Weddingbee Boards Topic: Is it reasonable to charge a "holiday fee"?

Weddingbee Boards Topic: Is it reasonable to charge a "holiday fee"? http://boards.weddingbee.com/ Weddingbee Boards Topic: Is it reasonable to charge a "holiday fee"? en Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:09:15 +0000 meggyg8r on "Is it reasonable to charge a "holiday fee"?" http://boards.weddingbee.com/topic/is-it-reasonable-to-charge-a-holiday-fee#post-70512 Wed, 23 Jul 2008 07:52:46 +0000 meggyg8r 70512@http://boards.weddingbee.com/ I'm getting married on Halloween next year (happens to also be on a Saturday) and noticed that for MOST holidays (thankfully not Halloween) there was a surcharge or increase in 'minimums' for the reception venue.  I think it (for lack of better word) sucks, but it does make sense.  Like someone said, just look at airfare.  It is ALWAYS higher around a holiday, even ones just like Memorial Day and Columbus Day.  Thanksgiving airfare is ALWAYS higher, so is Christmas.  Maybe you can negotiate, maybe not.  It's always worth it to try.  However, that is a VERY popular weekend so they may just say "well, if you can't pay our prices, someone will come along who can."  BUT, your wedding is on a Sunday, which in some cases CAN be cheaper.  You should discuss this with your vendors.  In almost all cases I have found in my research, venues and vendors charged less for a Sunday (but I didn't look into Sundays after a holiday).  I would still imagine it would be more expensive. thriftsiren on "Is it reasonable to charge a "holiday fee"?" http://boards.weddingbee.com/topic/is-it-reasonable-to-charge-a-holiday-fee#post-70363 Tue, 22 Jul 2008 16:24:11 +0000 thriftsiren 70363@http://boards.weddingbee.com/ wow.. i guess i am lucky i am getting married in a smaller town.. my wedding is thanksgiving weekend, and so far none of our vendors have charged extra for it, just the regular weekend rates. i suppose since i am using mostly smaller non wedding industry vendors is helping in that department, i would try to get creative with some of your vendors (for example, our photographer is a photography teacher and our cake is being made by a local grocery store).. hopefully you can find some good deals.  suzanno on "Is it reasonable to charge a "holiday fee"?" http://boards.weddingbee.com/topic/is-it-reasonable-to-charge-a-holiday-fee#post-70341 Tue, 22 Jul 2008 15:16:19 +0000 suzanno 70341@http://boards.weddingbee.com/ Okay, I'm laughing a little.  It really doesn't matter whether you agree or not, it's pretty common practice.  My sister got married the weekend after Thanksgiving; there was a premium price for the chapel, for most of her vendors, and of course for the airfare for us all to attend, and the hotels!  Vendors charge more for popular seasons, because they can - they will often have multiple possible bookings for the same day (for photographers and for the venue).  Your bakery and florist will charge more for holidays, because frankly they have enough work already just with the holiday - they don't need the added stress of your wedding flowers or cake for it to be a profitable weekend - and they don't need to be working the extra hours that will be necessary to produce what you need.  It's a similar concept to what you see in airfare and hotel - if the weekend is in big demand, price will go up.  It really just makes sense.  I'm a consultant, and I do the same thing - if I really would rather have the time off, or if my time is really in demand, I raise my price.  A lot.  Because there is an amount of money that will make it worth my while to work a weekend when I would normally be relaxing with my family, or to take your job when I'm already super busy - but you bet it's going to be higher than my normal rate.  And negotiating is fine, but in general if you don't want to pay my rate, somebody else will - or I'm not unhappy not to have the work.  I already knew that when I gave you the price! chill on "Is it reasonable to charge a "holiday fee"?" http://boards.weddingbee.com/topic/is-it-reasonable-to-charge-a-holiday-fee#post-70333 Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:35:27 +0000 chill 70333@http://boards.weddingbee.com/ Most venues will charge extra during off season, if your wedding falls on a holiday weekend (ie. Valentine's day/weekend).  Although it may not seem fair, it's one of the way that business owners can ensure working on a holiday weekend will be worth their while.  Most wedding professionals work around the clock, so they deserve a day off here and there to spend time with their familes and to travel. With that said, I cannot say I agree 100% with vendors/venues who charge extra for holidays.  I plan ahead of any vacations and out of office days, and I do not take any meetings or book any weddings for these days.  But if I had no plans for Thanksgiving weekend, or New Years, I would charge my normal packages. Janna19 on "Is it reasonable to charge a "holiday fee"?" http://boards.weddingbee.com/topic/is-it-reasonable-to-charge-a-holiday-fee#post-70314 Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:20:23 +0000 Janna19 70314@http://boards.weddingbee.com/ they can charge it if they want but you don't have to contract with them if you don't think it is reasonable.  If you really like the vendor, let them know you would love to work with them but the 1/3 increase is not in your budget - if they don't negotiate, then find someone else. One thing I learned planning our wedding is that you should always try to negotiate (we did with most of our vendors) - just make sure you know what price you will accept and what you will walk away from before you begin discussions.  If you really want them and they won't budge, you might have to pay up! saltyveruca on "Is it reasonable to charge a "holiday fee"?" http://boards.weddingbee.com/topic/is-it-reasonable-to-charge-a-holiday-fee#post-70290 Tue, 22 Jul 2008 12:32:11 +0000 saltyveruca 70290@http://boards.weddingbee.com/ Absolutely, especially for Thanksgiving. My husband and I are wedding photographers, and we head out of town every Thanksgiving to see his family. If we have to cut our trip short, we're going to charge extra. Think of it this way-they'd probably prefer to do it on another day, but don't want to turn down work, so they're going to make it worth their while. If it's worth it to you, then so be it. That's how we approach it. glittergrl on "Is it reasonable to charge a "holiday fee"?" http://boards.weddingbee.com/topic/is-it-reasonable-to-charge-a-holiday-fee#post-69586 Sat, 19 Jul 2008 15:09:23 +0000 glittergrl 69586@http://boards.weddingbee.com/ >>I think in that business, a day is a day, and they know they will work on any of those holidays.<< this is only true for people starting out in the business and building their portfolios.  EK on "Is it reasonable to charge a "holiday fee"?" http://boards.weddingbee.com/topic/is-it-reasonable-to-charge-a-holiday-fee#post-69574 Sat, 19 Jul 2008 12:44:11 +0000 EK 69574@http://boards.weddingbee.com/ My bat mitzvah was on Thanksgiving Day.  Some vendors charged extra for the holiday, but some actually charged less since it was a day they would not otherwise be likely to get any business.  Just call around - different vendors take different approaches to holiday weekend bookings. dreambml on "Is it reasonable to charge a "holiday fee"?" http://boards.weddingbee.com/topic/is-it-reasonable-to-charge-a-holiday-fee#post-69549 Sat, 19 Jul 2008 10:37:27 +0000 dreambml 69549@http://boards.weddingbee.com/ I don't know if I agree with the above comments, exactly.  I think in that business, a day is a day, and they know they will work on any of those holidays.  However, it does mean that maybe this is a popular weekend for a wedding?  and in that case, unfortunately they do charge more.  I know they all say "the off season", but that is like, only a few weekends out of the year when you think about it.  any holiday is usually popular, and there is one on November, december, january and february, supposedly the off months, then the only really off season time is march and april, and even april can be popular.  so, you're kind of stuck....they can pretyt much charge what they want. jma19 on "Is it reasonable to charge a "holiday fee"?" http://boards.weddingbee.com/topic/is-it-reasonable-to-charge-a-holiday-fee#post-69532 Sat, 19 Jul 2008 09:18:11 +0000 jma19 69532@http://boards.weddingbee.com/ I agree with glittergirl. A lot of people travel for Thanksgiving, and Thanksgiving is more of a family holiday than the 4th of July. So your prep vendors (flowers, cake, maybe caterer) won't be able to travel to be with their families as they'll have to be working on the Saturday, if not the Friday. All of the vendors may have to cut their vacation short so that they can be back for your wedding on Sunday, rather than traveling home that day. I don't think this is unreasonable at all. They have to pay their people more. glittergrl on "Is it reasonable to charge a "holiday fee"?" http://boards.weddingbee.com/topic/is-it-reasonable-to-charge-a-holiday-fee#post-69511 Sat, 19 Jul 2008 04:13:57 +0000 glittergrl 69511@http://boards.weddingbee.com/ Because Thanksgiving weekend is a weekend that most people spend with family or take trips.... same is true with wedding business owners.  Doesn't sound like a big deal until you consider: - if it's a cake, floral, catering or something that requires prep before Sunday, they will be working over the holiday weekend. - travel -- is your event far for this vendor to travel? - crew labor --- most people get paid more for working holidays, the same applies usually for their employees or contractors as well.   ju1244 on "Is it reasonable to charge a "holiday fee"?" http://boards.weddingbee.com/topic/is-it-reasonable-to-charge-a-holiday-fee#post-69507 Sat, 19 Jul 2008 03:02:06 +0000 ju1244 69507@http://boards.weddingbee.com/ I have a vendor wanting to charge me a full 1/3 more of the total price because my wedding is the Sunday after Thanksgiving.  I feel like this is not a holiday!  Is July 7th a holiday?  I don't get it, most weddings are on a weekend.  Please weigh in!