Need to Vent- A bit Depressed

[cindygenit]

Date: 7/7/2009 4:03:23 PM
Author: jstarfireb
Yeah, as I understand it, the pricing and preferred vendors clauses are pretty standard and wouldn't be a reason to ditch the venue. Cindy, the venue looks gorgeous!

BTW, in my earlier post, I meant to say 'cupcake tree' rather than 'cupcake fee.' All that talk about fees made me discombobulated!

LOL at that word

ETA: Calicushion, price increase wouldn't be much of a problem since we are only having 50 guests. So 100-200 dollars increase would be okay. Thanks for covering all the potential issues here

 

[hawaiianorangetree]

Date: 7/7/2009 6:16:42 AM
Author: cindygenit
Thanks hawaiaanorangetree... i was so silly to worry, there are NO problems that can''t be solved . I was gonna ask you if you think 650 is cheap for a venue hire, but then i remembered that you''re having your reception at home?

Thanks Lilykat for attempting to give me advice LOL

This forum is quickly becoming my favourite, everyone is so supportive and genuinely try to help out )

Hi Cindy!

Yeah i think $650 is reasonable, especially since you get the ceremony, pre dinner drinks and reception all in the one spot. I was looking at some places in Margaret River and i found this beautiful ''secret garden'' but the hire cost was $4000 (possibly could have been more) , and that was just for the ceremony!!

 

[cindygenit]

$4000???

That is ridiculous

I originally wanted to do Araluen Park (beautiful!!!! tulips everyone in springtime)

But then i changed my mind because reception centre doesn''t allow booking till january next year...So i just got turned off the idea of having my wedding there

 

[iota]

If you know approximately how much the food and extras are going to cost in total and you can afford it, this looks like a beautiful venue.

Before you sign this contract though, I think you should add one more clause if it isn''t already set out in your contract. I''m looking at the first paragraph, which states:

1. Tentative Bookings
All tentative bookings will be held for 7 days only. Should you wish to confirm your booking, a holding deposit will be required to confirm, otherwise the booking may be cancelled. A further payment of $2000 is required within 30 days after the initial deposit. These payments will be deducted from your final account but will not be refunded should you cancel the booking.

The $650 appears to be a "holding deposit" and the $2000 is a further deposit. This does Not mean the venue is only going to cost $650. It means you are putting $2650 down as a deposit.

Put in the contract, if it''s not there already, that the cost of renting this venue will be $X amount ($650, $700, $1000, whatever you agreed to). From what you have here, it could always be asserted later that the venue cost is $1000, leaving you $1650 to deduct off the rest of the bill.

Additionally, the number $650 should be added right into the contract next to the "holding deposit", in case there''s a dispute later as to how much you''ve paid. However, the fact that the $650 is not already in their pre-printed contract makes me think you can negotiate a lower "holding deposit".

 

[cindygenit]

Hi iota,

the 650 is the cost of the venue hire. I have to get my catering with them, and so the 2000 is actually credited towards my account for the catering.

If the catering total costs is, say, 5000, i will need to pay only 3000 one week before the wedding.

The total of 2650 is my total deposit for the venue, but only 650 is the holding deposit. because this venue has many function rooms, the holding deposit actually varies depending on which room i choose. I think the contract is a standardised one, so Greg hasn''t put in a specific amount in the contract because he uses the same for all his clients .

Don''t worry, the venue is reputable. I don''t think he''s trying to scam me or anything .

 

[iota]

Cindygenit,

Remember. Anything the owner has promised you, including the 1-2% increase in food costs, the food costs, the flower costs, whether there is a cake cutting charge, dance floor installation charge, etc., ANYTHING can be written into a contract before you and your fiance sign it.

You have the power, at this point, even in a contract that''s all pretty and printed up to add anything you want to it... even in handwriting on the side with the venue owner, as well as your initials next to it... and you SHOULD include in your contract any promises he''s made to you, including the provision of a wedding planner, what it is said the wedding planner will do for you, when the planner will be offered to you AND that the fee for the planner is included in the venue rental cost. INCLUDE whatever else is part of the venue rental fee, including the set up.

Make sure your contract says you can use the WHOLE venue, and from what time to what time.

I''d also incorporate into the contract their pricing list as a guide for what each category of items will cost. Ex. - Venue will provide the services set out in Schedule A to Cindy Genit and Fiance on the day of the wedding for the cost set out in Schedule A (attach the pricing guide as Schedule A). Cindy Genit and Fiance will select the services to be provided by X date. With the exception of alcoholic beverage costs, which are determined by X (as set out in owner''s e-mail), Venue can only increase the cost for the services set out in Schedule A to a maximum of 2%.

You''re on a tight budget, it appears. What I don''t like about this contract is that essentially, you are putting down a $2650 deposit that you cannot ever get back... even if all the extras (or even the basics) in the end are beyond what you and fiance can afford. I just want you to be protected, so incorporate any promises and hopes and try to nail down as best as possible what each service will cost, and what categories of fees you can expect (cake cutting fee, officiant fee, etc.) as best as you can now... it could save you from a lot of financial worrying later because your $2650 will tie you to this venue, regardless of whatever they charge for items later.

You have the power and every right to add and incorporate whatever you want into the contract now. On a tight budget, I would, as nicely as possible, add whatever I thought was necessary to the contract to make sure I could stay under a certain budget and can expect the costs that are coming my way. There''s no need to jump into giving them a deposit right away. Your wedding is still a year away.

 

[iota]

Date: 7/8/2009 9:20:37 PM
Author: cindygenit
Hi iota,

the 650 is the cost of the venue hire. I have to get my catering with them, and so the 2000 is actually credited towards my account for the catering.

If the catering total costs is, say, 5000, i will need to pay only 3000 one week before the wedding.

The total of 2650 is my total deposit for the venue, but only 650 is the holding deposit. because this venue has many function rooms, the holding deposit actually varies depending on which room i choose. I think the contract is a standardised one, so Greg hasn''t put in a specific amount in the contract because he uses the same for all his clients .

Don''t worry, the venue is reputable. I don''t think he''s trying to scam me or anything .

I just read this post. The contract should still say, "The cost of the venue rental is $650."

 

[cindygenit]

Date: 7/8/2009 9:44:35 PM
Author: iota
Cindygenit,

Remember. Anything the owner has promised you, including the 1-2% increase in food costs, the food costs, the flower costs, whether there is a cake cutting charge, dance floor installation charge, etc., ANYTHING can be written into a contract before you and your fiance sign it.

You have the power, at this point, even in a contract that''s all pretty and printed up to add anything you want to it... even in handwriting on the side with the venue owner, as well as your initials next to it... and you SHOULD include in your contract any promises he''s made to you, including the provision of a wedding planner, what it is said the wedding planner will do for you, when the planner will be offered to you AND that the fee for the planner is included in the venue rental cost. INCLUDE whatever else is part of the venue rental fee, including the set up.

Make sure your contract says you can use the WHOLE venue, and from what time to what time.

I''d also incorporate into the contract their pricing list as a guide for what each category of items will cost. Ex. - Venue will provide the services set out in Schedule A to Cindy Genit and Fiance on the day of the wedding for the cost set out in Schedule A (attach the pricing guide as Schedule A). Cindy Genit and Fiance will select the services to be provided by X date. With the exception of alcoholic beverage costs, which are determined by X (as set out in owner''s e-mail), Venue can only increase the cost for the services set out in Schedule A to a maximum of 2%.

You''re on a tight budget, it appears. What I don''t like about this contract is that essentially, you are putting down a $2650 deposit that you cannot ever get back... even if all the extras (or even the basics) in the end are beyond what you and fiance can afford. I just want you to be protected, so incorporate any promises and hopes and try to nail down as best as possible what each service will cost, and what categories of fees you can expect (cake cutting fee, officiant fee, etc.) as best as you can now... it could save you from a lot of financial worrying later because your $2650 will tie you to this venue, regardless of whatever they charge for items later.

You have the power and every right to add and incorporate whatever you want into the contract now. On a tight budget, I would, as nicely as possible, add whatever I thought was necessary to the contract to make sure I could stay under a certain budget and can expect the costs that are coming my way. There''s no need to jump into giving them a deposit right away. Your wedding is still a year away.

Yep, all your points noted!

Thanks so much iota, wow you are so thorough!!

Thanks for helping me out, my FI knows even less about weddings than I do

The cake cutting cost is not written in the contract at all. Does this mean I can negotiate? I don''t think there is a cake cutting cost at all.

Basically, the wedding planner service is tied in to the last clause, whereby the venue needs to approve of vendors of flowers, bonboniere, etc. Jane (the said wedding planner) already many contacts and companies she has worked with for previous functions, and she will only recommend companies who do an excellent job in the past.

Yeap, i will definitely talk to the owner again soon and go over these issues.

 

[iota]

Whatever you go over, just put them in the contract. If he''s making you a promise, write it down (even in handwriting), clip it to the contract he''s given you, and both of you sign the last page.