Prefered Vendor

sarahlm619

I'm sooo new to planning a wedding that I'm just looking at locations (yikes...$$$ by the way!) and we're splurging A BIT to get the location we want -- but that means cut backs in other places.

The "Prefered Vendor" they'd like us to use for our catering is around $30/person -- however I've seen other caterers for about a fraction of that for the exact same food.  Of course, I'm going to try the food -- but if there's not much difference, is it tacky to not use the vendor the location prefers?

MyNameIsNot

You can use any vendor you want, so long as the venue allows it.

Check your contract though.  It is common for venues to charge extra if you go off of their preferred vendor list.

mgietler76

I don't see why that's tacky. Go to the tasting's and choose the one that you like better. It's nice that you have a choice, I looked into a few places that didn't offer a choice so we went elsewhere.

zippityb

My venue had a list of "preferred vendors," but those were just caterers that they had done business with in the past. All the guy needed was my caterer's insurance and he was fine with who I brought in. 

bellaxanthe

Preferred vendor meant ONLY vendor in my case.  Double check the contract.  Look for added fees if you use an outside one. Also be aware of service charges in addition to the per person charge - it totally adds up and can be deceiving.

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

As long as they don't require it, then no, use whomever you'd like. As long as you can get a reliable caterer with good reviews elsewhere and there aren't any hidden fees for using your own vendor.

baystateapple

Check the contract.  My venue had a list of preferred vendors, but we only HAD to use their catering (for dinner, not the cake).  The cake was included in our price pp if we used their preferred baker; if not, they gave us $150 towards a cake from another baker (we used theirs).  Everyone else -- photographer, DJ, etc. -- we went with our own, instead of their preferred, and there was no incentive or penalty.

tldh

Read the contract.  The private historical home where we got married required us to pick from four caterers because it was the home's kitchen that would be used.  Every other vendor was just a suggestion.

zippityb

Has anyone suggested reading the contract? I think she should really read the contract. I can't imagine anyone else bringing that idea up.

Beachy730

Ask them why it is their preferred vendor.  Sometimes they have contracts with places that they will only go through them.  But sometimes they just do it because they know they are reliable and have done well in the past.  Ours reception site had a recommended place for chair covers when we booked because they knew their covers fit their unique chairs.  We were able to go somewhere else though, they just recommended them coming in to try on the covers.  By the time we had our wedding, they were in a contract with this company that it was the ONLY  company you could use for chair covers now.  And I think they offered a discount.

Just be straight forward with the site.  Ask them why they recommend these people, and exactly what penalties or charges there are if you don't go through them.  If you don't want to admit that its because of the money being less, than you can just say you have your heart set on another vendor.