Decorating vs. Event hourly rate?

Joshley123

My site charges $50/hour for decorating/rehearsal time and $275/hour for the event. My fiance and our wedding party and parents are arriving 3 hours before the wedding to decorate and are also planning on having our photographer bust out a bunch of the photos. The venue says we have to pay the full event fee instead of the decorating fee if we are being photographed. Is this crazy? Should I negotiate the lower rate for these 3 hours? Thanks!

MyNameIsNot

It really depends on what your contract says.  How is it worded?

Typically a set-up/break-down time is meant for vendors to get in and set up.  If you are there with the WP taking pictures, I can see how that would be event time.

aerinpegadrak

Well, are you and your WP going to be stopping for posed pictures, or is your photographer going to be taking a bunch of candids?  If he's just documenting as you decorate, you could probably argue for the setup fee.  If you're in there taking posed formals, you have less of a case.

I would do an hour of posed WP/parent pictures elsewhere, then go into the venue for two hours to decorate, if you want to do your posed formals in that time period.

jenn.daniel

Personally I think it’s ridiculous that they charge a higher rate for an “event”.  Really, do you have to tell them your photographer is there?  I wouldn’t let them charge a higher rate.