chemgirl
Ideal_Rock
- Joined
- Sep 16, 2009
- Messages
- 2,345
I am recently engaged and we`re planning on getting married in November 2010. I know this doesn`t seem like much time, but in our families it is considered the norm to have 6 month ish engagements.
We are scrambling around trying to find a venue for approximately 30 guests. The strange thing is, it seems like it would be easier to book a 200+ person wedding than our small event. The difficulty is trying to accomodate a small group for an afternoon wedding. I don`t know if its just our area, or if the new trend is for people to have smaller weddings, but this is really frustrating.
We have also noticed that venues that will hold private luncheons or corporate events automatically add 50% or more to their fee if we use the ``W`word. Also extremely frustrating. We are specifically looking at holding the wedding at wineries that have rooms for private afternoon events. We were completely ready to book one when they told us there was a 500$ ceremony fee on top of the 600$ rental fee. I could understand this additional fee if they were actually changing anything in the room to accomodate the ceremony. Our plan is to officially get married at city hall and then have a candle lighting ceremony at the venue. This takes approximately 15 minutes and we are comfortable with allowing our guests to either stand or sit in the chairs provided for the luncheon. Also, this winery includes complementary tours for those who take part in corporate or team building events. They will not extend this promotion to our wedding, even though we are paying more for the same room.
The wineries all have designated chefs (which we`re cool with). The bad thing is that many of these chefs refuse to deviate from their set menues by offering cold food stations or buffet options. We really want people to be able to walk around and mingle rather than sit at their specific tables. One of the chefs actually refused to change his set menu to accomodate my fiance, who is a vegetarian. Seriously, I asked if the pasta could be done without proscuitto and I got a rather offensive tirade. It was in French and I''m fairly sure he didn''t realize that I am French Canadian, but still, not cool. All of his other entre options include meat as the main item. The only place that will provide a buffet style lunch with vegetarian options is the place with the 500$ ceremony fee.
We are now looking at restaurants instead of our winery idea. Unfortunately, we can`t find a restaurant that will accomodate our desire to have a private buffet.
My fiance and I seem to have very poor nagotiation skills. Can anyone offer advice on how to approach this?
Essentially we would like to use the room at the price that they would normally charge for a private afternoon luncheon for 30 people. We would also like them to include anything they would for a client who is using the room for a private event. Essentially we want to be treated like any other client. We are willing to budge and pay a ceremony fee, but we believe that 500$ is too much for something that isn''t a legal wedding ceremony and doesn''t require anything on their part. I brought this up with the director of marketing and she shot me down pretty fast.
I did bring up that my fiance owns a small company and that this event may lead to repeat business in the form of Christmas parties and team building events, but no dice.
I would appreciate any advice you may have!
We are scrambling around trying to find a venue for approximately 30 guests. The strange thing is, it seems like it would be easier to book a 200+ person wedding than our small event. The difficulty is trying to accomodate a small group for an afternoon wedding. I don`t know if its just our area, or if the new trend is for people to have smaller weddings, but this is really frustrating.
We have also noticed that venues that will hold private luncheons or corporate events automatically add 50% or more to their fee if we use the ``W`word. Also extremely frustrating. We are specifically looking at holding the wedding at wineries that have rooms for private afternoon events. We were completely ready to book one when they told us there was a 500$ ceremony fee on top of the 600$ rental fee. I could understand this additional fee if they were actually changing anything in the room to accomodate the ceremony. Our plan is to officially get married at city hall and then have a candle lighting ceremony at the venue. This takes approximately 15 minutes and we are comfortable with allowing our guests to either stand or sit in the chairs provided for the luncheon. Also, this winery includes complementary tours for those who take part in corporate or team building events. They will not extend this promotion to our wedding, even though we are paying more for the same room.
The wineries all have designated chefs (which we`re cool with). The bad thing is that many of these chefs refuse to deviate from their set menues by offering cold food stations or buffet options. We really want people to be able to walk around and mingle rather than sit at their specific tables. One of the chefs actually refused to change his set menu to accomodate my fiance, who is a vegetarian. Seriously, I asked if the pasta could be done without proscuitto and I got a rather offensive tirade. It was in French and I''m fairly sure he didn''t realize that I am French Canadian, but still, not cool. All of his other entre options include meat as the main item. The only place that will provide a buffet style lunch with vegetarian options is the place with the 500$ ceremony fee.
We are now looking at restaurants instead of our winery idea. Unfortunately, we can`t find a restaurant that will accomodate our desire to have a private buffet.
My fiance and I seem to have very poor nagotiation skills. Can anyone offer advice on how to approach this?
Essentially we would like to use the room at the price that they would normally charge for a private afternoon luncheon for 30 people. We would also like them to include anything they would for a client who is using the room for a private event. Essentially we want to be treated like any other client. We are willing to budge and pay a ceremony fee, but we believe that 500$ is too much for something that isn''t a legal wedding ceremony and doesn''t require anything on their part. I brought this up with the director of marketing and she shot me down pretty fast.
I did bring up that my fiance owns a small company and that this event may lead to repeat business in the form of Christmas parties and team building events, but no dice.
I would appreciate any advice you may have!
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