Venue unable to give fixed fee?

Hilly_2010

Not good news folks...

This is their response:

Many thanks for your email. I can fully appreciate your position and understand your predicament. However as we don't know how the economy will fluctuate over the next few years the best position I can put you in is to add 10% onto 2013's wedding and accommodation tariff. This will give you an indication of what 2014 prices will be like.

Seems like they're flat out refusing to budge. May need to think about this.

pinkteapot

I absolutely would not sign a contract without knowing the confirmed price. Run a mile!

Most venues are happy to get bookings and will take bookings that are a long way in advance at the current prices. At least it's a confirmed date for them.

I seriously think you should find another venue that will confirm its prices, or wait until the 2014 prices are available before booking this one.

Hilly_2010

pinkteapot wrote: »

I absolutely would not sign a contract without knowing the confirmed price. Run a mile!

Most venues are happy to get bookings and will take bookings that are a long way in advance at the current prices. At least it's a confirmed date for them.

I seriously think you should find another venue that will confirm its prices, or wait until the 2014 prices are available before booking this one.

Easier said than done though isn't it, especially when the other half has fallen in love with the place!

Being the type of bloke I am, I'm inclined to try and play hardball and say "Thanks, but no thanks" and see what he says i.e. see if he get's in contact a week or so later saying that he'll agree to it at the 2013 prices, but that won't wash with the other half!

I can't believe that he's willing to turn down someone who is happy to pay the 2013 prices (and put down the deposit almost instantly) and pin his hopes on the fact there might be an upturn in the economy over the next two years.

Hilly_2010

I've basically worked out that it'll cost us a maximum of £7,832 for the venue (80 day guests, 120 evening).

This obviously includes food, drink, DJ etc... A lot of money!

Hilly_2010

grass_is_greener wrote: »

Personally, I would never put down such a large deposit (especially with the date being so far away).
We did it and lived to regret it and ended up taking the venue to court for return of our deposit.

If you do go ahead and pay, make sure you have insurance AND pay by credit card.

I think the minimum is likely to be £1,000 but thanks to the advice on here il be paying by credit card and with the backing of wedding insurance.

BugglyB

19th of July is pretty primetime really isn't it. I can see their point, who knows what the price of food, etc might have gone up to by then.

What does your other half think? She's a grown woman surely even if she loves the place and has her heart set on it she understands the predicament?

CKhalvashi

I'm also in the 'run a mile' club.

IMO, the venue should be adding x% onto the 2013 prices.

CK

gilly1964

Sorry - but I would run a mile

Our venue occasionally uses marquees for parties, birthday, wedding and so on, but where they put it would make our room very very dark.

They were quite happy to guarantee that this would not happen on our day and put it in the contract.

Likewise they were offering a package for 2012, we asked if they would honour those prices for 2013 and again it is in the contract, all prices as at February 2012.

I appreciate what you are saying about not wanting to disappoint your fiancee but how about looking round for alternatives - there may just be better out there

My first choice was where my dad used to work and where I used to go for parties at Christmas. Their selling however was so flakey that it was only when the contract came for reading over that we realised all prices quoted did not include VAT, so were actually 20% more than the £6500 we thought we had agreed on. We soon moved as lost faith in them.

If you would like to say where you are, perhaps we can all help

Hilly_2010

BugglyB wrote: »

19th of July is pretty primetime really isn't it. I can see their point, who knows what the price of food, etc might have gone up to by then.

What does your other half think? She's a grown woman surely even if she loves the place and has her heart set on it she understands the predicament?

Yup. Primetime and the place is pretty much of the opinion, that if you won't pay what we want someone else will. My dad knows someone else having their wedding there and when they tried to book it last year and the only date they were given was in December - so as such she's had to change the date just to make sure she has it there.

CKhalvashi wrote: »

I'm also in the 'run a mile' club.

IMO, the venue should be adding x% onto the 2013 prices.

CK

I think that's what they're effectively saying though i.e. the best they can offer is to not go above 10% on the 2013 prices. So effectively the maximum we'll end up paying will be £7,832.

If prices stay the same we're looking at paying £7,120 but realistically if we want to budget we have to budget for price inbetween those 2 figures.

gilly1964 wrote: »

Sorry - but I would run a mile

Our venue occasionally uses marquees for parties, birthday, wedding and so on, but where they put it would make our room very very dark.

They were quite happy to guarantee that this would not happen on our day and put it in the contract.

Likewise they were offering a package for 2012, we asked if they would honour those prices for 2013 and again it is in the contract, all prices as at February 2012.

I appreciate what you are saying about not wanting to disappoint your fiancee but how about looking round for alternatives - there may just be better out there

My first choice was where my dad used to work and where I used to go for parties at Christmas. Their selling however was so flakey that it was only when the contract came for reading over that we realised all prices quoted did not include VAT, so were actually 20% more than the £6500 we thought we had agreed on. We soon moved as lost faith in them.

If you would like to say where you are, perhaps we can all help

I don't want to name the exact place at the risk of bad mouthing the place unintentionally, but let's just say I'm in the County Durham area.

But the thing is, we've been engaged for a year now and we've been looking at various places over the course of the year, and this is the only place that's really ticked all of the boxes. County Durham isn't really blessed with an abundance of wedding venues.

The place must have:

1. Only one wedding per day
2. Close enough distance to the church we'll be getting married at.
3. The 'wow' factor!

Our previous option was putting a marquee in the back garden! I say back garden, it's actually the field out the back but my main concern was the 'wow' factor and how unpredictable our English summers are! At least if we went to a proper venue we'd have the security of being indoors.

gilly1964

I appreciate you not wanting to name the exact location but have a look at this list

http://swpp.co.uk/wedding_venues/County%20Durham.htm

Also there is a wedding fair in Chester Le Street this weekend

Hope this helps

Good Luck
Gilly x