Paying for accomodation at the reception

Pollycat

BarryBlue wrote: »

I think it is outrageous the way many of these wedding venue hotels exploit young couples who are trying to plan a wedding. They just see it as a licence to print money and seem willing to do anything to extract money for as little as possible.

I have heard of places setting ridiculous minimum numbers for meals, even at £50-60 a head, with no choice of menu, no reductions for kids and no dietary considerations. Then try cancelling, even a year or more in advance and they will try to retain a huge percentage of the deposit despite Unfair Contract Term law.

My advice to the OP is to ditch this place as they clearly are only interested in cash, not service, and find somewhere that treat you like customers and not a cash-cow to be milked dry.

They can only exploit young couples who are willing (or silly enough) to pay the price asked.

There are all sorts of alternative options at all sorts of different prices.

Pollycat

wizzywills wrote: »

I think some of those who have posted an answer didn't read my post properly and in fact I feel a bit cheesed off with some off your comments - I'm no bridzilla!
- We don't want or need exclusive use - the hotel say we have to have it as a condition of booking
- No one HAS to stay, I was just asking for advice on how best to position it with our guests if they wanted to stay and we were asking them to pay us rather than the hotel


Thanks of those of you that managed a positive reply x

I think you have not read the replies properly.

Yes, bridezillas and groomzillas were mentioned but nobody accused you of being one.
It was a general comment which you have taken out of context..

dirty_magic

I think it is outrageous the way many of these wedding venue hotels exploit young couples who are trying to plan a wedding. They just see it as a licence to print money and seem willing to do anything to extract money for as little as possible.

Completely agree with this, but the only way this will stop is if people stop spending ridiculous money, and I don't think it'll happen. It's not just the hotels, this applies to anything specifically for a wedding.

System

Gloomendoom wrote: »

I wouldn't mind paying the bride or groom for a room in a decent hotel.

If I were the bride or groom however, I wouldn't even consider paying for 50 rooms in advance. I would be looking for a new venue.

Damn straight...what kind of venue expects you to pay for all the rooms up front or lose out?

I would say to all your guests that there is accomodation available, first come first come served...I bet at least 50% may stay as £75 is not too bad considering the travel costs to and from a cheaper hotel (because they'll be drinking, hence why they are staying over) would nearly be as expensive.

Say 50% of your guests book rooms, that means that only 25 rooms can be booked by others, say 20 of these are booked (maybe, maybe not) that's only 40 people milling around. Barely a soul really.

Call the venues bluff. Sounds like they are eager for you to book the lot. Mr Greedy Hotel Manager I think....

BarryBlue

Pollycat wrote: »

They can only exploit young couples who are willing (or silly enough) to pay the price asked.

There are all sorts of alternative options at all sorts of different prices.

I agree. But I'm sure lots of young couples do get carried away with the idea of the 'special day' thing and the numbers cease to be real. After all, £20k is probably not an unusual sum to stage a wedding these days and no doubt there is pressure from friends, family etc to push the boat out.

I think anyone who even considers spending that sort of money needs to step back and take stock. This money is for one day. Perhaps consider what you could do by spending £2k on the day, still a fair amount, and use the other £18k to have something to show for it afterwards. Why would anyone go into a marriage with that sort of money having been peed away and the bill to pick up afterwards.

I have always thought the best weddings (mine included ) are the ones with a few close friends and family, and an informal gathering afterwards. As you say, there are lots of options available without chucking a fortune at it.

dirty_magic wrote: »

Completely agree with this, but the only way this will stop is if people stop spending ridiculous money, and I don't think it'll happen. It's not just the hotels, this applies to anything specifically for a wedding.

The wedding industry is a scandal generally. There seems to be no end of 'must-have' nonsense that is there to part gullible young couples from their money. I suspect they can spot a Bridezilla a mile off too......kerching!

A good test for buying or booking anything for a wedding is to look at it and ask yourself if you would pay the asking price without the word 'wedding' associated with it. Then you can see what a racket it all is.

Anatidaephobia

wizzywills wrote: »

- We don't want or need exclusive use - the hotel say we have to have it as a condition of booking
- No one HAS to stay, I was just asking for advice on how best to position it with our guests if they wanted to stay and we were asking them to pay us rather than the hotel

If this is the case, and you want to go ahead with the booking, then I would suggest you do so on the assumption that none of the guests will pay for a room meaning you have to the foot the bill for the whole lot. That way, you are fully prepared. You can then say to guests "accommodation is available for X amount, no pressure to use it, but it's there if you are interested". If you can't afford to pay for all the rooms or can't justify the cost, as suggested in your first post, then this venue's not for you.

belfastgirl23

To be fair, a lot of us did read the post properly and did provide an answer to exactly the question you asked. And didn't ask where you went when you didn't reply. Of course we are interested in what you decided in the end since we did try to provide support. Its easy to respond to the couple of posters who cheesed you off - just remember a lot of people didn't!

Pollycat

BarryBlue wrote: »

I think anyone who even considers spending that sort of money needs to step back and take stock. This money is for one day. Perhaps consider what you could do by spending £2k on the day, still a fair amount, and use the other £18k to have something to show for it afterwards. Why would anyone go into a marriage with that sort of money having been peed away and the bill to pick up afterwards.

So maybe it needs to start with starry-eyed wannabe-marrieds to vote with their feet.

Supply and demand.

If there is no demand (i.e no starry-eyed wannabe-marrieds to pay stupid prices for one day) the supply will need to reassess their pricing structure.

Carl31

BarryBlue wrote: »

I agree. But I'm sure lots of young couples do get carried away with the idea of the 'special day' thing and the numbers cease to be real. After all, £20k is probably not an unusual sum to stage a wedding these days and no doubt there is pressure from friends, family etc to push the boat out.

I think anyone who even considers spending that sort of money needs to step back and take stock. This money is for one day. Perhaps consider what you could do by spending £2k on the day, still a fair amount, and use the other £18k to have something to show for it afterwards. Why would anyone go into a marriage with that sort of money having been peed away and the bill to pick up afterwards.

I have always thought the best weddings (mine included ) are the ones with a few close friends and family, and an informal gathering afterwards. As you say, there are lots of options available without chucking a fortune at it.



The wedding industry is a scandal generally. There seems to be no end of 'must-have' nonsense that is there to part gullible young couples from their money. I suspect they can spot a Bridezilla a mile off too......kerching!

A good test for buying or booking anything for a wedding is to look at it and ask yourself if you would pay the asking price without the word 'wedding' associated with it. Then you can see what a racket it all is.

£2k on a wedding would be very hard to do

Whilst it is only one day, and it is expensive, you cant spend your whole life watching the pennies, you have to live a bit

it is one day, but its a day of your life that will (hopefully) be one of the most significant you will have

sooty&sweep

Apologies, I've not read the whole thread but the gist of it seems to be that the bride & groom want exclusive use of the hotel but are surprised that the hotel want payment for all the rooms if they are expected to turn other guests away and that the wedding is next year.
I have to be honest & say if I was running a hotel & someone asked for exclusive use I'd also expect them to pay for all the rooms otherwise I'd want the opportunity to advertise available rooms.
If the wedding isn't until next year depending when I'd suggest there is plenty of time to put invites out & ask guests to book a room if they want one. I doubt many people will be booking rooms 6 months + in advance unless there is something special about the location.
Jen