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Savvy October 2019

How much is your venue deposit?

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Pseunami, on February 11, 2018 at 1:37 PM

Hi everyone! Looking for some input on paying for a venue.

My fiance and I have found a gorgeous venue in Wisconsin that we are almost completely settled on. We have a few things to work out, but the setting is beautiful and the price is very reasonable. In total, for the use of the venue, food, bar tenders, and dj, is about $9,700 which the owner tells us is divided into thirds and paid through the year leading up to our date. This sounded good at first, until I realized that we essentially have a nonrefundable deposit of about $3500 due at signing. Is this a lot? Or unusual?

And if the venue were to suddenly go out of business, change ownership, or god forbid have a fire, is it typical for these nonrefundable payments to still be returned? Can that sort of thing be covered by insurance?

Any advice or experiences would be appreciated!

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61 Comments

Devoted July 2018
Mrsp · on February 11, 2018 at 2:32 PM
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Our venue required 1/3 down at signing also.
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Master April 2019
Brittany · on February 11, 2018 at 2:35 PM
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My deposit was 5000 (venue total is a little over 30000, which i think is divided into 3 or 4 payments). I think yours is pretty normal.
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VIP May 2018
PBiazinha · on February 11, 2018 at 2:37 PM
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Mine was the same thing, 3 payments, deposit was $1000 and then two more payments, one half way before the wedding and the last is due one week before our wedding day when we have to give final headcount (our venue is out caterer as well).
It doesn’t seem unusual in my opinion. I used to have the same chocking feelings in the beginning of planning and now I’m used to the numbers... always adds up here and there!
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Dedicated September 2019
Kaitlin · on February 11, 2018 at 2:47 PM
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Our deposit is $500 and the rest of our $7,000 is due 30 days prior to the event. Yours seems a bit high but idk where you are located or other factors.
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Devoted March 2020
Future Mrsclark031420 · on February 11, 2018 at 2:51 PM
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Did not think about the deposits being so high on some of these venues. I will be looking at more cheaper and inexpensive options for us now. Glad this was posted.
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VIP August 2018
Alforev · on February 11, 2018 at 2:55 PM
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Our total is about $7400 before taxes and gratuities and we had a $2000 Deposit plus another $2000 we had to pay in December. Our balance will be due the month before the wedding.
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Devoted March 2018
ET · on February 11, 2018 at 3:08 PM
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Our deposit was the venue rental fee ($750), and then the in house catering costs were split into two payments: half the food/beverage minimum was due six months before our wedding, and the final balance with headcount is due two weeks before.
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Expert April 2018
Jaci · on February 11, 2018 at 3:22 PM
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Our total venue bill is very close to yours OP. We paid $1,000 deposit to book, and had to make another payment one year out (usually closer to wedding like 6-8 months, but we booked really early) which came to a little over $2.5k. I think it was about 20% of the bill. I think what you’re paying sounds completely reasonable.
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Super May 2018
Kristin · on February 11, 2018 at 3:34 PM
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Our deposit was *gulp* $5,000 then 50% due 90 days before and the rest due 2 weeks before. The total bill for venue, food, bar, ceremony space, planning/DOC, and all room decor will be around $27,000. The venue spends a ton of time with planning meetings and communication prior to that 90 day payment so it makes sense why it is so much. We went to a tasting event, a vision/initial meeting, menu meeting, and two decor meetings prior to that 90 day payment. And the planner keeps track of all the vendors and helps us stay organized.
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VIP October 2020
ThePeoplesBride · on February 11, 2018 at 3:42 PM
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Our venue required 10% of the total as the deposit. We put down close to $1800 as the nonrefundable deposit. Everything has to be paid and finalized two weeks prior.

Your deposit sounds high to me but that's probably because I have an issue with paying large sums of money all at once and nothing to do with how your vendor runs things.
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Expert June 2018
Adrianna · on February 11, 2018 at 3:46 PM
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Ours was $100
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VIP October 2018
Sara P. · on February 11, 2018 at 3:58 PM
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Our deposit was really just 25% of our estimate for the venue, food and drink. We pay the balance after we've worked out details and know what the final bill will be. We paid $3700 up front.
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VIP October 2018
Yoomie · on February 11, 2018 at 4:40 PM
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Seems reasonable. Our venue total was $7400, half of which was due at contract signing ($3700). The rest is due 30 days before the wedding date. The catering, since it was higher at ~$12000 was divided into four 25% payments but that was the only one of our vendors that was not half now and half later arrangement.
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Dedicated June 2019
Kirsten · on February 11, 2018 at 4:59 PM
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My deposit was half of the venue price.
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Expert April 2019
lilchameleon · on February 11, 2018 at 5:08 PM
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So, my venue was pretty deceitful about their deposit. I was told we could book with $250 down. We paid the $250, they sent us the contract and the contract said that 50% of the minimum food/drink for a Saturday ($5000) was due within two weeks of signing, so we had to pay another $2250 right away. :/ Which was super agitating because we had planned on paying a few hundred every month. So really our deposit was $2500.
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Super February 2018
Married and Loving It! · on February 11, 2018 at 5:09 PM
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My venue is 15850 total- 3250 deposit at signing- read your contract but generally you need to get wedding insurance which depending on the policy has deposit reimbursement.
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VIP October 2018
Kaye · on February 11, 2018 at 5:10 PM
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My venue was incredibly inexpensive, however to reserve it you had to pay in full. $1200 for a Sunday. $2500 for a Saturday.
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Dedicated August 2018
Sabs · on February 11, 2018 at 6:15 PM
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It’s typical for a first payment to be non refundable, ours was 25% and was intended to hold our date.
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Devoted June 2019
Kate · on February 11, 2018 at 7:06 PM
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Our deposit was $1250 and only $250 of that is nonrefundable. Our total will be around $10000. Your deposit seems kinda high but it’s not too surprising.
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Dedicated October 2018
M.T. · on February 11, 2018 at 7:21 PM
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Our deposit was $2000. $500 of that was for the ballroom rental, based on a total count of 160 guests. Our guest list has swelled to 200+
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