Ok my Knotties I need opinions

picklesmurphy

My vendor contract seems mostly logical, until I got to the Cancellation/ liquidation part. If I cancel, I owe this percentage of the total contract......

a) booking 300 days prior to event       5%
b) 240-299 days prior to event            20%
c) 180-239 days prior          30%
d) 120-179 days prior          40%
e) 60-119   days prior          50%
f) 0-59      days prior           60%
 
I had no desire to cancel any contracts, I want to get married : )   But I don't think 7 months notice warrants 30% plus the $500 deposit. Did you guys have similar cancellation polices on your contracts? The last two make sense, even a little generous, but 20% at 299 days, wow. Please tell me if I'm crazy.                    

lisa89760

I forfit deposits in most of the contracts (except my linens which I didn't have to put one down which was a nice surprise)  but for instance I only forfit my deposit for my photographer if she doesn't book that day. 

I think it seems strange that 200 days out you owe 20% of the contract!

emarston1

Honestly, I don't think it's strange at all.  They are doing this to protect themselves against a loss of revenue in case a client decides to cancel.  It's nothing personal against you, it's their business.  If you don't like the terms, don't sign and go with another vendor.

Meg1036

I also don't find it weird.  At my venue, I had to pay 50% of our projected costs 6 months out, and it was non-refundable.

picklesmurphy

I'm not taking it personal at all. I get they all have their policys, I just don't see at 250 plus days they are loosing revenue. Plus they keep the deposit. I wondered if everyone elses contacts were similar. I do think it is strange at this venue you don't pay anything but the deposit until 10 days before the event.

MMRoberts11

All my contracts just have that we lose the deposits.

emarston1

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_michigan-detroit_ok-knotties-need-opinions?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:88Discussion:f6cf09cb-a104-4d68-8c3d-df99a6c212cfPost:75e932ba-eccc-4a53-9af6-bc50d4df805e">Re: Ok my Knotties I need opinions</a>:
[QUOTE]I'm not taking it personal at all. I get they all have their policys, I just don't see at 250 plus days they are loosing revenue. Plus they keep the deposit. I wondered if everyone elses contacts were similar. I do think it is strange at this venue you don't pay anything but the deposit until 10 days before the event.
Posted by picklesmurphy[/QUOTE]
I didn't mean to insuate that you were taking it personally but some brides do.  For us, we only paid our deposit and then we don't pay until 2 days before when the final bill is due.  But if we cancelled, we had various levels of financial commitments we would have had to pay.

And they may not necessarily lose revenue at 250 days out but they could.  By taking a deposit from someone they are refusing business to other customers which could have been a higher paid contract.  It is what it is.

picklesmurphy

Emarston, yeah it is what it is. I just wondered what everyone's contracts were like. I still think it's crap they want 5% at 300 days plus deposit, but that's just me.

 BTW you are getting married on my birthday : )

MrsBarstool2011

With our venue 6 moths and longer, we lose our deposit.  at 6 months we had to pay 50% of the estimated cost based upon the 100 person minimum.  If we cancelled after this point we would lose that amount too unless they were able to re-book the room.  She said that we could pay more towards it but we would lose that amount as well.  Our final payment is due 10 days before our wedding.

rcj2rcd

FIs parents are paying for our reception, so I don't know all specifics, but I know it was $2500 deposit to book and I think 25% due at our meal tasting in April, with the remainder due one month before. And I think once it's paid it's not refundable. I think the schedule looks normal.

golemhm

For ours, 6 months or more out we lose our deposit. After 6 months we would have to pay 50% and lose our deposit. 4 months out we have to pay all estimated costs, which is the room minimum. 1 month out we have to pay all charges of our event.

lcsnowflake

Our reception venue is fairly lenient.  We paid $500 deposit, which was 100% refundable until 150 days before the event.  We owe 40% of our minimum 30 days before the event and final payment and count is due 1 week before.  This seems to be the most laid-back policy.  It sounds like this type of policy is rare.

Also, if you are really uncomfortable with the policy, talk to them.  It nevers hurts them to ask to change the contract.  We have made changes to our photographer and limo contracts with no problems.  Just talk to them and see what they say.

Milsey32

With both our venue and our caterer we're doing payment plans instead of waiting to pay everything 2 weeks before the wedding.(I mean, we'll end up paying something once we give the final head count and whatnot, but it won't be all one big lumpsome) -- some venues sadly like to prey on those that cancel, which is unfortunate, but it happens in the best interest of the company. Sorry but it's not unusual