Reception Site Contract (longish)

mmdpm

So I don't want to be rude to my future reception site, but, we got the contract today and it is super vague.  Pretty much consists of give us $1500 dollars, we'll hold the date, a block of rooms for your party, hire the DJ, and we'll talk about food and cake later. 

Also there is no set price per person but the wedding coordinator says that what she does is honor the quote book we received when we toured, problem is that at the bottom the pricing pages it says all prices subject to change. 

Am I being biotchy wanting a price per person in writing now or should I wait until the July meeting?

KappaK

I personally would want it in writing.  I would not risk anything.  It is certainly not being biitchy to want to know exactly what you are getting charged per person and any other money detail that might come up.

ggmae

Take it from me (someone who got screwed over by her venue 5 weeks before the wedding) - Get EVERYTHING in writing. Every single detail should be on paper.

amalama

I have heard of pricing being subject to change up to a certain amount (because food costs can change) but I would want that in writing, not just a contract without any price. Did you point out that part of the contract when she told you she would honor the book? If she's going to honor those prices she should be willing to put it in the contract. Lots of people have had problems with vendors because they didn't get everything in writing, you are not being bitchy.

Night_Sprite

Costs can change between now and July.  That is probably why they want to wait.  My venue guaranteed no more than a 5% increase on the given quote.  You could try something like that. 

mmdpm

Well we're meeing with her next week and we both want details in writing.  Especially with FI being a lawyer, he wants paper to cover everything. 

I know I need to be prepared to walk away, but I really like this place and want it to work out, so I am trying to smooth this out.

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

If it doesn't protect YOU at all, just the venue, I'd do something about it.

amalama

May I ask what venue? I'm in St. Louis too.

mmdpm

Holiday Inn - Deep Springs Lodge Eureka

amalama

Hmm I've never been there or heard anything about it. Just wondering because I have had a few friends with problems with various places. Don't know anything about that one though.

mmdpm

Ok so gotta run, pager went off and have to go to the ER.  Leave me your thoughts and I will go over them and answer any questions when I get back.

TIA

polichik

Please don't feel pushy! It's your money, and you're giving it to them. I engaged in a 30-email-long conversation with my venue, getting them to change and clarify the contract. It's legally binding, so be picky!

squirrly

Yep, put everything in the contract.  EVERYTHING.  Think through every possible scenerio and get it on paper.

lpstl

Definitely get everything in writing, we didn't and our venue completely screwed us over on several things that were promised verbally.

It should be no surprise to her that you want the contract to state specifics, and in this economy I can't imagine they'd just let you walk away over something like that.

thesuninherhead

You should certainly get the food/drink prices in writing. There's been numerous girls here who have had horror stories with venues increasing pricing as either their pricing wasn't mentioned in the contract, or they had a condition in their contract that prices could vary. 

angie74

my husband is a lawyer, and he rewrote literally every contract we signed.... you should do that if you're not comfortable with it