Price gouging for weddings?

Wedding price surge is def. a thing. I avoided it at all costs when getting quotes. And I love VRBO and AirB&B but they can up the prices just because they want to unfortunately. You can always ask if that’s flexible at all, it never hurts to ask. Hope you find something though!

View Quoted Comment Ugh that’s so frustrating. Thank you!!

Personally, I wouldn’t even tell them what you are using the property for, unless you are required to. If there is nothing in the listing that states there are separate charges for events, why even say anything?

View Quoted Comment That’s what I was thinking but also would be worried if something happened and it came back and bit me in the butt later on.

View Quoted Comment I would read all the fine print when it comes to the property’s rental contract to see if there’s anything that says you must disclose what you are using the space for, if there are any specific event rules/prices, or a maximum number of people that can be on the property. If there is no rule that says you must disclose what the property is being used for, I don’t see why you would need to provide that information 🤷🏼‍♀️

Yes, weddings are expensive. However, you need to be honest with where you plan on holding your wedding because if they find out you lied they not only could have you pay the normal fee, but also tack on other fees. Also, because of Covid some Airbnbs aren't allowing any types of parties.

Check out what a rider is for a 3 or 8 day insurance policy is on a nice million dollar or so house with an acre or more property. Liability, damage, fire or theft. And any permits they need from the town. Not to mention what a lawyer charges the owner for any action they have to take.
🙂There is too much gouging in basic restaurants and catering and wedding consultants, and HMU. plating fees, corking fees, an basic rentals twice what they charge for a retirement dinner of the same size and duration. However, having shared a quarter mile 2 lane driveway to a lakefront house, next door to a house that did and does rent out for wedding weekends, the extra costs are huge, not from every wedding, but from things going wrong at so many of them. From a $300 plus tax, per4 days, plus over $400 to the police, on average, to a $2000 weekend rider on a high value house, to cleaning and set up, followed by cleaning, laundry, which costs them $500 plus, plus an increase on their property tax having turned a dwelling into an income generating home, it adda up. Twice the owners had to pay for damage to our sideswiped cars, because the guests did not fess up. People raided their locked garage and boathouse on numerous rentals, thinking nothing of taking a crowbar to a lock. And then wanting to pay to fix the lock, and not taking responsibility for damage to jet skis and snowmobiles, including crashed ones, and one that went through the ice when supposed to be in storage.
As in everything else, the people who allow 30 of their 50 guests to get roaring drunk are the worst, from vomit to driving through fences. But insurance Companies set rates on maximum possible costs to fix properties, on average. These people's home slept 12 in 6 bedrooms, up to 6 more in a bunkhouse porch ,so not huge estate. But 180' waterfront, on 2 acres, makes it assessed for a 270 degree view, so taxed on an assessment of 2 million dollars. Awful, but all pay high because of the number of irresponsible ones.

Yep, wedding price gouging is definitely a thing and it's super annoying. As frustrating as it is, I completely agree with Veronica that you do need to be honest and disclose your intentions about hosting a wedding at any given venue, because if they were to find out later they could make you pay additional fees.

Keep in mind a house wedding is a HUGE liability and a HUGE potential for property damage (even if people don’t go in the house , that much foot traffic and seating can destroy a lawn, and if anything happened to anyone on the property , that would fall on the homeowner, same for any potential noise complaints or city ordinance violations. Then there’s all the set up stuff— often a wedding requires walk through from vendors— I had a backyard wedding and my caterers needed to see the property in advance of the wedding, as did my DJ so they could figure out their set ups , so this might require coordination by the management company. Another little thought of bit is weddings require a ton of electrical energy! We had: DJ sound system, lights, caterer’s convection ovens, two industrial fans and a restroom trailer all plugged into the house, so the bills that fall on the homeowner would likely be way more expensive . A lot of these bells and whistles are common for a wedding but less so for a regular house party, which is why the word tends to trigger an upcharge.


It is SO important to be upfront about your intentions with a home rental because at the end of the day if you’re not, the ultimate risk you run is your entire event being shut down

I believe Airbnb is still forbidding weddings at this time to due to Covid.

If you do find one that allows you to have a wedding, you definitely need to tell them your plan. If you don't and they find out you hosted a mid-size wedding, you could be left with a lot of fines/costs that you were not planning on. Unfortunately weddings are pricey.

Like others said, do not lie to the property owner that your are planning on hosting a wedding. On top of unexpected fees, your wedding could be shut down before it even starts! Where I live there are regular news reports of police shutting down private parties for violating COVID restrictions and I’ve read in other big cities the city will shut off the utilities for repeat violators (like the Airbnb or VRBO who disregards local rules and lets someone have a party there anyway). Just be up front and understand that the owner is taking on increased risk with a party vs your usual house guest.

Maybe try to negotiate? Tell them you are interested in several homes but you like their home the best and could they take off $xxx amount. Sometimes this works quite well. Backyard weddings are awesome! Good luck!

View Quoted Comment

I agree with this.... Even before Covid there were significant risks with booking a private home through Airbnb/VRBO, etc., for a wedding. One of the biggest issues is that they can cancel your reservation at any time without any recourse except to refund any money you've already paid. In the past there have been posts from brides who were left high and dry just days before their wedding when the property owner cancelled their reservations and they suddenly had no venue....

Also, I'm nearly certain Airbnb still has a corporate policy in place banning ALL parties/weddings/etc. on properties rented through them due to the pandemic (to protect them from liability claims). A host can tell you one thing, but that doesn't mean they can't change their mind (or have it changed for them by corporate). I live in So Cal, and, yes, violators are having their utilities turned off.... In the best of circumstances, there are huge risks in going this direction for a wedding venue, but I would continue to up front about your intentions. There are so many ways the truth may/will come out, and if you're lucky, you'd just be assessed additional fees.... If you're not so lucky, the local police can shut your event down without any recourse for you. Be super diligent about your research (check with the local town/city/etc. to see if there are any local ordinances related to weddings/parties at rented private homes; some homeowners associations also have strictly enforced regulations). I hope it works out, but be sure you've done all you can to protect yourself before you pay any deposits. Good luck!

Completely agree with above, you absolutely need to be honest. The likelihood of hiding a 50 person wedding for the the entire planning process and event is small, but the legal and financial implications may be huge.
Yes I’m sure it feels like price gouging, but having rented out my property and hosted large events there before, the increased wear on a house from 50 people can be a lot! The price they normally charge for rentals and cleaning assumes a few people staying the weekend, not a large group of possibly intoxicated guests parking on the lawn/scratching floors with party shoes/ leaving behind trash/ accidentally breaking things / provoking complaints from neighbors, etc.

For a venue, be honest about what your intentions are. It can really backfire if you dont. Other items/services, it doesn't matter and you should try to avoid the word 'wedding' when possible or ask them upfront why they charge more for a wedding when you don't need or want the 'mandated' wedding extras that they insist that you must have or else.

It's not gouging it's actually torture to the property, inside and out. Even with people we spend time with on a regular basis they chill at a gathering and leave lots of work in clean up the next day. If you have ever had a crowd at your house and cleaned up afterwards you would understand. Also most of these listings are peoples homes, so when you have more than maybe 10 people in your home and you're not around it can be a little unnerving, then add 50 or more. Walls get scratched, people drink a lot, spill food & drinks on furniture etc. flip cushions so they can sit again. So yes, a higher price is very obvious. Turn the table and think if you left your home in the care of 50 strangers and they are having a party without any recourse of protection on your end. How would it look when you got home? How would you feel when you saw it? Also not to mention if someone is having a wedding, the landscaping that week for the party would be top notch and preparation on the owner would also increase in all other areas, from power washing the house that may not be needed just yet, etc. As an owner I want all my guests to have my property perfectly clean each time. But having a wedding there I would go crazy making sure not one thing was out of place to an extreme level!!!!!

Oh yea. I did the same thing, got really excited about a VRBO backyard wedding, and then when I asked about the event fee..it was an additional $10,000...making the rental a total of $25,000.

Which is insane right?

View Quoted Comment

It is absolutely normal to ask for whatever amount the owner feels is the correct amount for them personally to cover their expenses which are unseen to renters. Every house is different in all aspects from Insurance coverage, property damage, security deposit, venue cost, all bills that run a property are broken up into renting. People will be partying at a home that is not yours, most have been to plenty of parties in their lifetime & are aware of how messy people are who are drinking. Sadly even if they are not drinking people are not often respectful of other peoples things. It is owned and in most cases adored by the owners. There is so much risk involved. Put yourself in their place for a moment. They are giving you, a stranger free rein of their home when they are not there. When someone charges a per night rate this includes sleeping there and enjoying the amenities, in usually a relaxed respectful way. It does not include having a big gathering, a wedding, or event without the consent of the owner. If I drove up to my home that was being rented out or (lent out ) by a guest and they had a party, wedding, event or anything else that they did not disclose to me (which frankly is lying) in writing I would go to the property and void the contract in the middle of whatever was going on, & everyone would be shown off the property. I personally never want to be put in a situation like that. Its about being honest in all ways, especially with something that you have no right to decide what you can do on other peoples property period. It's shows complete lack of respect for other people and their property by having an event without asking. Besides if you disagree with it, go rent another property that may fit your budget. I think thats what it really comes down to in the end. We want what may not be manageable to us at that time.