Planning your wedding at the Stanley House Mansion in Marietta, GA is a dream come true—but how much does it actually cost? This in‑depth guide covers everything from venue fees to budgeting tips, modeled on top SEO best practices and the polished, reader‑friendly style of top bridal sites.
About Stanley House Mansion
Built in the early 1900s, Stanley House Mansion is a beautifully preserved event venue set in the heart of Marietta. With its historic architecture, sweeping verandas, manicured gardens, and elegant interior spaces, it exudes a timeless charm. Whether you dream of an outdoor garden ceremony, a reception in the grand ballroom, or an al fresco dinner on the terrace, this venue offers a refined setting cherished by couples year after year.
Location & Venue Overview
Stanley House Mansion is conveniently located at 236 Church Street NE, Marietta, GA 30060, just inside the Atlanta metro area. The venue is easily accessible from I‑75 and surrounded by boutique hotels, charming downtown squares, and historic landmarks—making it ideal for both local and destination weddings.
Stanley House Mansion – At a Glance
| Stanley House Mansion – At a Glance | |
|---|---|
| Venue Name | Stanley House Mansion |
| Location | 236 Church Street NE, Marietta, GA 30060 |
| Call | 770-426-1881 |
| Price | $16,500 average venue fee |
| Capacity | 150 guests |
| Awards | WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Awards (2011–2025) |
| Website | thestanleyhouse.com |
| @thestanleyhouse | |
| [email protected] | |
| Facilities Included | Ceremony Area · Private Bridal Suites · Indoor & Outdoor Ceremony · Dressing Room · Reception Area · Wireless Internet |
Factors Influencing Stanley House Mansion Weddings Cost
Planning a wedding is as much about creativity as it is about budgeting. While the Stanley House Mansion offers a clear average base price of $16,500, the final cost of your celebration can fluctuate significantly. Let’s take a deeper look at the key factors that influence the overall wedding cost at this historic and elegant venue.
1. Guest Count: The Most Powerful Cost Driver
Your guest list is one of the biggest contributors to how much you’ll spend. More guests mean more food, more seating, more rentals, more favors, and often more staff. At Stanley House Mansion, although the maximum capacity is around 150 guests, hosting fewer guests—say 75 to 100—can drastically reduce costs across the board without sacrificing experience or ambiance.
Think quality over quantity. A more intimate gathering often allows for more personalized details, a better guest experience, and room in your budget for meaningful upgrades like a live jazz band or floral installations.
2. Season and Time of Year
Like many sought-after venues, Stanley House experiences peak and off-peak pricing. Weddings held during prime wedding months—typically April through October—may come with a higher price tag due to demand.
On the flip side, planning a winter wedding or booking for early spring or late autumn can often unlock discounted rates, greater date flexibility, and vendor promotions. Winter weddings, especially in a historic indoor mansion like Stanley House, carry a romantic charm with fireplaces, warm lighting, and cozy elegance.
3. Day of the Week: Saturday Premiums vs. Weekday Deals
Saturdays are the most coveted wedding day, and that’s reflected in the cost. If you’re willing to consider a Friday evening or Sunday brunch wedding, you might receive a price break not just from the venue, but also from photographers, DJs, and florists.
Weekday weddings are becoming more popular too. With the rise of smaller weddings and destination-style weekends, guests are often happy to attend a Thursday or Monday wedding—especially if it saves the couple thousands of dollars.
4. Ceremony and Reception Areas
Stanley House Mansion offers multiple stunning backdrops for your ceremony and reception, including indoor ballrooms and picturesque outdoor gardens. While the venue rental fee includes access to both indoor and outdoor spaces, some custom setups—like elegant tenting or elaborate indoor transformations—may require additional rentals or labor, slightly increasing your total bill.
If you’re hosting both your ceremony and reception at the mansion, you’ll save on transportation and time—but also may incur a small fee for the transition between ceremony setup and reception décor.
5. Rentals and Décor Customization
The venue includes basics such as tables and chairs, but your choices for linens, chargers, centerpieces, signage, backdrops, lighting, and florals can quickly grow the final budget.
Do you envision vintage-style chandeliers hanging from trees or a boho sweetheart lounge setup? These luxuries are possible—but each adds a layer of expense.
Couples looking to save often opt for minimal or DIY décor, relying on the natural beauty of the venue’s gardens, architecture, and historic features.
6. Catering Style and Bar Service
Stanley House works with a variety of preferred caterers who offer both full-service and buffet-style options. Plated dinners tend to be more expensive than buffets due to the need for additional staffing and tableware, but they also elevate the guest experience.
Bar packages range from beer-and-wine only to top-shelf liquor with signature cocktails. You can trim costs by offering a limited bar or setting a time limit (e.g., open bar for the first two hours).
Make sure to factor in service staff, bartenders, and gratuities when calculating your food and beverage budget.
7. Staffing and Coordination
While Stanley House includes on-site staff, full wedding coordination or day-of coordination services may be optional add-ons. These professionals handle vendor arrival, ceremony timing, reception flow, and post-event wrap-up—ensuring you can enjoy your day stress-free.
Adding professional coordination may increase your cost slightly, but it often prevents costly mistakes and ensures smooth transitions between events.
8. Entertainment and Vendor Costs
Live musicians, DJs, emcees, photo booths, drone videography, and specialty lighting all contribute to the magic of your celebration. Depending on your preferences, entertainment can range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand.
Stanley House doesn’t charge additional fees for bringing your own vendors, but it’s essential to coordinate logistics with their team. Booking vendors early can secure better rates and availability.
9. Personal Touches and Extras
Many couples want to infuse their wedding with custom elements: monogrammed favors, a cigar bar, a vintage getaway car, custom cake toppers, or even late-night snacks. While these elements enhance the experience and help tell your love story, they do affect the budget.
Couples are encouraged to prioritize what truly matters to them—then build the rest of the event around those moments.
10. Guest Experience and Accommodation
If you’re planning a destination-style weekend or have out-of-town guests, you may want to reserve nearby hotels or arrange transportation. These costs are often overlooked but can become significant depending on how many guests need housing and how far the venue is from major hotel hubs.
Stanley House’s central location in Marietta makes it convenient for guests, but including a shuttle service or reserving hotel blocks may be worth considering.
Breakdown of Wedding Expenses
Here’s a typical breakdown for a 150‑guest, full‑day wedding at Stanley House:
| Item | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Venue Fee (Base) | $16,500 |
| Rentals & Décor | $3,000 |
| Catering & Bar (150 guests) | $11,250 |
| Staffing & Coordination | $2,500 |
| DJ/Band | $1,200 |
| Photographer | $3,500 |
| Florist | $2,000 |
| Cake & Cutting Service | $600 |
| Transportation | $800 |
| Additional Rentals | $1,500 |
| Total Estimate | ~$42,350 |
Note: These figures can vary based on vendors and customization.
Tips for Budgeting and Saving on Stanley House Mansion Weddings
Weddings at Stanley House Mansion can be as luxurious or as intimate as your vision—and your budget—allows. But a beautiful wedding doesn’t have to mean breaking the bank. With smart planning, savvy decisions, and a few strategic compromises, you can have your dream wedding while staying financially balanced.
Here are practical, real-world tips to help you reduce costs without sacrificing style or experience.
1. Set a Realistic Budget (and Stick to It)
The first and most essential step in any wedding planning process is creating a clear, itemized budget. Start with your total available amount, then divide it across key categories such as venue, catering, décor, attire, photography, and entertainment.
Set spending limits for each and monitor your expenses closely. A well-structured budget acts as a compass to guide every decision—keeping you grounded when Pinterest dreams begin to grow beyond your means.
2. Consider All-Inclusive Packages
Stanley House Mansion partners with vendors and often offers customizable packages that bundle several services together—like catering, floral, rentals, and coordination. These packages can come with built-in discounts and save you both money and planning time.
Instead of coordinating 12 different contracts, a bundle can help reduce stress and keep your total cost lower than if you sourced each service independently.
3. Be Strategic with Your Wedding Date
As mentioned earlier, wedding dates have a major impact on pricing. Saturdays in peak season will cost the most—especially in spring and fall. But choosing a Friday evening, Sunday afternoon, or even a weekday wedding can significantly reduce venue and vendor rates.
Stanley House often offers better availability and flexible pricing on less common dates.
4. Embrace the Natural Beauty of the Venue
One of the best cost-saving perks of hosting your event at Stanley House is the venue’s inherent charm and historical elegance. With its grand columns, manicured gardens, vintage furnishings, and regal architecture, there’s no need to overspend on decoration.
Let the venue shine on its own. Opt for minimalist décor, soft lighting, and floral accents that enhance rather than overwhelm the space.
5. Prioritize What Matters Most
Not every element of your wedding needs to be top-tier. Talk with your partner and choose two or three areas where you want to splurge—whether it’s photography, food, or live entertainment. Then scale back on less important areas.
For example, DIY invitations or digital RSVPs can save hundreds, allowing you to allocate more toward a professional photographer or custom menu.
6. Go Minimal on Favors and Extras
Wedding favors, signature cocktails, menu cards, programs, and guest welcome bags are nice—but they add up quickly. Many couples spend $5–$15 per guest on extras that are often forgotten or left behind.
Consider skipping physical favors altogether and replacing them with a personalized thank-you card or photo booth experience guests will truly remember.
7. Rent or Borrow Whenever Possible
From décor to accessories, renting can save you a lot. Items like table runners, candle holders, signage, cake stands, or even a bridal veil can be rented or borrowed from friends or online communities.
Additionally, many brides now choose second-hand designer gowns or rent their dresses for the day.
8. Hire Up-and-Coming Vendors
Everyone wants the best of the best—but newer vendors who are still building their portfolios often offer high-quality service at lower rates. Look for up-and-coming photographers, musicians, or bakers with solid reviews and a good portfolio.
Don’t sacrifice quality, but be open to giving talented professionals a chance to shine at your wedding while saving money in the process.
9. Avoid the “Last-Minute Add-On Trap”
One of the most common reasons wedding budgets go off track is adding small extras at the last minute—like extra lighting, specialty drinks, or upgraded linens. While each addition may seem minor, they can collectively add thousands to your final bill.
Make firm decisions early, and remind yourself why you chose them. The small upgrades can be tempting, but your wedding’s magic will come from the moments, not the monogrammed napkins.
10. Take Advantage of Venue Recommendations
Stanley House has built long-term relationships with local vendors who know the venue layout, flow, and expectations. Using recommended vendors often results in smoother logistics and bundled pricing—not to mention trust and accountability.
These vendors already know the property, minimizing set-up time, reducing miscommunication, and lowering risk for error.
Budget Estimate Summary
Here are three hypothetical scenarios based on guest count and style choices:
| Item | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Venue Fee (Base) | $16,500 |
| Rentals & Décor | $3,000 |
| Catering & Bar (150 guests) | $11,250 |
| Staffing & Coordination | $2,500 |
| DJ/Band | $1,200 |
| Photographer | $3,500 |
| Florist | $2,000 |
| Cake & Cutting Service | $600 |
| Transportation | $800 |
| Additional Rentals | $1,500 |
| Total Estimate | ~$42,350 |
Conclusion
A wedding at Stanley House Mansion brings elegant charm, historic beauty, and personalized service—but it comes at a premium. With a base venue fee of around $16,500, added costs for catering, rentals, staffing, and décor can bring your total to $30,000–$50,000, depending on guest count and customization. However, with savvy planning—smart date selection, simplified décor, focusing on high‑priority elements, and bundled vendor packages—you can design a breathtaking wedding within your budget.
To get started, reach out early, schedule a tour, and inquire about available dates, bundled offers, and sample menus. The Stanley House team is ready to help you craft an unforgettable day.