Changing my Caterer 6 weeks out!!!!!

Knottie1431443292

Any advice would be SO helpful I have had my cater booked since august and she is great! Our first quote was 2,445 for 150 people. We changed the venue and added 50 more people, it's 10 more miles for her and the price shot up to almost $7,000. The wedding is about 6 weeks out and I found another caterer that can do everything I want for around the same price we started with. How should I go about telling her I have found someone else? and is that the right thing? I only paid her a deposit, which i'm totally fine with not getting back.

AddieCake

I would simply contact her and tell her that you appreciate her time but the new price is out of your budget, and you have decided to go in a different direction. 

kimmiinthemitten

Knottie1431443292 said:

Any advice would be SO helpful I have had my cater booked since august and she is great! Our first quote was 2,445 for 150 people. We changed the venue and added 50 more people, it's 10 more miles for her and the price shot up to almost $7,000. The wedding is about 6 weeks out and I found another caterer that can do everything I want for around the same price we started with. How should I go about telling her I have found someone else? and is that the right thing? I only paid her a deposit, which i'm totally fine with not getting back.

Did you ask your original caterer to break down why the price almost doubled?

I agree with PP though, tell her in writing that you'd like to cancel your original contract and expect to lose your deposit.

MesmrEwe

Something isn't adding up...  It's like a bait and switch for those two quotes if they're exactly the same food/services but 50 additional people and 10 extra miles...  OR, was all of the "Service charge", "Venue Charge", "Gratuity", County/State/Federal tax added in on the second quote that wasn't in the first...  Using those numbers and multiplying it out to the 200, it could easily come out to close to $5500 (20% service charge, 20% gratuity, 10% tax, and if the new venue charges caterers a fee to use the kitchen)... 

Make sure the second caterer has 100% of everything you pay figured out in the quote because you don't want to be blindsided a second time. 

If you do decide you don't want to use the first caterer - then read your contract for what you're on the hook for.  You may lose the deposit, or you could firmly hold your ground to say "Hey - I multiplied it out, why is there such a difference in the quote for the same meal only 50 more guests?"..  Negotiate! 

charlotte989875

I agree with PPs, ask about why the difference in price. Like @MesmrEwe said extra people, charges, staff, etc could increase the price but you should check. If you don't want to go with the first caterer you should call them as soon as you can, tell them you're not able to afford the new price and you're going with someone else. Prepare to lose your deposit. Communicate this now if you have decided you won't be using them; this is a pretty busy time for caterers and if you're not keeping your date you should let them know so they can book someone else.