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Devoted June 2013

Site Fee and Food/Beverage Minimums

Vicki, on January 10, 2012 at 4:52 PM Posted in Planning 0 4

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Hi Ladies!

Has anyone had any success in negotiating with your venue's site fee and/or their food and beverage minimum? I'm looking at a golf course with a $5,000 site fee and a $15,000 food and beverage minimum (no, I didn't pick an extravagant site - these prices are average among all venues in the California Bay Area - good ol' Silicon Valley! .

My list of 125 guests with the most expensive food, plentiful hors d'oeuvres and top shelf liquor is not enough to get the bill up to $15,000 (no one else to invite!) but I wonder if there is a way to bypass the minimum. I will not increase the alcohol as I don't want drunkies at my wedding Also, there are no other available "extras" that I could ask to have thrown in.

Has anyone worked with a venue with similar requirements and had success negotiating the minimums???

Thank you!!

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4 Comments

Latest activity by Alicia , on September 6, 2018 at 4:53 PM

Master April 2012
krisalicious · on January 10, 2012 at 4:55 PM
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I think you'll have an easier time negotiating for extra stuff than less money. Not saying it can't be done though.

Even if you don't want more alcohol, you could get higher quality booze or more expensive food choices, maybe ask them to throw in linens, centerpieces, chiavari chairs or something else you like that they offer but isn't included in their package.
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Dedicated June 2013
Kelly · on January 10, 2012 at 5:02 PM
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Actually yes I have! I am having my reception at a hotel and their minimum for 130 guests was $30,000. (no way!! haha). I actually ended up decreasing my guests to 125 and negotiated them down to a $19,000 miniumum. There are always ways to get around it. If you don't want more alcohol or a top self alcohol, add a course to dinner, have snacks (if you are having an evening wedding) put out at 9pm like a taco bar or pizza! You could even do wine service at dinner! There are always add on's you can do to reach your minimum!
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Devoted June 2013
Vicki · on January 10, 2012 at 5:33 PM
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OMG, Kelly, a $30,00 minimum?!?!?! That's insane! Good for you for working that waaaay down! May I ask what hotel it is? Just curious
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Just Said Yes March 2019
Alicia · on September 6, 2018 at 4:53 PM
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Glad I’m not the only one dealing with this dilema. I had one venue offer a 10% discount on a $30,000 f&b minimum. I turned it down since I’m estimating 100 people at our wedding. I don’t see how someone would actually agree to that.
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