Venue unable to give fixed fee?

pinkteapot

OK, I'd missed the point that they've guaranteed you that the increase won't be more than 10%. If they will put that in the contract, with absolutely no get-out clauses, then I might consider it.

I thought you were signing a contract with no idea what the final price would be.

Hilly_2010

pinkteapot wrote: »

OK, I'd missed the point that they've guaranteed you that the increase won't be more than 10%. If they will put that in the contract, with absolutely no get-out clauses, then I might consider it.

I thought you were signing a contract with no idea what the final price would be.

Nah! That's the line which I won't cross. At least by them telling me what an agreed maximum is going to be, I can cope with it.

faithless

Obviously only you have seen the full email, but the excerpt from their response that you posted earlier does not say the price rise would be capped at 10%, but that their rough guide to 2014 price is 2013 + 10%, which I would read as expect 10% but it could be more.

Hilly_2010 wrote: »

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.

madvixen

Hilly_2010 wrote: »

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.

Check out http://www.totallytipi.com/ if you want something with a wow factor. We're just down the road from you and are planning to use one of these in the school field.
I'm afraid I'm another who would run a mile if they couldn't give me a confirmed price. The venue involved doesn't have Ram in it's name does it?

cats2012

Sorry if being stupid here - but if you're already spending over £7000 on a reception venue how much difference would the 10% really make? It might be a bit more saving but if you were on a tight MSE budget of say £3000 and they were saying it could be between £1000 and £1500 I'd understand but for the sake of 10%...

If you can afford it either way I'd get them to put the max 10% in the contract, budget for £7800 and if you end up better off then it's a bonus.

Hilly_2010

faithless wrote: »

Obviously only you have seen the full email, but the excerpt from their response that you posted earlier does not say the price rise would be capped at 10%, but that their rough guide to 2014 price is 2013 + 10%, which I would read as expect 10% but it could be more.

What I posted above was the full email.

I read it as though it wouldn't go above 10%, so perhaps when I reply I can clarify matters further.

Hilly_2010

cats2012 wrote: »

Sorry if being stupid here - but if you're already spending over £7000 on a reception venue how much difference would the 10% really make? It might be a bit more saving but if you were on a tight MSE budget of say £3000 and they were saying it could be between £1000 and £1500 I'd understand but for the sake of 10%...

If you can afford it either way I'd get them to put the max 10% in the contract, budget for £7800 and if you end up better off then it's a bonus.

£712 is an awful lot to us when we're trying to stick to a budget. We always knew that the main outlay was going to be the venue. The rest is just bits and pieces.

For example, the above charge includes venue, food, drinks, DJ, accomodation on the night for us both. The only real outlay after that will be dress, cake, photographer and transport - the rest we can do pretty cheaply through relatives etc...

cats2012

Hilly_2010 wrote: »

£712 is an awful lot to us when we're trying to stick to a budget. We always knew that the main outlay was going to be the venue. The rest is just bits and pieces.

For example, the above charge includes venue, food, drinks, DJ, accomodation on the night for us both. The only real outlay after that will be dress, cake, photographer and transport - the rest we can do pretty cheaply through relatives etc...

Ok, sorry, I didn't mean to imply it isn't alot because of course it is I just thought if you know this far in advance would it be enough to change your decision?

Also, a general tip, - don't underestimate the cost of the other stuff, we're on a much lower budget than you but family are doing tons and reception venue etc is still only just over half the total cost. Rings, dress, bridesmaids, your suit, transport, cake (£300+ for your number), decoration for the venue, plus fees for church alone for us in 2013 are £450 without choir or bells or anything. Plus a honeymoon if you're having one?

Honestly just trying to help, hope its not misconstrued.

Hilly_2010

cats2012 wrote: »

Ok, sorry, I didn't mean to imply it isn't alot because of course it is I just thought if you know this far in advance would it be enough to change your decision?

Also, a general tip, - don't underestimate the cost of the other stuff, we're on a much lower budget than you but family are doing tons and reception venue etc is still only just over half the total cost. Rings, dress, bridesmaids, your suit, transport, cake (£300+ for your number), decoration for the venue, plus fees for church alone for us in 2013 are £450 without choir or bells or anything. Plus a honeymoon if you're having one?

Honestly just trying to help, hope its not misconstrued.

No, not at all - any advice is gratefully received!

To be honest, maybe I am underestimating other things. I'm going to sit down tonight and write down a true list of what we need and go from there.

I haven't responded to him yet, so I'm going to give myself as much time as possible to think things through. I won't lie... I'm pretty tight when it comes to money so seeing such a figure makes me worried - especially when I've seen similar for nearly 2 grand cheaper. But given that this is the place my other half has set her heart on, I'm sure any other husband to be would try and make sure she got what she wanted.

The way it's looking is that if we overspend on venue, that money will have to come off somewhere else e.g. photographer. I had my heart set on a certain bloke because I know how good he is, but we may have to go for someone slightly cheaper just to ensure we get the venue. Tough decisions.

cats2012

Hilly_2010 wrote: »

No, not at all - any advice is gratefully received!

To be honest, maybe I am underestimating other things. I'm going to sit down tonight and write down a true list of what we need and go from there.

I haven't responded to him yet, so I'm going to give myself as much time as possible to think things through. I won't lie... I'm pretty tight when it comes to money so seeing such a figure makes me worried - especially when I've seen similar for nearly 2 grand cheaper. But given that this is the place my other half has set her heart on, I'm sure any other husband to be would try and make sure she got what she wanted.

The way it's looking is that if we overspend on venue, that money will have to come off somewhere else e.g. photographer. I had my heart said on a certain bloke because I know how good he is, but we may have to go for someone slightly cheaper just to ensure we get the venue. Tough decisions.

Agreed - it's a nightmare.

We wanted awesome photographer so sacrificed on cars etc. Although to be honest our biggest concession was going for March, being offpeak has saved us thousands (literally) but that's another story.

Good luck whatever happens