Time to calm dowwwn...

[SarahLovesJS]

I am so nervous about signing a contract with the venue! I have looked everywhere in the area and this is my favorite venue, so I don''t know why but I am so afraid I will change my mind for some reason. It''s silly, right?

I am having more jitters about the venue than I did the dress, haha!

 

[Gypsy]

It''s a lot of money, plus it makes it all VERY VERY real. So it''s natural to feel very nervous.

But it''s also really exciting too. Trust yourself. And don''t look back once you''ve made the decision.

 

[SarahLovesJS]

Good point, that''s probably what it is. Once I officially make a contract I''ve officially decided on a place and a date. It WILL be in 2009 and 2010. No more of this "oh well if it''s 09 then ... but if it''s 10 then ...." haha. I think it''s time to make a decision.

 

[Gypsy]

Good girl. It''s hard because it''s not like buying a car (the biggest purchase many of us are likely to have made before our weddings) where there are monthly payments that are manageable and installments, and insurance, and you can sell the car after X years with a decent chance of unloading it.

It''s a large sum of money on what is largely a SERVICE, not a tangible item you can hold, it''s dependent on so many VARIABLE factors. And you have to pay all this money and wish on a star that all goes well and your faith isn''t displaced.

And it''s largely ALL YOUR DECISION TO MAKE. One of the largest purchases, and biggest decisions you probably made to date. If you''ve seen the guys on RT and Proposals, you see it there too. The UTTER PANIC at the thought of plunking ALL THAT MONEY ON A ROCK. A meaningful rock, but still. At least they get something tangible. Here, we just get what is essentially a dream until the day of.

You''ll be fine. It''s just a lot to wrap your mind around.

 

[SarahLovesJS]

Yes, that''s it exactly!!! Thank you for the reassurance. I made the call and they are putting a contract together.

I am excited!!!!

 

[Gypsy]

Date: 4/8/2008 2:28:47 PM
Author: SarahLovesJS
Yes, that''s it exactly!!! Thank you for the reassurance. I made the call and they are putting a contract together.

I am excited!!!!

Read that sucker carefully. If you have any questions post them before you sign.

Remember a contract is A WISHLIST. It''s not set in stone until it''s signed so it''s open for negotiation. If there is anything in there that gives you pause, question it.

 

[SarahLovesJS]

Date: 4/8/2008 2:32:02 PM
Author: Gypsy

Date: 4/8/2008 2:28:47 PM

Author: SarahLovesJS

Yes, that''s it exactly!!! Thank you for the reassurance. I made the call and they are putting a contract together.

I am excited!!!!

Read that sucker carefully. If you have any questions post them before you sign.


Remember a contract is A WISHLIST. It''s not set in stone until it''s signed so it''s open for negotiation. If there is anything in there that gives you pause, question it.

Question it or mark it out!!

Just kidding. But, yeah I am definitely, definitely going to read it closely. I am thinking about taking it to the student legal services place at my school because they''ll do that kind of stuff. It''s basically getting a lawyer''s opinion for free to very little cost. They are actual lawyers that work only with students as clients. I am not going to pretend like I know everything about contract law! Haha. All I know is that a signed written document that says it''s the "entire agreement" is dispositive(sp) and that sounds scary!

 

[Gypsy]

Smart lady. Unless it''s a dinky contract like my vendor''s is (really dinky). I would have someone read it over for you. Just make SURE they are used to reading contracts. Just because they are a lawyer doesn''t mean they know jack about contracts. Believe me.

 

[SarahLovesJS]

Good point! I hadn''t thought of that.

 

[Keepingthefaith21]

Once you have your contract signed (after you had it carefully reviewed, of course) don''t look at other venues. It''s as simple as what you don''t know can''t hurt you.

From this point foward, envision your special day in your venue with all your individual touches. Don''t even think about other venues because those aren''t YOURS

 

[calidaisy]

more so than having the contract read by a professional, make sure you understand the important terms (i.e. cost, potential hidden fees, payment schedule, how much money will be forfeited in case you change the date due to unforeseen circumstances, etc.) and feel like they are fair to you. cuz, if not, now is the time you can negotiate.

for me, i'm trying to get the cutting fee ($3.50 per guest) of cupcakes waived by my vendor b/c they charge a ridiculous amount for wedding cakes (including cupcakes ... long story) and i wish i did this BEFORE i signed the contract, not now.

 

[Gypsy]

Date: 4/9/2008 9:39:52 PM
Author: calidaisy
more so than having the contract read by a professional, make sure you understand the important terms (i.e. cost, potential hidden fees, payment schedule, how much money will be forfeited in case you change the date due to unforeseen circumstances, etc.) and feel like they are fair to you. cuz, if not, now is the time you can negotiate.

for me, i''m trying to get the cutting fee ($3.50 per guest) of cupcakes waived by my vendor b/c they charge a ridiculous amount for wedding cakes (including cupcakes ... long story) and i wish i did this BEFORE i signed the contract, not now.

This is a great point.

YOU are the one who is paying and the one who a met with teh supplier. You need to make sure it all meets with YOUR understanding of the conversations you''ve had wth them.

I got our cake cutting fee cut in half, which was GOOD, but not GREAT (not having one would have been great).
And I had to alter a few things because their "standard policies" didn''t jive with the things -- NOT LEGAL, just business things-- that I had discussed with them. So I needed to make sure that the contract met with MY understanding of things as well.

calidaisy... FOR CUPCAKES TOO!!! I''d be IRATE. LIVID. That''s more than EACH cupcake COSTS.

 

[SarahLovesJS]

Date: 4/9/2008 9:59:16 PM
Author: Gypsy

Date: 4/9/2008 9:39:52 PM

Author: calidaisy

more so than having the contract read by a professional, make sure you understand the important terms (i.e. cost, potential hidden fees, payment schedule, how much money will be forfeited in case you change the date due to unforeseen circumstances, etc.) and feel like they are fair to you. cuz, if not, now is the time you can negotiate.


for me, i''m trying to get the cutting fee ($3.50 per guest) of cupcakes waived by my vendor b/c they charge a ridiculous amount for wedding cakes (including cupcakes ... long story) and i wish i did this BEFORE i signed the contract, not now.

This is a great point.


YOU are the one who is paying and the one who a met with teh supplier. You need to make sure it all meets with YOUR understanding of the conversations you''ve had wth them.


I got our cake cutting fee cut in half, which was GOOD, but not GREAT (not having one would have been great).

And I had to alter a few things because their ''standard policies'' didn''t jive with the things -- NOT LEGAL, just business things-- that I had discussed with them. So I needed to make sure that the contract met with MY understanding of things as well.


calidaisy... FOR CUPCAKES TOO!!! I''d be IRATE. LIVID. That''s more than EACH cupcake COSTS.

Thanks for the advice everyone! I hadn''t thought of that. Everything looks great so far. Sorry to hear about your cupcakes! That is one thing I noticed right off I liked about this venue, there is actually no cake cutting fee, that''s amazing right? First time I''ve found it anyway.

 

[calidaisy]

you guys are so-o lucky!
i''m in a love and hate relationship with my venue because of the cake fee.

otherwise, also see how much they charge to feed children and other vendors (i.e. photographers). that''s one thing we did it right and negotiated the price down.

 

[SarahLovesJS]

Oh yeah definitely need to check on the prices for my vendors to eat, not sure about kids I think the info I have says something about that so I will check. This venue is definitely a bargain compared to some of the others we looked at which were CRAZY expensive. Well for us they were anyway.