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Devoted October 2021

Lower Guest Count/meeting Catering Minimums?

Chantelle, on August 16, 2020 at 11:19 PM Posted in Planning 1 9

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My venue has on site catering for food/beverages/etc. and I must meet a catering services minimum. Basically I need about 70 guests for the catering package I want per head to meet this minimum. In this part of the contract it says that I have to pay the difference if I fall below the catering minimum (fine), but then in another part of the contract it talks about how agreements can be terminated without liability because of acts of god/government regulations/etc.

With COVID looming, I’m thinking to cut my guest count to 30-50 people. My ceremony is outdoors, but the entire rest of the event is indoors. Did anyone have success in being able to reduce guest count/not have to meet their initial catering minimum agreement? Did your venue accommodate your guest count number concerns despite their being an original minimum? Any experience please let me know!

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9 Comments

Latest activity by Lauren, on August 17, 2020 at 11:11 PM

VIP September 2020
Neeva · on August 16, 2020 at 11:27 PM
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I did! My venue was just trying to get us to host an event, ANY event lol. They cut my F&B minimum in half to accommodate that my new guest count was cut in half.
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Master September 2020
Jessica · on August 17, 2020 at 12:16 AM
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We aren’t going to meet our venue/catering minimum due to Covid impacting travel and health concerns for some guests, and are expecting to have to pay the difference. I don’t have a final count yet, but the venue is restricted to 50 people so I’m planning to ask them to lower the minimum to 50 times the person rate when I can give them a final number. We would need around 65 to meet the minimum, depending on alcohol consumption, but neither of our families drink and it’s a sunrise wedding. Hopefully they will work with you, no harm in asking! Good luck!
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Legend June 2019
Melle · on August 17, 2020 at 12:25 AM
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So this is the case for my bff. Their min is 100 but I think they’re only expecting 50-75 guests and she said they’re just gonna pay the difference
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Master August 2019
Rebecca · on August 17, 2020 at 4:42 AM
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I got married last year, but we actually missed our minimum (thank you, family, for causing DRAMA...).
Our venue incorporated our vendors to hit the minimum, so it worked out in the end.
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Legend July 2022
Lisa · on August 17, 2020 at 8:25 AM
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If I had continued with my wedding, we wouldn't have been able to meet our minimum, though our venue would have waived the minimum. We ended up postponing, so it worked out. I would suggest contacting the caterer to ask if they'd be willing to waive the minimum count due to COVID.
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VIP September 2020
Kelsey · on August 17, 2020 at 9:10 AM
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My min before COVID was 200 guests and I think $5000 in revenue for the venue (it's a hotel) since COVID hit they have completely done away with this and we no longer have to meet this. However, doing the math even with having under 100 guests and how much food costs and this backdrop the venue has, paying the bartenders and servers. We should be right around $5000. I did ask my venue when I realized I wouldn't in anyway be making that 200 guests, where I was at and was told that no longer mattered. I think as long as they are making some money the venue will be happy, considering that so many events were cancelled this year.
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Master October 2020
Margaret · on August 17, 2020 at 11:28 AM
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When we signed our contract, we only guaranteed the minimum of 25, we didn't want to risk being financially obligated for more even though w are anticipated a higher count. I'd definitely talk to your venue and hopefully they will work with you, worst case you site the clause.
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VIP September 2020
Molly · on August 17, 2020 at 6:39 PM
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Thankfully none of my vendors had minimums. I would think with COVID your vendors will be flexible with minimums,
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Devoted August 2020
Lauren · on August 17, 2020 at 11:11 PM
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We switched venues in May when we postponed to August 2 and they lowered their typical 100 minimum to 75. 2 weeks out we had 60 guests and had to pay the minimum of 75. By the day of qe had more drop and had 48 guests. Wish we hadn't had to pay all that extra but didn't really have a choice
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