Reception Hall Deposit!!

Hi I am looking to book my recp. hall soon and they said that we need to put $500 down to hold the date.

My FH and I are thinking of putting down much more(somewhat large amout) than that and I wanted to know how we should do that.

Should we pay by check, credit card.. I know definetly not cash.


Thanks

Re: Reception Hall Deposit!!

We paid our deposit with a credit card. We also paid a $500 deposit. We thought about leaving a larger amount but realized that we didn't need to. The hall should give you a reasonable payment plan.

Re: Reception Hall Deposit!!

No we want to give them a larger deposit.

Re: Reception Hall Deposit!!

Chateau Briand is a reputable catering hall, but I would pay by credit card

Message edited 2/27/2005 3:24:55 AM.

Re: Reception Hall Deposit!!

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Posted by MrsMichel07

No we want to give them a larger deposit.

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Message edited 2/27/2005 8:02:52 AM.

Re: Reception Hall Deposit!!

The best would be to make a deposit on a credit card if you are afraid of being scammed or if there are any disputes later on. If you pay by check, once that check clears you really cant do anything about it later on. Sort of similar with cash. The money will be theirs. I didnt really think it made a difference, I payed cash. Make sure you go over the cancellation process just in case. I was surprisedto find out that if I cancelled before six months of my date I would only lose a portion of my deposit, not the whole amount.

Re: Reception Hall Deposit!!

I would not since if there is any reason to cancel, I was told you recieve your inital deposit and then the rest when the room is rebooked. I too have a 2007 wedding and I am only looking to put the min down. Most places have a good payment plan and since you have two years it should be enough time.

Re: Reception Hall Deposit!!

I wouldnt give them a larger deposit. If youre afraid of spending th emoney or something maybe you can have a sister or something make monthly payments for you.

The reasons I wouldnt is 1) you never know - you MAY change your mind. Believe it or not I was set on the JT and then changed my mind and gave up my $1,000 deposit and am having a big backyard wedding.
2) you never know what else might happen.

Re: Reception Hall Deposit!!

I definately would not give them a bigger deposit than they are asking for-many different things could happen with the place, you etc. Put the extra money you were going to give them in the bank and earn interest on it. Better that you earn the interest on it then the catering hall. If you are afraid that you might start withdrawing that money-open up a special account or something. But I definately do not think you should give them a dime extra-you may wind up regretting it later and you have two years to earn interest on that money!!!

Re: Reception Hall Deposit!!

Thank you all for your responses...

We wanted to put down a larger deposit for a couple of reasons:

1) We wanted to make our monthly payments smaller
2)We wanted to have the hall paid for buy next year sometime so that we do not have to worry about paying that and all other stuff down the line. We do not want to have to worry about paying 5 different vendors large payments couple of weeks b4 the wedding.
3)I think another advantage would be I may be able to splurge on something else down the line b/c i don't have to think about the recp. hall.

Now someone mentoned that I should not pay a large deposit b/c we might change or minds.

We have been engaged since early 2004 and we have gone through so many thoughts concerning the wedding. First we were staying here ... then we were going to get married in Jamaica.. then we were back here and then we were going to the Bahamas most recently or Florida. Now we have decided that that may not work out good for everybody soooooo here we are about to book Chateau Briand, the third and last place we visted.


We have total confidence in CB.. thanks to some brides on LIweddings who said they are great.

I am in constant contact with the BM any time I any concerns and she has just been great.

Remember 2007 will be here b4 u know it!

Message edited 2/27/2005 9:27:16 AM.

Re: Reception Hall Deposit!!

I think it's more a question of what if someone gets sick and you decide to change your plans, or something like that. But if you want to do this, then of course you should do what's best for you and FH. So to answer your original question, I would pay by check if I were you.

Re: Reception Hall Deposit!!

Thank you!

Re: Reception Hall Deposit!!

We put down 5000, but thats what we were told to do...

Re: Reception Hall Deposit!!

if you have a credit card you can earn points or miles on, use that. otherwise, i'd use a check.

Re: Reception Hall Deposit!!

One other perspective, from the "finances" side of things-- it is always to your advantage to keep your money as longs as you can. Why give it to a vendor early (although I do see your reasons) when it could be in your bank account collecting interest. Might be to your advantage to even make regular monthly payments,so that you can keep some of your money.

This is FHs influence on me!!!!!

However, if you have a credit card thatgives youmiles and you need the miles ASAP ie for Honeymoon, Iw ould go that route.

Re: Reception Hall Deposit!!

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Posted by MrsMichel07

Hi I am looking to book my recp. hall soon and they said that we need to put $500 down to hold the date.

My FH and I are thinking of putting down much more(somewhat large amout) than that and I wanted to know how we should do that.

Should we pay by check, credit card.. I know definetly not cash.


Thanks

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Re: Reception Hall Deposit!!

I never give more than what I need to deposit. If you have extra money hang on to it, open up a seperate savings account if need be. Anything can happen, and the first thing you lose is your deposit.

Re: Reception Hall Deposit!!

Are you kidding? Give me some money while you're at it.

Re: Reception Hall Deposit!!

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Posted by Mal

Are you kidding? Give me some money while you're at it.

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Re: Reception Hall Deposit!!

You would have to ask howmuch you can actually put on Credit card...they might not take more than $1,000 on a credit card. If that's the case I 'd put some on CC and pay the rest by check. Of course you should do what you want but did you think about using some of the $ to put down deposits on other vendors? The other stuff costs so much its crazy!!

Re: Reception Hall Deposit!!

Palebride... this is exactly what i was thinking!

I am thinking in the long run.

I understand the other brides when they said that I should hold off on paying so much money.

We are sure of our decision and want to pay this way so that we don't have to worry about the other vendors.

I am sure most of you know that it is hard and will be hard to pay for more than one vendor when crunch time comes! The FH and I figured that if we get rid of the big vendor then everything else will be easier.

Re: Reception Hall Deposit!!

They say t not give THAt much. I wouldn't pay t off until it's closer to the date, because ocne they have all your $$, they have no reason to help you, etc. The less money they have of yours, the more they have to lose and the less you have to lose. Maybe put the money aside into a separate account and don't touch it, so you know you have the money aside to pay for it, but don't pay it until later.

We had to leave $6000 in the first few months after we signed...I feel like that's a LOT, but I am glad we have a big chunk of the wedding already paid for and out of the way..but still, don't overpay vendors. Earmark it ina separate account..also that way you're making the itnerest on it, not the catering hall! I didn't check your wedding date, but some banks have deals on 13 month CD's..put the money in there, so you know you can't touch it and then after the 13 months are over you'll be closer to your wedding date and you can pay it then..

I was also engaged in 2004! to may long engagement sister!

Re: Reception Hall Deposit!!

WoW, only a $500. deposit... I wish I had that when we first booked!

We had a $5,000 deposit to book, then another $5,000 due 6 months b-4 the wedding. I have to check but I think I have another $5,000 3 months before and then the rest two weeks before.

Anyway, we paid by credit card....

Re: Reception Hall Deposit!!

we left about $1000 and paid it by check. then it was about the same amount for another 4 months and then the balance.

Re: Reception Hall Deposit!!

We booked ours w/ a credit card...we got a lot of rewards points for it!