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

compassionatelove · April 2013

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 · April 2013

that sounds about right to me.

vanityink · April 2013

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 · April 2013

thank you for your response - it is appreciated!

compassionatelove · April 2013

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

HobokensFury · April 2013

Ours required 30% up front.

daria24 · April 2013

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 · April 2013

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

JoanE2012 · April 2013

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 · April 2013

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 :(

</div>

[Deleted User] · April 2013

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

Ella and Pedro · April 2013

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] · April 2013

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

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

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