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Will you or have you had a restaurant reception?

soontobemrshamiltonsoontobemrshamilton member
100 Comments 25 Love Its First Anniversary Name Dropper
in Wedding Reception Forum
We are planning on having our ceremony and reception at a restaurant. The restaurant has all these different rooms and we will be renting one of them. I have just learned that the price for the food/bev isn't locked in until 3 months prior to our wedding date, which is next summer. We have to select our menu 3 months before our date and prices are subject to change. So what this means is, we cannot really budget for the food because we don't know what the prices will be next April. We did an estimate last month and came up with a figure, after asking the coordinator a question about our estimate, she said "oh the prices have gone up!" With the new prices we now have to budget for another $1000.00. So between now and April, who knows, how many time their prices will change. We could be $2000.00 over our budget.

Hopefully that all makes sense. I just don't get how the can run it that way. I mean people need to be able to budget. Is this just standard because it is a restaurant? What are you experiences with a restaurant wedding?
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Re: Will you or have you had a restaurant reception?

  • MobKazMobKaz member
    Knottie Warrior 5000 Comments 500 Love Its 5 Answers
    Typically, a venue that will not lock in prices will place a cap on their increase.  If they do that, then you can predict your "worst case scenario" by estimating the highest increase percentage allowed.  Check to see if the venue is willing to do that.  I know my son's restaurant venue was willing/able to do that.  If they won't, perhaps you should reconsider that venue choice.
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  • lyndausvilyndausvi mod
    Moderator Knottie Warrior 10000 Comments 500 Love Its
    Restaurants are in the business to make money.   They run at a very small margins.  Especially if it's a small place compared to a chain.

    If the price of food increases they have to pass that on to the customers.    That is why they will not set prices until 3 months out since they don't know if they have no way of knowing if their costs to get the product are going to increase over the next 6 months.

    Is it standard?   Not sure, but not unusual.  Unlike hotels and catering halls, restaurants do not have other venues to make up for food cost increases.

      Hotels and catering halls can often switch up products based on costs.  Some restaurants do not have that option because they whole reason they are successful is because of certain quality products they use.  If they start to cheap out because of costs they might not come back.

     DH often has functions where the planner guarantees a fixed price with a sample menu, then the final menu is created 3 months out when he knows the food costs.   And no he doesn't got from filet to Salisbury steak. If he needs to make a change it's something stubble like  change in a cut of meat or a different fish that is in season or different veggie or preparation.   

     I also like the PP's suggestion to see if they are willing to put a cap on the increase.  Those things might help with budget.






    What differentiates an average host and a great host is anticipating unexpressed needs and wants of their guests.  Just because the want/need is not expressed, doesn't mean it wouldn't be appreciated. 
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  • DanikaMarie0227DanikaMarie0227 member
    100 Love Its 100 Comments First Anniversary Name Dropper
    I'm not sure what is considered "normal" in this case. However, I am having my wedding at a restaurant & they quoted us a price per plate, similar to any other venue & that price is in our contract so it's set. We don't have to specify the menu until 2 months prior to the wedding in case there are new additions to the menu that we might want to include - but we were told those would be the same price. The only price difference would be if we chose to add lobster & we were told upfront that's something like $10 extra pp (we're not choosing lobster, lol). 
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  • LDay2014LDay2014 member
    500 Love Its 500 Comments First Anniversary Name Dropper
    we're doing a restaurant reception, but with a small guest list we're just handing everyone menus and saying 'go'. We'll just pick up the tab at the end of the night
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  • atlastmrsgatlastmrsg member
    500 Love Its 1000 Comments Second Anniversary Name Dropper
    I want to go to @LDay2014 's wedding.  :)

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  • LDay2014LDay2014 member
    500 Love Its 500 Comments First Anniversary Name Dropper
    atlastmrsg said:
    I want to go to @LDay2014 's wedding.  :)

    hehe, thanks!
    After the dinner (since we aren't doing a big dance/dj thing) anyone who wants to is welcome to come back to the house for a bonfire, barbeque, keg, snacks etc.  A couple of friends are bringing their guitars and we're just going to hang out.
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