Need Advice re Interesting Venue Policy

[goldenstar]

If anyone has been following my posts they''ll know that we''ve been strugging with the venue decision. Yesterday I came across a venue that meets our criteria for size, ambiance and BUDGET!!! WOW!

After resquesting more information, I learned that they don''t book social events until 8 months prior to the event. We are planning for an April/May 2009 wedding. This means I wouldn''t be able to secure a date there until August of this year.

While not a dealbreaker, it feels like a major roadblock. I would like to sign contracts with the major vendors about one year out. Most of all is the photographer because she is in high demand. Florists and others are less pressing.

I think I am willing to wait because the venue is so great. But it would cause stress because I am someone who likes to get things done early. FI and I plan to eat lunch there this weekend just to make sure its worth waiting for. If we find something we don''t like we''ll know to move on.

Have you ever heard of such a policy? Do you think it (planning a wedding there) can be done?

This is so frustrating...

Maybe I''m being too impatient and picky. I just want to book a venue and be done with it.

 

[October2008bride]

I''ve never heard anything like that for a venue - I''m trying to think of what the upside for the venue would be??

I personally think it would be pretty risky to wait that long, but I live in a big city and am pretty picky - so if something fell through 8 months before the wedding, finding a venue would probably be a considerable challenge.

You know the area better - if it fell through could you secure another venue that you would be happy with?

 

[~*Snow*~]

Why not secure your 2nd choice venue, if you have one, just in case. the 10% you might have to pay to back out will be well worth it to put your mind at ease and -just in case- your first choice is gone come August...

Some venus around here do the same policy, can''t book until 8-6 months ahead because they have larger contracts with Schools/Organizations/Commites who often put out their yearly calanders in Aug/Sept for the fallowing year and often use the venus for there event.. that''s the only thing i can think of why they would do that.

 

[aljdewey]

I''m not wild about that policy....it seems designed to make sure you''re STUCK having to go with them (because by then, everyone else will be long booked), so you''ll HAVE to live with whatever they ''can or can''t do'' at that point.

I would probably give up on that venue UNLESS you can find a suitable "Plan B" venue that will let you book now and charge only a nominal cancellation fee if your Plan A venue does work out. If you can place a $200 deposit on a Plan B location you''d be happy with and you could afford to lose the $200 if your Plan A venue works out, then it would be worth sticking with the first-choice venue.

If you can''t find a Plan B venue with a reasonable cancellation fee, then I''d dismiss the ideal Plan A venue altogether and find something else. There is always another choice, and you really don''t need the stress of waiting until 8 months before the wedding to find out you can''t get your date and then SCRAMBLING to find another locaiton or else move ALL your other vendors around. Not worth it.

 

[goldenstar]

Thanks everyone. I agree, the policy does seem ridiculous. For background info, the venue is a resort that is very new in the Napa Vally, CA area. It opened maybe 6 or 7 months ago (Summer). That fact alone might be an issue. Maybe they still have kinks to work out. However, I''m assuming that they would have the hang of things by 2009. Also, its a sister resort to several high end hotels/resorts in Napa and elsewhere. The stellar reputation of the company makes me feel very comfortable.

I just emailed the coordinator to see if any exceptions can be made. The materials she sent me did not mention the 8 month policy (she told me about it in an email). I want to get her to negotiate with me.

I really think they don''t want to book events early because they want to see how much they can raise prices. They don''t want to commit too early in case they miss out on some extra $. This is just my theory...

I would be totally up a creek if a venue fell through 8 months out. You would think venues would understand this...

 

[Independent Gal]

I''d be up front with her. Say ''I am ready to book this place now if you''ll let me. Otherwise, I can''t wait till 8 months out so you''ll be losing my business. Perhaps you can talk to the owner about this?''

 

[FacetFire]

We looked at one place that had a similar poilicy, but worse...we couldn''t book till 3 months out! It was a dealbreaker for us. Their reasoning was that they can make much more money off of conferences than weddings, so they like to wait and get conferences booked first. I don''t think I would have had the same problem with 8 months, though, because from the time we booked our venue about a month ago, we will be planning our wedding in 6.5 or 7 months. If you love it, I would talk to them as others have recommended and see what can be done. I hope it works out!

 

[goldenstar]

Funny anecdote:

I was explaining the venue policy to FI and he said "I don't see why that's a problem." After I picked my jaw up off the floor, I told him.

[But really, that's how much of an optimist he is. I like it because it balances my worrywort tendencies.]

 

[Gypsy]

I''ve heard of this and have been confused by it as well. Personally, I''d ask them if they can put a courtesy hold on the date so that they call you the minute you can book. I''m sorry though, this sounds very stressful!

 

[gtn]

Date: 1/10/2008 3:28:53 PM
Author: aljdewey

I''m not wild about that policy....it seems designed to make sure you''re STUCK having to go with them (because by then, everyone else will be long booked), so you''ll HAVE to live with whatever they ''can or can''t do'' at that point.

I would probably give up on that venue UNLESS you can find a suitable ''Plan B'' venue that will let you book now and charge only a nominal cancellation fee if your Plan A venue does work out. If you can place a $200 deposit on a Plan B location you''d be happy with and you could afford to lose the $200 if your Plan A venue works out, then it would be worth sticking with the first-choice venue.

If you can''t find a Plan B venue with a reasonable cancellation fee, then I''d dismiss the ideal Plan A venue altogether and find something else. There is always another choice, and you really don''t need the stress of waiting until 8 months before the wedding to find out you can''t get your date and then SCRAMBLING to find another locaiton or else move ALL your other vendors around. Not worth it.

If this is an option, go for it. I would not want til August to book the venue, so if they make you wait, move on. You don''t want them to book your date before you get a chance to book it.