‘All-inclusive’ gets thrown around a lot in the wedding world. Here’s how to know what you’re really getting.

If you’ve been searching for wedding venues for more than five minutes, you’ve probably seen the phrase ‘all-inclusive’ a lot. It sounds amazing. One price, everything covered, no surprises. But in the wedding industry, ‘all-inclusive’ can mean wildly different things depending on the venue.

I’ve been in this industry long enough to know that the devil is in the details. So let me break down what to actually look for — and what we include at The Era so you have a real benchmark.

What ‘all-inclusive’ actually means at most venues

At a lot of venues, all-inclusive means: the space, some tables and chairs, maybe a coordinator for the day of. Everything else — linens, décor, bar setup, getting-ready spaces, catering — is either an add-on or you bring your own vendor.

That’s not a bad model, necessarily. But it means the price you see on the website is often nowhere near the price you’ll actually pay. Couples are sometimes shocked when they sit down and add up the rental costs for everything they assumed was included.

The questions to ask every venue

Before you fall in love with a space, get clear on these:

• Tables and chairs: Are they included, or rented separately?
• Linens and napkins: Included or add-on? What colors are available?
• Décor: Is there a house collection you can use, or do you start from scratch?
• Setup and teardown: Does the venue handle this, or is it on you and your vendors?
• Bar service: Is there a bar package included, or do you source your own bartender and alcohol?
• Getting-ready suites: Is there a bridal suite and groom’s suite? Are they included?
• Lodging: Is there on-site accommodation, and is it included or extra?
• Coordinator: Is there a venue coordinator included, or is it purely a rental?

Write these down and ask them at every tour. The answers will tell you a lot about what you’re actually paying for.

What’s included at The Era

We built our pricing to be as transparent as possible because we watched too many couples get sticker-shocked mid-planning. Here’s what comes with a weekend rental at The Era:

• Tables and chairs
• Décor, linens, and napkins
• Setup and teardown (you do not have to lift a finger)
• Bar service through our partner Après Bar Co. — custom packages, great team, and yes, the famous donkeys
• Luxury Bridal Loft with six hair and makeup stations, natural light, private balcony, and kitchenette
• Groom’s suite
• On-site lodging for up to 19 guests
• Indoor and outdoor ceremony spaces
• Full weekend access — Friday through Sunday morning

Is there anything not included? Yes — catering is something you’ll bring in through your own caterer, and photography and other personal vendors are your choice. We like it that way because we want you to work with people you love and trust.

The real value of transparent pricing

Here’s something I feel strongly about: you deserve to know what you’re paying before you fall in love with a venue. Hidden costs in the wedding industry are frustratingly common, and they cause real stress during what should be a joyful planning process.

We put our pricing on our website. Not just ‘starting at’ numbers — real information. Because we’ve been on the other side of confusing pricing and we made a decision early on that we weren’t going to do that to our couples.

When you’re comparing venues, do the full math. Add up what each one actually costs with all the pieces you need. You might be surprised which venue is actually the better value.

Ready to see the full picture?

Book a tour and we’ll walk you through everything at theeraiowa.com/tour-and-visit-the-era

Check available dates at theeraiowa.com/dates