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I dont know about Cali, to be honest. But 50% is standard for most places here in Chicago for a venue. If you are doing a seperate caterer, ours have been 30% down to book. Same with photographer and DJ.
I don't know about California law (I live in CA) but none of our deposits were 10%. I think the lowest deposit we paid was 20% but the others were either 30% or 50%. I think that's pretty standard. Even, when getting quotes, I didn't notice any 10% deposits from any of our vendors.
I don't know the law either...but here are the deposits I have made so far:
Venue...deposit $200 (total with buffet dinner will be $3k)...the remainder is due on the wedding day
Photographer...50%...remainder due on wedding day
DJ...$100...(total is $650)
Makeup artist....$100...(total is $200)
Florist....$125....(total is $450)
Cake...$100...(total is $350)
I'm not in California either, but my deposits have been varied. We paid about 50% to hold the DJ. About 35% to hold the DJ. We paid the 50% for the ceremony. Our venue we paid like 25% to hold it, then like 30% the other week. I think companies just do whatever works best for them, lol.
I'm not in CA (or a lawyer!), but my perception would be that even if the law says 10%, it would be up to a business' discretion as for what they are willing/not willing to accept to hold a date or make a reservation.
Think about a florist, they have to order your flowers from their grower well in advance of the actual wedding - so if they are just a small one-man/woman shop, then they might not have the capital needed to purchase the flowers if the deposit is only 10%.
Most of my deposits have been in the 20-25% range.
Another non-California, but my deposits have been in the one-third to half range. 1/3 for venue and photographer, and 1/2 for caterer.
For my venue in NY we agreed to a monthly payment plan which included an initial 15% deposit.
We're getting married in Hawaii. All of our deposits have been between 30-50%. For our reception (includes catering/bar), 50% of EXPECTED revenue is due 3 months prior, and the remaining balance is due 3 days before the reception. (Keep in mind we did have to place a $1000 "deposit" just to reserve our reception space when we first booked).
Deposits between 30-50% seem the norm nowadays.
So far we've put down 50% on the venue, 50% on the photog, $100 on the caterer and $100 on the DJ. Honestly 10% is very cheap and if I were a business ower I'd have a tough time staying in business if a few of these people dropped out at the last minute!
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I just had a pretty interesting conversation with my dad. My fi and I found a caterer and a florist that we love and we want to book them. Now our wedding is still 8 months away, and when I told my dad how much in deposits (50% each) we would have to pay, he thought I was crazy. He claimed california law is 10% down to hold the date and once we get closer to the wedding we will pay in full and that's only to gurantee that the companies don't go out of business. Now I agree with him in regards to the caterer (we are doing mexican food- taco bar, etc). We live in So cal and mexican food caterers are a dome a dozen, so it would be ok if we wait on that until we get closer. However, I never thought we could afford a florist, I thought we would have to do the flowers ourselves, until I met the one I want to book, she is well within our price and I love her. I want to make sure she saves the date for us, so I may go forward with her.
Does anyone know the caliofrinia law on deposits? is there evn a law about this? Should we wait a little longer to book, and is 50% too much to hold the date?