I hosted many social events pre-Covid, and now most of the social event inquiries we are getting are for Weddings. I know Wedding Venues get expensive very quickly, often requiring that you use their vendors for just about everything. So when someone sees our rate of $150/hr they think, “Hey, let’s get married there, it’s cheap!”
Would love to hear about your experiences with weddings. Do you have special pricing? If so, how do you justify a higher rate just because it is wedding related?
Are there specific headaches involved with weddings?
I have heard that you end up with multiple site visits for various vendors/family members wanting to see the space. And then managing deliveries and setup for various vendors, and later pickups, not during the hours booked by the guest. I’m sure the bride/couple will present themselves as low maintenance/easy going, but am wary of potential drama as the date arrives.
Would love input, not sure if I should say we don’t do weddings, or accept with specific pricing/rules, appreciate your help!
Hey @Brad_B
Love your questions!
I would ask on the first visit how many times they are interested in visiting the location? How involved they want you to be? Client think the rate you give them includes a on-site person, so I would clarify for them. I have people who want to book our venue without seeing the location, after I see what their plans and intentions are I don’t allow for the event.
If there is an increase in your time for assistance I would bring it to their attention immediately. I hope this helps.
Hey @Brad_B
Wedding inquiries have increased with my space as well. Often times, when they inquire about a wedding they have loads of questions in the beginning. So as I am answering their questions, I’m asking mines. If they use their own event planner, they have to book enough time so that everything is decorated and taken down within their time frame. That is usually what they do. If time allows maybe suggest booking a few hours the day before their event. If they use my event planner, they don’t have to extend their hours. Rentals vary! If they have rentals delivered and pickup the same day of event, I might just except it. If rentals are being picked up a different day, they have to pay an additional fee for someone to wait for pickup truck. I don’t mind them visiting space a few times(hasn’t happened) I just scheduled visits at my convenience. Good luck! Hope this helps.
Thank you Eli, it does seem weddings are a particular experience that will require additional care and I really need to think it through before accepting. Appreciate your input as always!
Thank you Frederica, I hope you are having good experiences! Such an emotional day for many, and seems especially challenging when they want to DYI and consider themselves low maintenance.
What could go wrong?
Appreciate you sharing your thoughts and experience!
Hi Brad - I do a lot of weddings and enjoy doing them. Some things that have worked for me:
-you are correct that client will think they only need 5 hours for their wedding. With decorating and deliveries, they will need most of the day
charge a flat rate for a buy out of the day at a price that you feel comfortable with. Set a time limit (ie noon- midnight for the price of 10 hours) client will feel like they are getting a good deal.
-include one visit for planning purposes for free and charge for visits beyond that. Somehow when they have to pay for extra visits, client manages to get everyone together on the same day
-weddings are done in advance - have them sign a contract or letter of understanding or list of house rules so they know what to expect
-absolutely get a security deposit with a separate payment. If you are uncomfortable with a flat rate, the security deposit can be used for overtime, extra cleaning costs or those extra visits.
-I don’t know where you are, but it is common practice in NYC for client to provide private event insurance to include liquor liability. This is good to have for any event where alcohol is served
Weddings can be rewarding both financially and with job satisfaction (-: good luck!
Starting to get more wedding receptions. I haven’t had a wedding yet. The thing I think about for a Wedding it’s the ultimate special occasion. Nothing can go wrong. I typically am a one woman host. For a Wedding with 50 guests I’d have two assistants if it’s DIY. I have done one Wedding reception. It was lovely. They were a very young couple doing it themselves with friends. I did last minute allow them access to the venue to bring food and drinks and do some decorating. The bride and groom were there and did a quick change at my place before going to their out door wedding. This extra time was not built in but I felt good about it. The suggestion to do a custom rate for the full day and let them know that these things come up and early entry is often needed. When I get the first inquiry I’d say up front there will be add ons to the rate for more staff and special arrangements than the typical party.
In the same vain I get people seeing my yoga studio that is just $30 and hour and they go nuts thinking about all they can do with a nice big space. They are ready to bring in a DJ, food, drinks, a bounce house for the kids, photo booth, a bar etc. I clearly state in the listing that the studio can only be used for yoga and dance. They want to throw a full blown party and pay just $150 for 5 hours.