Food and Beverage minimum in addition to room rental?? Help!?

Question

I'm in the beginning stages of planning my wedding and reception, and my head is swimming with all ofthe terminology! I have a place I am really interested in. They said they have a $3000 food and bev. minimum. On the website, the rental is listed at $2500. In trying to work out the total cost, I'm not sure if the room rental is in addition to the food and bev. costs, or if I spend $3000 on food and beverage that's all there is. As it stands, our food alone is going to be about $8000, which is fine, but if there's extra room rental - it's getting expensive. Any help would be much appreciated!

Answer 1

The room rental is separate from the food and beverage. It would be $8,000 + $2,500.

Answer 2

Usually if they list the room rental rate that means it's in addition to the food and beverage minimum.  I would say you're looking at a minimum of $10,000.

Answer 3

I think you're going to have to call them on this one...  I'm with you that it should just be the $3000 food and bev. minimum. Mine was 150 people which correlated to a lot of different prices depending on the buffet chosen!

Answer 4

Generally if they say there is a room hire cost, it means in addition to food and beverage...some places will bend that if you negotiate with them...Other venues offer it as part of the wedding deal...probably best to give them a quick call and check. If they want to charge to room hire, try an negotiate. Say you are trying to choose from their venue and another. A good sales person will try and give you a deal so they can win your business - good luck

Answer 5

The food and beverage minimum just means that if you don't spend $3000 on food and beverages then you will still have to pay that amount. If you are planning to spend $8000 you will pay that amount, since it's over the minimum. The rental fee is in addition to that amount, so if your food bill was $8000 then with the room rental your total cost would be $10,500. Personally I wouldn't pay that much for a room rental fee. Ask them if they will waive it in the contract for you, since you are planning to spend much more than the minimum. You could say that you will guarantee a food and beverage minimum of $5500 if they waive the other fee, so then your total bill would be $8000. They might not go for it but it's worth a try.

Answer 6

Point blank ask them.  Places vary widely in how they charge.  We had some say that if you had 3500.00 in food and drink, the room was free.  We had one say that the minimum was 11,000 before the room was free.  I don't even think I know that many people!

It sounds like they are telling you that they don't accept parties that will be less than 3500 food and drink, and I found that to be true with some of the places I checked out as well.

Remember, ask your questions, and Don't be afraid to try to deal with them or get them to throw in extras (maybe your cake or chocolate fountain?)  Be sure you know what that includes.  Is it linens, napkins, glasses, china, centerpieces, set up, clean up, etc.?  then 2500 isn't that bad - it costs a lot to rent all that stuff, plus you have to clean it up.  If it's just a bare room, different story.

Hope this helps!