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Just Said Yes June 2023

Is my wedding venue contract normal?

Zach, on January 3, 2022 at 12:24 PM Posted in Planning 0 6

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I just got engaged a little more than a week ago and we are already looking into booking a venue for June 22 of 2023. The package is an all inclusive (ceremony, reception, cake cutting, toast, prepaid bar, chairs, tables, linens, centerpiece etc). The contract our venue sent us doesn't have a price attached to it. It states there is no food and beverage minimum, no ceremony fee and that the purchaser is responsible for any change in pricing for entrees that the vendor passes on to the venue. When asking the sales manager about this pricing she told us the package pricing is determined based on the 2023 package options which won't be revealed until August.

From researching this it seems like most people lock in prices with their contract but it is common for venues to leave it open to a 5-10% increase. Would I be crazy to sign a contract that doesn't limit how much they can increase package pricing?
They also didn't list any of the current package details such as chairs, tables and what is included from the package in the contract. I should have all this listed on the contract right?
TLDR: my contract doesn't list any of the provisions from the package option we selected except a date, number of guests, no food and beverage minimum, no ceremony fee. Should I make them include everything from the package in the contract and is it unwise to leave the price subject to change?
Sincerely, Zach

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6 Comments

Latest activity by Josie, on January 4, 2022 at 5:58 PM

Master October 2023
Cece · on January 3, 2022 at 1:30 PM
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While this all may be completely on the up and up, I personally would not feel comfortable signing a contract that didn’t explicitly state what it includes and the pricing.
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Legend July 2022
Lisa · on January 3, 2022 at 1:40 PM
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Would they be willing to add a line saying that the contract is contingent on you approving of the 2023 prices once they're posted (maybe giving you up to a month after pricing is announced to make a decision)? I personally wouldn't feel comfortable signing something that allows them to arbitrarily set pricing with no upper limit. I would also request that they clearly list in the contract everything that is included with the package (type of chairs and how many, tables, etc).
Also, congratulations on your engagement!
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Master July 2019
Hannah · on January 3, 2022 at 2:57 PM
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Do not sign a contract without any guarantee of the cost for services. Most venues will lock in current pricing for people who book in advanced. My contract specified the per person rate as well as detailed all the things included in that cost (3 plated entree choices to be chosen later, all of the things that come in thr cocktail hour, open bar package, etc.).
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Super September 2022
Sarah · on January 3, 2022 at 4:34 PM
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I would not feel comfortable signing that contract. Our contract locked us into the 2021 prices even though our wedding is in 2022.
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Savvy June 2023
Katherine · on January 3, 2022 at 5:50 PM
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Hi Zach!
I am also getting married in June of 2023 (June 24th)! I went through a similar thing with my venue contract. The original draft contract didn't include anything about food because the food contract was to be finalized in the months leading up to the wedding.
Like you, I didn't want to sign something that left me vulnerable to huge increases in food costs, so I had them add a line to the contract that the food price per person would not exceed 5% of the rate at the time of the contract.
You don't want to sign without something like this. They could literally double the price on you and you'd have no leg to stand on.
I also had them add what is included in terms of services, etc. since my contract was also very vague to start.
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Dedicated October 2022
Josie · on January 4, 2022 at 5:58 PM
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That's odd. My reception venue is also all-inclusive, but they were very clear on pricing and what was included. We booked pretty far in advance (early 2021 and our wedding isn't until October 2022), and were told we would lock in the current pricing even if we booked for next year. I can't imagine rates would change that drastically within 1 year's time, so why would they "wait" for 2023 pricing? I've been very particular about contract language and terms with all my vendors, so personally, I wouldn't want to sign something without knowing how much I'm going to end up paying.
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