Post # 1
Member
2 posts
Wannabee
Hi Everyone,
My Fiance and I signed with our venue for our 2020 wedding in August 2018 (yeah we were really early). We knew when we were signing our contract that there would likely be price increases come the new year. The coordinator we were working with assured us that in the past the price increases had been a couple dollars per plate and that the only thing that would likely change would be a “slight increase in the facility fee” (her words). We got our new contract yesterday and the price has increased by nearly 30% (6000$!!!). They’ve increased not only the facility fee but have added 25$ per person and a slew of other increases. I’ve sent them an email expressing our dissapointment and asking what they can do to make us feel more comfortable. We feel very taken advantage of (and frankly kind of stupid). Does anyone have any advice for us? We’ve already payed 7 grand into the venue that we can’t get back.
Thanks in advance…
Post # 2
Member
4539 posts
Honey bee
You signed a contract and put down a non-refundable deposit without pricing included? That makes no sense.
Post # 3
Member
1893 posts
Buzzing bee
Emma5 : OUr venue had a large increase in prices for booze and facility after we booked. We were grandfathered into the previous prices because we booked early. You may want to look into that. I always thought whatever price you book at is what you get.
Post # 4
Member
5320 posts
Bee Keeper
You paid 7k knowing the price wasn’t set? How does that even work?
Post # 5
Member
2352 posts
Buzzing bee
Emma5 : I don’t really understand how you signed a contract without agreeing upon prices? Did you sign a contract that said there will be price increases that are TBD?
Post # 6
Member
231 posts
Helper bee
I’m suprised, I have worked in the industry in the past, your prices get locked in. How was this not agreed to prior? Even if there was a price increase that would have been known before hand and agreed upon. Otherwise you get your money back. No way are you stuck and lose on 7k.
Post # 7
Member
2992 posts
Sugar bee
The best approach at this point would be to schedule a meeting with the coordinator and management to discuss options. Make sure that you don’t go into the meeting guns a-blazing, because that does not make people want to work with and please you. If you go in angry, the assumption on their part is that you will be pissed off no matter what so they might as well take more of your money and accept the negative review.
If you are polite but firm, you’ll get a lot further. When you meet with them, request to be grandfathered in at the old prices plus inflation. That is extremely reasonable and in line with the price increases that you would have expected.
Post # 8
Member
6958 posts
Busy Beekeeper
I don’t understand how the new prices would even affect you since you signed a contract with the old prices…?
Post # 9
Member
1959 posts
Buzzing bee
I had a similar venue where prices increase every year and you do not get the old prices. Luckily ours didn’t increase by much so we didn’t have this issue. I would speak to them and see what they can do but otherwise you may be stuck as I’m sure your contract indicates the prices are subject to change and you’ve already paid so much.
Post # 10
Member
346 posts
Helper bee
- Wedding: July 2021 - British Columbia, Canada
zl27 : That’s how I read it, too… Op, can you give more detail?
Post # 11
Member
4539 posts
Honey bee
dreamreve1 : why would anyone agree to pay for something without knowing the price?
Post # 12
Member
2244 posts
Buzzing bee
Read the contract and then talk to them. The prices should have been in the contract. We signed our venue contract in Aug as well (for a Mar 2019 wedding) and they already had the 2019 prices out and listed. We actually got the 2018 pricing (because thats when we signed) but the 2019 package specials (linens were included).
There is no way you should have signed a contract without pricing. If your pricing is in the contract, they need to honor that. If they won’t, then you need to work on getting your deposit back as they changed the contract. If you signed a contract with no pricing listed, then unfortunately this is an expensive lesson for you to learn.
Post # 13
Member
686 posts
Busy bee
Why was your price not locked in when you booked?
It should have been…
Check your contract again.
Post # 14
Member
3846 posts
Honey bee
- Wedding: April 2017 - City, State
My advice would be to find another venue. If they don’t lock in their prices for clients at the time they book, who knows how much more things will increase between now and your wedding day. If you’re just expected to keep paying every time they increase something, they aren’t worth dealing with.
If you are going to stay with them, get the price carved in stone.
Post # 15
Member
4539 posts
Honey bee
MiniMeow : she’d be walking away from a $7k deposit.