Venue upping amenity prices after signing the contract

algray05 · November 2012

I was very lucky and knew exactly where I wanted to get married and also to have a long engagement. I am getting married in October of 2013, and booked our venue in January of 2012. When I signed my contract, it was for eight hours, but extra hours were availible via their amenities. I have a small group of people helping me set up, and thought it would be a good idea to book a few extra hours before the wedding so I won't stress. The price listed on the amenities was $100/hour.
I received an email yesterday saying that they had changed their policies, rules, etc. They resent a general contract, a new list of amenities, preferred vendors, etc. Listed in the amenities it says "Extra hours - $200".
My contract also contains an amendment stating that the entire thing is subject to change, yatta yatta.

Im almost certain that unless they find it in the goodness of their hearts to honor their original price, I am going to have to cough up the extra money. The only reason our amenities have not been paid yet, is that they have to be paid in full, and at a year out, obviously, we don't know how many people will be able to make, and so will not know if we need extra tables, chairs, linens, etc. We can't hammer out what the final price will be this far out. It's just not going to happen.

So, to finally get to my point, what would you advise? Over pay in amenities so I can lock in the price and not have to worry about them upping these prices over the next year? Has this happened to you?

Part of me wants to look for another venue entirely. It's a year out, so it wouldn't be impossible, and yes, this is only a couple of hundred dollars we are talking about, but the shady-ness of it bothers me. I understand that they are within their rights to change prices, but they have me on the line for a $4000+ venue, and theyre already nickel and diming me a year out? (Bonus: When you rent the venue, you are the only wedding all day. I understand an additional per-hour amount to an extent, electric, etc. But to double it? And when I still have a year out for them to double it again.....)

Anyways. Sorry for the long post, Im a chatter box this morning.

lyndausvi · November 2012

Umm, a lot of places have that clause because things increase in cost. Especially food. They would go broke if they had to lock into prices almost 2 years out. You can't predict there will be a shortage of bacon in 2013 at the beginning of 2012. Or there fuel prices will go up, or a drought, etc. DH locks in food prices 3/6 months out. They would never be doubled (there is cap of some sort) Sometimes they will just make minor menu changes to come within budget.

HOWEVER, doubling the price of a room rental is ridiculous. Unlike food where you have to buy items from vendors room rentals are mostly pure profit. I would fight that one.

In a nutshell, I'm okay with subject to change on things the hotel can't control almost a year out. (ie. food costs). Things they can control, like a room rental), no. You can't convince me it's justified.

QueerFemme · November 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_venue-upping-amenity-prices-after-signing-the-contract?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:14Discussion:a6a72580-a83a-4cff-bcca-08bc583b978ePost:dd713fc3-d9dc-4f67-b821-437fbfbc6a30">Re: Venue upping amenity prices after signing the contract</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Venue upping amenity prices after signing the contract : This. Honestly, unless you are just so in love with this venue you'd do anything to be married there, or the loss in deposit would be more than the extra price in ammenities, I would find another venue. And this time, don't sign a contract that allows them to change prices on you. Good luck!
Posted by StageManager14[/QUOTE]

My venue didn't lock in extras unless I reserved them. If I wanted extra hours, thit was $60.00 per hour. If I reserved it at the time I signed my contract, great, I only paid the $60.00. If I waited and wanted to add extra hours later, and their prices had gone up, I paid whatever the current price at the time of reservation was.

lyndausvi · November 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_venue-upping-amenity-prices-after-signing-the-contract?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:14Discussion:a6a72580-a83a-4cff-bcca-08bc583b978ePost:b2ce813f-5fd8-47bb-a4bb-feac627a7a73">Re: Venue upping amenity prices after signing the contract</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Venue upping amenity prices after signing the contract : Really, most vendors tell you the entire contract is subject to change? No they do not. Most vendors will include a clause saying some prices are subject to change but not the entire contract. From the OP "My contract also contains an amendment stating that the entire thing is subject to change ,"
Posted by LingerLonger1[/QUOTE]

It's hard to tell from the OP, but it appears she has not completely locked down on those items yet. I don't blame her for not wanting to pay this far in advance, but until she meets their requirements she seems to be subject to price changes.

algray05 · November 2012

I wasn't clear; the base price is locked in, and that day is "mine", but everything beyond that is completely due to price changes until I "lock it in" with the amenity clause. They also can change what they allow between now and then (ie, Wish Lanterns were added into their website and the list of decorations/etc they don't allow after I asked about them a month ago.)
I think I am going to look around. The down payment is fully refundable as long as we cancel six months out. We'll lose a 200 "Processing" fee, but hey. Thats what I lost when I opened that email, so it's gone one way or another to me.
I just really don't like that I can't pay for part of the amenities now, and the rest later. They want one, seperate amenity contract.
For the record, almost every other place I have looked at has a similar clause.

Like I said, I had the feeling there wasn't a good way around it, but wanted y'alls input, since there's so much experience on the board.

lyndausvi · November 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_venue-upping-amenity-prices-after-signing-the-contract?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:14Discussion:a6a72580-a83a-4cff-bcca-08bc583b978ePost:9470f80b-5204-463d-bb29-9f425761b0d6">Re:Venue upping amenity prices after signing the contract</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re:Venue upping amenity prices after signing the contract: Yes, food costs makes sense, and even extras like labor costs above and beyond.<strong> But to have things like tables, linen upgrades, etc subject to change is ridiculous. Those are sunk costs, they don't change for the venue, so they should be locked in with the contract</strong>. Based on OP's post, she's debating locking things in now because she needs a rough head count for at least some of it, which leads me to believe that when she said EVERYTHING is subject to change, it meant everything. Those things weren't " extras" at any venues we looked at, and the prices were locked in.
Posted by StageManager14[/QUOTE]

It really depends on the venue. We had to provide EVERYTHING at our venue. We choose to use the venue's coordinator to rent everything for us. They in turn used an outside vendor to provide the tent, tables, plates, linens, etc. So basically until will locked into certain things we were subjected to change because the vendors prices might change.

In St Thomas, we only provided white linens. Any other colors had to be ordered from another vendor, so again might be subject to change until it was locked down with the vendor..

So while agree for most venues that sort of stuff should be standard, it's not always. It wasn't in my case.

MyNameIsNot · November 2012

I find this so bizarre. All the venues I met with set their contract so that you "locked in" the prices at the time that you booked. Sure, menu items were subject to availability (in case of a bacon shortage), but this was the incentive they offered you in order to get you to put down a deposit and book them early.

I don't understand why you would sign a contract and book a venue where everything is subject to change. What would prevent them from upping the price and charging you exhorbetant prices in order to 1) force you to back out so that they could keep your deposit without doing the event or 2) force you to back out so that they can contract another event with a higher budget?

I agree with PP. I would be seriously reconsidering this venue and my budget. It may only be a couple hundred dollars for extra time now, but you're still a year away. I would expect quite a bit more price increases on every little thing between now and then.

Kristin789 · November 2012

>>a lot of places have that clause because things increase in cost. Especially food. They would go broke if they had to lock into prices almost 2 years out.

What?
I work with a statewide group that contracts for events as big as wedding receptions, and we contract those venues either one year out or two years out.
And we absolutely do lock in the prices for hotel rooms and food and everything.
They cannot charge us one penny more, even if there is a bacon shortage or whatever.

lyndausvi · November 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_venue-upping-amenity-prices-after-signing-the-contract?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:14Discussion:a6a72580-a83a-4cff-bcca-08bc583b978ePost:d7b42298-ae7b-4ef3-9940-49717ac89cfc">Re: Venue upping amenity prices after signing the contract</a>:
[QUOTE]I find this so bizarre. All the venues I met with set their contract so that you "locked in" the prices at the time that you booked. Sure, menu items were subject to availability (in case of a bacon shortage), but this was the incentive they offered you in order to get you to put down a deposit and book them early. I don't understand why you would sign a contract and book a venue where everything is subject to change. What would prevent them from upping the price and charging you exhorbetant prices in order to 1) force you to back out so that they could keep your deposit without doing the event or 2) force you to back out so that they can contract another event with a higher budget? I agree with PP. I would be seriously reconsidering this venue and my budget. It may only be a couple hundred dollars for extra time now, but you're still a year away. I would expect quite a bit more price increases on every little thing between now and then.
Posted by MyNameIsNot[/QUOTE]<div>
</div><div>I think people are missing that this venue requires full payment when it comes to locking into amenity prices. Not the basics of the room and menu rates. We are talking about the extras or upgrades. The OP said she has not paid that yet because it's a year out and there are some things that are still not decided. Until she pays what is required to lock into AMENITY rates, there is a chance that rates could go up. She knew this would happen and took a gamble.</div><div>
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lyndausvi · November 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_venue-upping-amenity-prices-after-signing-the-contract?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:14Discussion:a6a72580-a83a-4cff-bcca-08bc583b978ePost:5248fe64-f6b6-4f94-a64c-d4b0efc1d165">Re: Venue upping amenity prices after signing the contract</a>:
[QUOTE] /> />a lot of places have that clause because things increase in cost. Especially food. They would go broke if they had to lock into prices almost 2 years out. What? I work with a statewide group that contracts for events as big as wedding receptions, and we contract those venues either one year out or two years out. And we absolutely do lock in the prices for hotel rooms and food and everything. They cannot charge us one penny more, even if there is a bacon shortage or whatever.
Posted by Kristin789[/QUOTE]

<div>It's great that you can lock into prices like that on food (locking into rooms rates is standard as those prices are not effected like food). My DH works for a major hotel chain and I can tell you he doesn't not lock into food prices 2 years out. More like 6 months out. </div><div>
</div><div>Back in the day they did, but after the fuel crisis few years back they had to stop because they were actually losing money. </div><div>

ETA - please don't think my DH is an a-hole going around charging poor couples thousands of dollars extra. That is not the case Most of their contracts are now written that they will guarantee a certain package (l.E. 3 course meal or a fish, chicken and beef option) for "x" dollars. They don't guarantee the actual menu until 6 months out. At that time he will provide the couple different options in the price range for them to choose. And no they are not going to ruin their reputation by giving hamburger as a beef option.

Now if you want a specific cut of beef or type of fish. There is a disclaimer that states the price is subject to change but by no more than a certain percentage. More often than not the prices do not change. But it does protect them when things like a drought causes shortage of bacon and now the prices are doubled.</div>

MyNameIsNot · November 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_venue-upping-amenity-prices-after-signing-the-contract?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:14Discussion:a6a72580-a83a-4cff-bcca-08bc583b978ePost:ed98ac48-9ac3-43d6-a137-3bc83dc83e2e">Re: Venue upping amenity prices after signing the contract</a>:
[QUOTE]ETA - please don't think my DH is an a-hole going around charging poor couples thousands of dollars extra. That is not the case Most of their contracts are now written that they will guarantee a certain package (l.E. 3 course meal or a fish, chicken and beef option) for "x" dollars. They don't guarantee the actual menu until 6 months out. At that time he will provide the couple different options in the price range for them to choose. And no they are not going to ruin their reputation by giving hamburger as a beef option.
Posted by lyndausvi[/QUOTE]

<div>I think we might actually be saying the same thing, then. When I said my venue locked in prices but menu was subject to availabilty, they said something like X passed apps fo $Y dollars, attached menu or similar. I got the benefit of knowing what I was paying per person for apps a year in advance, but they had the flexibility to change the options depending on food availability and pricing. </div><div>
</div><div>I don't think anyone thinks your H is an a-hole, but there are plenty of a-holes and scammers out there. The point of a contract is to protect both parties. Most companies do care about their reputations and are generally honorable anyway, but how many stories have you heard about someone getting scammed out of a deposit for anything? Even if you fully trust the person and their reputation, it's still pointless to sign a contract that doesn't do anything for you.</div>

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