Blank canvas weddings: What they include and how to make them your own

Hiring an empty space to ‘dress up’ yourself can be the foundation of a spectacular wedding. It allows you to be imaginative and creative and really put your stamp on the day, guaranteeing a truly unique and personal occasion.

But where on earth do you even start with a thing like that? How do you style it? What does it take to make it work – and what exactly is included in the hire? That’s where our Scottish experts come in.

What is a blank-canvas wedding venue?

Also known as ‘dry hire’, this is an empty space that you are expected to customise for your wedding.

Barns are a popular choice of blank-canvas venue – we’ve rounded up some of the best farms, stables, steadings and byres in Scotland

Most often it will be a pared-back place or structure (such as a barn, former industrial space or a marquee), and the idea is you will bring in your own decorations, catering and whatever else you want, com­pletely transforming it for your day.

“It allows you to have full control over the run of the day, the look and the suppliers,” says May Michael of Abercairny Estate, a romantic blank-canvas stables venue in Crieff with a variety of multifunctional spaces.

See how this couple made the space their own on their wedding

“This type of place gives the couple the chance to create their own vision and really bring it to life.”

Alyson Burns, co-owner of the blank-canvas steading Falside Mill in St Andrews, is in favour of giving people this kind of flexibility.

“I think couples are moving away from the more traditional venues – such as a hotel where you might share your space with people who are not your guests,” she says.

“Packages sometimes mean things are set in stone and cannot be changed, so there’s limited scope to put your own stamp on the decor, for example. But a blank canvas means things can be tailored to different tastes and budgets.”

What are the benefits of a blank-canvas wedding?

Finding a venue that ticks all your boxes is a tricky business. You might like the ceremony room in one place but be less keen on the catering, or you could fall in love with the location of another but be put off by its decor.

That’s why blank canvases are so appealing – you have complete control over everything.

“These venues allow you to create the day you want, but it does require effort,” says Alex Mitchell, director of Dunbar’s Harvest Moon Holidays, which provides beach and woodland settings.

“The best advice I can give you is to work out exactly what the venue provides and what you need to organise yourselves, and then decide if you’re willing to take that on.”

Things to keep in mind for a dry-hire wedding

Do your research and think about what you want to achieve – and remember that you’ll need to organise the whole thing from start to finish.

You might think that since you are selecting everything, this will allow you to stay within budget. It can do, of course, but bear in mind that DIYing your day can add up.

Explore more rustic barn, byre and farm wedding locations

“Often, a blank-canvas wedding can feel like you are starting from scratch with a long and sometimes expensive to-do list,” Alyson says.

“That makes choosing the right suppliers even more important. They should be people you connect with or who have been recommended. Good suppliers will have no qualms about letting you speak to previous clients about their experiences.”

What does hire of a blank-canvas venue include?

Jeny McFadzean, director at Dalduff Luxury Barn Weddings in Ayrshire, makes another good point: “It is vital you understand exactly what is included, as it varies from venue to venue.

"Dalduff is a blank canvas but we also provide all the things you need as part of the hire fee – the likes of chairs and tables, crockery, glasses, fairy-lights and PA systems, plus much more.”

However, it's important to note that this can vary from venue to venue, so make sure you check when booking what is provided and what you’ll need to source yourselves.

What will I need to provide for my blank canvas wedding?

Potentially everything! “You’ll need to hire tables, linen, cutlery and chairs if your venue doesn’t provide them. This does, however, give you some flexibility in the type and the layout,” says Alex at Harvest Moon.

However, while a blank canvas does give you creative freedom, at some venues even seemingly ‘basic’ elements aren’t included – staffing to run your day being a major one.

Consider who will serve the wedding meal and clear up afterwards (if servers aren’t included in your catering option, for instance).

“The bar is also an important consideration to keep in mind. Does the venue provide a bar, or can you supply your own drinks – and if so, will there be a corkage charge and do you need to hire glassware?

"If you can BYOB, it’s recommended getting in people to serve the alcohol. It’s also worth checking if the venue provides a PA system for the speeches and band,” adds Alex.

5 steps to picking the perfect wedding venue in Scotland

Do I need a wedding planner or wedding coordinator?

Similarly, when it comes to setting up, the big day itself and breakdown and clear out, might it be worth hiring an independent coordinator or planner to liaise with suppliers and ensure everything runs smoothly and on time?

Unless your venue already offers an operational point of contact, this step will prevent any surprises (like you or your guests having to gather up decorations at the end of the night). It’s worth chatting to your venue to see if they have suppliers they can recommend that could assist.

Blank canvas wedding hidden costs to be aware of

Blank canvases can be creatively transformed to match any theme or colour palette, but it can come at a cost.

“Budgets need to be carefully managed as expenses can crop up for things that you maybe haven’t even considered,” Alyson tells us.

“That’s why it’s so important to be aware of what’s included in the venue hire itself. For us at Falside Mill, for example, the venue hire includes an events manager, heating, lighting and cleaning.

"Catering and bar services are all dealt with in-house – that way we can guarantee delicious food and a smooth service for every wedding we do. But some blank-canvas venues will have additional charges for things such as cleaning, rubbish disposal, heating and electricity, which you might not realise initially.”

Wedding venue set-up advice

Just as with any other wedding venue, the best place to start is the location itself. “We encourage our clients to visit the venue when it is set up for a wedding so they can see some of the possible layouts and styles that can be done, especially if their big day will be at a similar time of year,” says Alyson.

“Open days are another good way of getting a feel for a venue in your own time. The staff will often be able to give advice on what will work, and equally what might not work, from past experience.”