Miami venues use the term all inclusive in different ways. One package may include the venue, catering, coordination, rentals, entertainment, and floral centerpieces. Another may bundle only the space, food, tables, and chairs. A traditional or rental first venue may provide a beautiful setting while leaving most vendor contracts to the couple.
Neither model is automatically less expensive or better. The right choice depends on how much customization you want, which vendors matter most, how much planning you want to manage, and whether the final proposal assigns every responsibility clearly.
Compare complete proposals, not one venue’s rental fee with another venue’s finished package.
01
What the two venue models usually mean
A traditional or rental first venue generally begins with the property and a contracted event window. The couple may then hire catering, rentals, bar service, coordination, décor, lighting, entertainment, and staffing separately, subject to the venue’s rules.
An all inclusive or package venue combines selected services in one proposal. The label alone is not enough. Read the exact inclusions because package levels, exclusions, upgrades, guest minimums, and outside vendor policies vary by venue.
Swipe left to compare all columns.
| Planning item | Traditional or rental first venue | All inclusive or package venue |
|---|---|---|
| Venue | Property and contracted event time are the starting point. | Property and selected services appear in one package structure. |
| Catering | Often hired separately or selected from an approved list. | May be included, with menu choices and service level defined by the package. |
| Tables and place settings | May require a rental company or separate venue inventory charge. | May be included, but styles and upgrades should be listed. |
| Planning and coordination | The venue manager’s role may be limited, so a separate planner can be necessary. | Planning or wedding day coordination may be included at certain tiers. |
| Bar service | Alcohol, bartenders, ice, mixers, glassware, and permits may be separate responsibilities. | The package or venue policy should state exactly what the client and venue provide. |
| Final comparison | Add every required vendor, fee, rental, and staffing cost. | Add exclusions, upgrades, service charge, tax, and outside services. |
02
Build a completed event total before comparing prices
A rental fee is not a wedding total, and a per person package price may not include the venue rental, service charge, tax, or outside vendors. Place every proposal into the same worksheet before deciding which one fits the budget.
Use the expected guest count rather than the smallest advertised minimum. Include required rentals, delivery and pickup, staffing, cleanup, overtime, parking or valet, security, power, restrooms, transportation, and any vendor meals or access fees that apply.
- Venue rental and contracted hours
- Package price or catering total at the expected guest count
- Tables, chairs, linens, china, flatware, glassware, and delivery
- Planning, wedding day coordination, setup, staffing, and cleanup
- Bar setup and service, including who purchases the alcohol
- Entertainment, lighting, flowers, cake, ceremony details, and photo or video
- Service charge, sales tax, required insurance, security, parking, and overtime
03
When a traditional venue may be the better fit
A rental first venue can make sense when the property itself is the priority, especially a museum, historic estate, hotel, or cultural setting that does not operate as a full package venue. It can also work well for couples who already have an experienced planner and a specific vendor team.
This model provides more control, but someone must manage the contracts, insurance, delivery windows, setup sequence, power, staffing, meals, cleanup, and backup plan. Confirm where the venue manager’s responsibilities end and the couple’s or planner’s responsibilities begin.
- You need a particular cultural caterer or highly specialized menu.
- You already have a trusted planner and vendor team.
- The historic, museum, hotel, or architectural setting is the main priority.
- You want to choose every rental, design, and production vendor separately.
04
When a package venue may be the better fit
A package venue can be easier for couples planning from outside Miami, working with a shorter timeline, or trying to reduce the number of separate contracts. One team can coordinate services that already work together at the property.
The trade off is that some choices may come from a defined menu, rental inventory, or approved partner. Ask what can be customized, what requires an upgrade, and whether an included service can be removed or replaced before assuming the package is flexible in every category.
- You want one written proposal to cover more of the event.
- Budget visibility and clear responsibilities matter more than selecting every vendor independently.
- You prefer a team that already knows the property, kitchen, service flow, and weather plan.
- You are planning from out of town or around a demanding schedule.
05
How Longan’s Place structures its wedding pricing
Longan’s Place uses venue rental by day plus a selected package price per guest. Current full wedding venue rental starts at $5,500 Monday through Thursday, $6,500 Sunday, $7,000 Friday, and $7,500 Saturday. Package tiers currently range from $55 to $85 per guest. All prices add an 18% service charge and 7% Florida sales tax.
The $85 Signature All Inclusive tier is the fullest package. Lower tiers are simplified options and do not include every Signature service. Couples should use the current package page and written proposal rather than treating one list of inclusions as universal across all tiers.
The starting estimate combines the event day rental and selected per person tier.
The service charge is listed separately from the starting estimate.
Florida sales tax is added as shown in the official estimate calculation.
06
Know what is separate at Longan’s Place
Alcohol, photography or videography, an officiant, personal flowers, and ceremony area decorations are not included in any Longan’s Place package. Personal flowers include items such as bouquets, boutonnieres, and cake flowers. Reception centerpieces are included only where the selected package says so.
Clients bring their own alcohol. Longan’s provides the professional bartenders, mixers, ice, glassware, and bar setup and service under the venue’s current policy, with no corkage fee. Outside vendors should be approved and coordinated in advance.
- Ask whether an advertised inclusion appears in the exact tier you are considering.
- Confirm which personal and ceremony flowers remain the client’s responsibility.
- Review outside vendor arrival, insurance, power, meals, setup, and cleanup requirements.
- Keep every exception, upgrade, and credit in the written proposal.
07
Questions to ask before signing either type of venue
Ask every venue the same questions and request the answers in writing. The comparison becomes much easier when each proposal uses the same guest count, event duration, and service assumptions.
- Which spaces and hours are included, and is another event scheduled on the property?
- What guest minimum applies to our date and package?
- Which services are included in this exact tier, and which are upgrades?
- What does the client need to hire or purchase separately?
- How do service charge and sales tax apply to the venue, package, rentals, and upgrades?
- What is the rain plan at our guest count, and does it change the price or floor plan?
- Who handles planning, setup, timeline management, vendor coordination, and cleanup?
- What are the overtime, cancellation, rescheduling, insurance, and payment policies?
08
Common venue comparison questions
The answers depend on each written proposal, but these principles make the comparison more reliable.
1Are all inclusive wedding venues cheaper in Miami?
Not necessarily. A package may cost less than hiring the same services separately, but only a completed comparison can show the difference. Use the same guest count and add every required exclusion, fee, service charge, and tax.
2Does all inclusive mean every wedding service is included?
No. The term has no single universal inclusion list. Photography, video, officiant, personal flowers, alcohol, ceremony décor, entertainment, or upgrades may remain separate. Read the exact package and proposal.
3Can couples still bring outside vendors to a package venue?
Often yes, subject to the venue’s approval, insurance, arrival, setup, and service rules. Confirm whether replacing an included vendor changes the price or creates a separate responsibility.
4Which model is easier for an out of town couple?
A well defined package can reduce the number of separate vendors and decisions. An experienced planner can also make a rental first venue manageable. The easier model is the one with clear responsibilities and a team you trust.