
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Exclusive use of our 124-acre estate (grounds, gardens, reception venue) for your booking
Dedicated Event Planner to guide you through the venue aspects of wedding planning
Detailed planning documents to capture all the information for your wedding and access to your own personal Wedding Portal
Access to our curated list of Recommended Wedding Creatives and exclusive Mona Farm rates
Complimentary mid-week stay at Mona Farm for the couple, following onsite meeting and wine tasting
Menu tasting for the wedding couple, following personalised menu development with executive chef
Individual guest invoicing by room for accommodation
Detailed event plans covering every aspect of your wedding day and other Mona Farm events (e.g. Welcome and or Recovery)
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Ceremony set up in Mona Farm’s signature spaces
Wedding arbour
Set up of post ceremony drinks and canapés in Mona Farm’s signature spaces
40 blonde Bentwood chairs
French-style signing table and chairs
Lawn games
Portable microphone and speakers
Bar
Bathroom facilities
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The Woolshed reception venue
15m x 20m premium clear roof Marquee with sides and floor in fixed location
Reception set up in The Woolshed or The Marquee
Long tables and blonde Bentwood chairs for the reception
White table linen and napkins
Crockery, cutlery and glassware
Cutting and serving of your wedding cake canapé style, wine barrel and/or cake plinths & cake knife
Easel (suitable for A1 or A0 signage), Gift Table and Wishing Well
Microphone and speakers in The Woolshed and The Marquee (with iphone connectivity)
Lectern
Commercial kitchen & bar facilities
Bathroom facilities
Fixed lighting
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Accommodation in The Shearer's Quarters (sleeps 2) on your wedding night
On site Operations Manager through event duration for onsite coordination and to oversee venue aspects of the wedding day and evening
Mona Farm bar and waitstaff
Set up of small personal items and decorations such as place cards, personalised menus, signage, favours and guest book if required
Complimentary onsite parking
Access to The Woolshed and The Marquee throughout your exclusive hire period
Housekeeping Refresh of the couple’s getting-ready accommodation
Rubbish removal
2. Food & Beverage Costs
Understanding The ‘Minimum Spend’
Our food and beverage pricing is calculated per person, with a minimum spend that varies depending on your wedding date.
The minimum spend exists because running a wedding at Mona Farm involves fixed costs — no matter how many guests you have. For every event, we provide our chefs, waitstaff, event managers and operations team, set up the kitchen and dining areas, coordinate logistics, and reserve the entire estate for your exclusive use.
These costs don’t change much whether you have 50 guests or 150. That’s why we set a minimum spend: to ensure every wedding receives the same quality, service and attention to detail Mona Farm has built its reputation on.
In most cases, couples naturally meet (or exceed) the minimum spend through their guest numbers and menu choices.
Gratuity
We apply an 8% gratuity to the total food and beverage bill to recognise and reward the dedicated service team who make your wedding run seamlessly. This covers our waitstaff, bar staff and behind-the-scenes team who ensure every guest is looked after and every detail is executed to the highest standard.
3. Guest Accommodation
Different Options For Different Needs
Accommodation at Mona Farm is offered at a discounted rate for wedding guests, with space for up to 55 guests across seven luxury guest houses. All guest houses are reserved exclusively for your booking period, giving you complete privacy, whether or not they are all occupied. Accommodation is booked on a per-house basis.
A minimum three-night stay applies for weekend weddings, while a two-night stay applies for midweek weddings.
Couples can either:
Cover guest accommodation as part of the wedding budget or Pass it on to guests (a popular option)
Important Questions
You Need Answered
Every venue structures costs a little differently, which can make comparisons tricky.
When weighing up your options, it’s worth asking:
Is the marquee included, or is it a $20K+ add-on?
Are tables, chairs, cutlery, toilets, power, staff, and rubbish removal included?
Will I need to book and coordinate every element separately?
Do you have an onsite planner?
Do I need to organise someone to set up ceremony and reception locations?