Those Of You That Have Booked a Venue. HELP Please!!!!

A food and beverage minimum is the minimum amount you have to pay for the food and drink. So let's say your minimum is $5,000. If your food and drink only totals $4,000 for your wedding, you still have to pay $5,000. If your totals go over $5,000 then you pay the $5,000 plus whatever over that amount.

As far as taxes, you have to pay the amount for your food and beverage, plus the taxes in addition to that. For kids menses, you would have to ask the venue. I would imagine they are cheaper than a regular meal.

My venue doesn't have a food/beverage minimum but I have to guarantee 150 people.

Tax is based on your area.

I'm having about a dozen kids at my wedding and their plates are half the adult price.

My venue doesn't have a food/beverage minimum but I have to guarantee 150 people.

Tax is based on your area.

I'm having about a dozen kids at my wedding and their plates are half the adult price.

To the kids menu question, my venue automatically charges a kids price with a kids menu for guests we indicate are under 10.

Taxes will range in % by state, but some places will add on a gratuity. Find out what is included in that, since some places will use it to pay their servers gratuities. Venues will charge for the kids using the kids menu prices, but read your proposed contract carefully just to make sure.

Typically a food and beverage minimum means you have to spend at LEAST the specified amount (usually before taxes and gratuity). My food and beverage minimum is $2900 (for 40 people), therefore we have to spend that amount or more.

The other question (taxes) depends on where you live. My menu doesn't have a children's meal, some do, others don't - that's a question you should ask them. Kids at my wedding will eat the same food as the adults and the meals will range from $88-$115 a person.

It means if you tell them youre having 100 people and you change your mind and only have 80 people, youll still have to pay the amount you originally contracted for, 100 peoples worth. For this reason, I signed my contract for 40 people, so when I increase it to my number of guests (most likely 80) there will be no problem.

They charge less for kids under 12 or 10

Exactly what Jordan said... Taxes will depend where you are.. What is your area's sales tax? Gratuity is usually also added .. Easiest way is the add the 2 together and x's it..

Ex: say your paying $99.00 per person gratuity is 21% here and sales tax is 8% add those together = 29% so about $130 per person once it's all said a done ..

Most venues in our area offer a half priced meal for children

Food and beverage minimum is the minimum you're required to spend to have your wedding there. Tax depends on where the wedding is. My tax is 9% plus a 22% service charge. My tax and service charge for 100 people came out to over $4000. As far as kids go it depends on the venue. My venue is $89 per adult and kids are $40 but kids don't count towards my minimum number of guests.

And be sure to look at their catering prices. That knocked out a few venues for us.

Most places in my area are charging from $67-95 for the entree and the state tax is 8% plus the service charge of 21%. So around what you guys have said, some places don't have a minimum but others do. Thank you ladies I was so confused!

I know everyone has said this already but in addition to the food and beverage minimum most places also charge a 20% service fee.

My dream venue for a Saturday nights food and beverage minimum was 25k....plus 8% tax PLUS 21% on the 25k for service fees. (Not the venue I went with)

Dear FutureMrsLaguna,

You have asked some great questions! Most venues have a food and beverage minimum especially for Saturday weddings. It's the minimum $ amount they require you spend in order to host your wedding reception at their venue. The minimum is determined by the venue. For example, a contract can state that there is a $5000 food and beverage minimum you must spend BEFORE any and all applicable taxes. That means that the total you spend based on your FINAL headcount must be at least $5000 or more for food and alcohol. Not meeting that minimum may result in additional fees due to a breach of contract (legal talk for you not keeping up your end of the contract).

Applicable sales tax is approximately 6.5 - 7% (based on city) that is added to your total in addition to another 20-24% for gratuity. The actual percentage will be listed on your contract and varies by venue.

Most venues/caterers have a children's menu that is less expensive than the adult prices. All applicable sales tax and gratuity will also be added. Both adult and children's meals are charged per person. You will notice that most catering prices are listed with ++ next to them. That means it's + tax and + gratuity.

Take note of other fees that are often included in the contract like setup/breakdown fees, rental fees and cake cutting fees. These type of hidden fees often break the wedding budget because couples are not aware of the different items they're being charged for.

Happy Wedding Planning!

Vanessa Alce

www.ilovemyplanner.net

Miami, Orlando, Boston

My venue has a F&B min. its $4500 .. . .now there is a kids meal option which is cheaper since im not spending 140 bucks on a kid like my 4 yr old daughter. Tax is based on your area too. Now the F & B min does not include the ceremony so that is extra. Basically with us is we have to spend 4500 no matter what. . . so we have 54 people coming to our wedding so we picked out menu items, bar etc... that will total out to 4500. This does not include tax so everything has to total the min. before tax. Also with our min. they charge for a service fee of 22%. which is also added at the end...

My venue didn't have a food or beverage minimum. The price for all of that was included in the price per person for the venue. We negotiated on a minimum number of people to attend. For the room we rented, the minimum amount of guests is 200. I negotiated down to 150 (just in case) and opted for a day wedding instead as it made them more willing to lower the minimum. If 10 people show up, I still have to pay for 150; if 200 show up, I have to pay for 200. So I'm assuming it's the same thing for food and bev. Just ask them their process and to explain everything to you. And don't be afraid to ask for things or negotiate and tell them what works for you. They'll be willing to help.

I think each venue has a different policy for kids. They do offer kids food at dinner, but they also are given the option to pick a regular dinner. And kids under 12 are half off for for me and kids under 2 are free.

I got the larger room that normally holds 160- 300 for promising 120 people since I booked almost `1.5 years ahead. My concern was the the other room stops at 150. There is no room rental fee and includes all the food and linens, etc. If we went with open bar(we are not, doing only beer and soda) they get your cake included. They do reduce the rate for people under 21 by like $3 a person or so. They have a sales and tourism tax at the venue do the city its located in. Your best bet is .get a listing of the packages and find out what they offer, as well as the minimum number of people for the room you want, and in my case was also the max of the other room

Thank you ladies!!! I finally understand all of this, some of you have great deals, everything in Miami is so expensive.

You are right, everything down here is sooo expensive. Perhaps, looking into all inclusive package might save you some $$$. The minimum at my place is 100 people, meaning if only 80 shows up, I still have to pay for 100 people, which sucks, but whatever that's their contract. Service was 21% and tax 7% so it definitely adds up. Also, Friday and Sunday wedding prices tend to be a bit cheaper, good luck with the hunt!

@Odidalia Yes! Thats what most places have been charging for the service fee and taxes, I am still hunting hopefully I'll find something before this month ends. Fingers crossed!!