Sometimes wedding planning mistakes happen, but with a strong team to lean on, you’re in good hands. Most couples don’t have their team hired before they pick their venue, so here are the top mistakes we see when signing your contract with the venue.
1. Food and beverage minimums
The concept behind food and beverage minimums is arguably one of the most important ones to understand. Don’t sign the contract with your venue before you fully understand what this means. The “f&b” minimum, as you may hear it referred to, is the amount of money you are contractually obligated to spend with the venue. Even if you have guests who don’t show, or your food and alcohol tab is under this amount, you still have to pay what you agreed to. In most cases food and beverage minimum is before any fees or taxes apply so always read the fine print. This is probably one of the most common and most expensive wedding planning mistakes we see.
2. Defining all inclusive
Many wedding venues will say they offer “all inclusive” packages to handle all of your wedding needs. More often than not, venues won’t include items such as florals, fun colored linens, or a wedding coordinator, for example. Inquire about what is specifically included, as you may still need to hire a florist or work with a separate rental company. A wedding coordinator through the venue usually works for the venue, and will not be your month of coordinator who will perform tasks 4 – 6 weeks before the wedding such as confirming details with your vendors, re reading your contracts, and making sure you and your bridal party have everything you need before you walk down the aisle. Chances are, you will probably need to hire a separate wedding coordinator if you choose to have one.
3. Lodging and transportation
Before you sign with the venue, inquire about room block availability if there is a hotel attached. If not, consider what the cost to transport your guests from a nearby hotel to your wedding venue would be. Transportation is an expensive additional cost that can vary based on guest count, mode, distance, and terrain. This may end up being a key factor when deciding between your top two venues.
If you’re about to sign with your venue, but would love an extra set of eyes to review your contract before you sign, click here to ask one of our wedding planners to review it for you. Unlimited contract reviews are always included in our Premium package!
