Reception Venue is Asking for So Much $ Upfront - Is that Normal?

compassionatelove

Hi!

Just want to pick folks brains for what the norm is for securing a venue.

We are being asked to pay half upfront which is $2,500 and it is 1 year and 3 months in advance. They also are including a $500 non refundable cleaning fee and we have to get the remaining balance ($2,500) to them 90 days before the event plus provide a $2,000 security deposit (30 days before the event).

Is this normal for an event venue asking for money like this?

Looking forward to hearing other people's experiences

QueerFemme

that sounds about right to me. 

vanityink

Depends on the venue. Mine didn't, but I know others who want much bigger deposits. Mine did have a seurity deposit as well I know and I know many with cleaning fees. Then other vendors the sameway. My florist didn't ask for anything down (just a credit card number to hold a few months out) but my photographer asked for half upfront and then the rest two weeks out from the wedding.

compassionatelove

thank you for your response - it is appreciated!

compassionatelove

thank you for your response - very helpful insight!!!

HobokensFury

Ours required 30% up front.

daria24

We paid the site fee upfront, then the catering (the venue was the caterer) was paid in 40/30/30 increments at 90 days, 60 days, and 30 days. 

You can always try to negotiate a different payment schedule-ask to break it into smaller payments paid monthly, etc. The worst they can say is No. 

compassionatelove

Thank you for your response! And when did they expect the balance?

JoanE2012

I think we paid about 20% upfront when we booked.  Then we paid half of the remainder 6 months before the wedding and the other half 2 weeks before.  Never heard of a separate cleaning fee. 

talandree

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_reception-venue-is-asking-for-so-much-upfront-is-that-normal?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:5Discussion:8c024cb4-ec86-4251-b304-f680d4a7fba9Post:43c257d7-6511-4b11-8f96-0d0f2b5c3887">Reception Venue is Asking for So Much $ Upfront - Is that Normal?</a>:
[QUOTE]Hi! Just want to pick folks brains for what the norm is for securing a venue. We are being asked to pay half upfront which is $2,500 and it is 1 year and 3 months in advance. They also are including a $500 non refundable cleaning fee and we have to get the remaining balance ($2,500) to them 90 days before the event plus provide a $2,000 security deposit (30 days before the event). Is this normal for an event venue asking for money like this? Looking forward to hearing other people's experiences
Posted by compassionatelove[/QUOTE]<div>
</div><div>Because our venue is unique to our town, we have to pay for the full amount when we book it :(

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[Deleted User]

For our venue we paid 50% up front then the remaining balance, including the security deposit, one year before the wedding. 

Ella and Pedro

We paid half up front.  We owe the rest about two weeks before the event, and at this time we also provide a final tally for the ceremony chair rental- $1.00 a chair.

We were offered a discount if we paid in full (of a few hundred dollars) but we did not have that much to offer comfortably. 

We received a discount for the total owed of 50% off due to booking for a winter date (March 29, 2014)...which is why we choose that date.

We did not have to pay any separate fees for security or cleaning, but we did opt for the I-Pod Speaker Usage (which is quite reasonable considering the venue has Bose speakers and a Bose soundsystem), which was an extra fee, and as mentioned, the ceremony chair rental - which is TBD.

[Deleted User]

It really depends on the place, the higher priced the place I have found you put more upfront.