Catering Contract

dsw1974

I found the perfect location for my ceremony and reception, and it's totally within my budget. When meeting with the coordinator I was told that the food would be $62/person. When I received the contract, it states that the prices for food and bar are subject to change. This just doesn't seem fair to me. Has anybody encountered this problem, and if so, were you able to resolve it? The woman who is handling my wedding is out of the office, but I've requested that the $62/person fee be written into the contract, or that a $62/person fee, plus an additional potential cost of no more than 10% per person be added. What do you think?

verdes

You should talk to her and have the $62 written into the contract, if I had gone with a package then the fee would have been written in, but since I am doing a build your own package then on my contract it only says that there is a minimum that we need to spend. I just looked at your bio & noticed that you are getting married a year from now, you definitely want to talk to your contact because right now the economy is rough & people are willing to negotiate but who knows next year your venue may increase their per person price.

SMHubbard

I came across that as well. I absolutely loved the place and they had that stipulation that prices can change with no maximum increase listed. I finally talked the lady into including a no more than 10% increase, but the whole situation left a bad taste in my mouth and I just didn't like the place that much anymore.If you can get them to write in the $62 pp that would be best, but I wouldn't do it if they don't agree to at least put in the 10% max increase. How are you supposed to budget if they can change the price on you when ever they want to whatever they want? Depending on how many people you are having, even a 10% increase is a couple hundred dollars.

[Deleted User]

Once they are assured of the minimum they should not be changing the total cost unless it has to do with a rise in taxes.  Our venue locked in the per person cost once we booked, it should not be that hard to lock in the rate.  The last thing you need is once they have locked you in by contract for them to jack up the per person rate to the point where you are spending a couple of extra thousand dollars in addition to it.    Point blank basically you should ask "will you be changing the price I am paying from now until the wedding date?"   It's not a rude question.  You're hiring them, not the other way around.  And don't let them dodge the question with a shrug and a "prices for food fluctuate . ." excuse.  Established caterers typically have negotiating power through their suppliers and they can project their overhead cost over a year or so unless there is a radical shift in the market.If it's not stipulated in the contract you have no protection and recourse if they choose to be less than honorable and pull a fast one on you.  And if they refuse to lock it in, walk away, there are plenty of other places who will.  In fact you can use that as a point of comparison."So and so offered me this for this amount and they said that price is locked in . . . I love your location . . . blah . . . blah . . . blah . . . but if I can't get a solid quote from you guys I can't give you my business."And don't be intimidated to say it either.  The executive calling in to get the same room for a different type of event on the same day would say the same.