WHEN TO PAY

May contract has me paying the catering hall balance (including 18% gratuity) 10 days prior to my wedding. Is this normal? What is their incentive to do a great job? Normally when I buy a service (nail, accounting) I pay after the job is done. I don't feel very comfortable with this. What if they do a terrible job, what leverage do I have then?

If you're opting for bubbles, go with a model that has the wand that twists off (ie - the wed cake, the church, rose, etc...)

WHEN TO PAY

That's a standard in my contract as well. Kind of bizarre - but I'd imagine they've been stiffed in the past - and losing out of $20 for a nail service and $10000 is a big difference.

Your recourse? If you can pay by credit card, you have consumer protection. If you have to pay by cash, you do have the contract. But if you're dealing with a well established facility, you shouldn't have a problem. Think about it, one bad gig with a bride can shut down your whole business when everyone else finds out.

WHEN TO PAY

I am paying my full balance 3 days prior, inluding the gratuity. I am paying 15% grat. which covers the tip for all waitstaff, servers etc. The tip I handle on a discretionay basis is to the maitre d & bridal captain. Personally, I think a set gratuity on the servers is good, you usually pay that for large parties in a restaurant, & it leaves me with less figuring & guessing to do. Since it is the others who are really resposible for the evening, you csn tip them based on their service.

Whether or not you pay before, if they do a bad job you can try and deal with it after. Unless it is an obviuos breech of contract, Im not sure what type of leverage you would have when complaining if you were expecting a refund. I also think the catering hall's incentive to do a good job is their reputation..there will be plenty of prospective future customers in the house.

Our best bet is probably to relax. Weve spent alot of time and energy picking the right vendors, Im sure most of our instincts will pay off!

WHEN TO PAY

I AGREE WITH KAREN PAY BY AMEX OR OTHER CREDIT CARD. ALL OF THE SCOTTO PLACES TAKE CREDIT CARDS ESP SINCE THEY HAVE RESTAURANTS. THAT WAY YOU HAVE LEVERAGE....I AGREE.. BUT I ALSO FEEL THAT AFTER THE FACT IT IS MEANINGLESS, ESP WITH NO INCENTIVE AT ALL BUT A HALLS REPUTATION. BUT HECK WHAT IS 1 BRIDE TO HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS THAT'LL PROB SAY THAT MOST OF THE TIME THEY DO A GOOD JOB...RIGHT! SO I HAVE NEGOTIATED WITH SOME PLACES TO DEFINITELY LEAVE OFF THE GRATUITY TIL THAT DAY. THAT WAY THE 15-18% IS BASED PURLY ON THEIR SERVICE . WHILE WE ARE LEAVING 10% OF THE TOTAL BILL ALSO FOR THAT DAY, WHICH IS BASED ON THE PRODUCT AND ITS QUALITY AND VOLUME OF SUCH. I WAS PRETTY HAPPY WITH THAT MOST PLACES SAID THEY HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR, THEY BELIEVE IN THEIR WORK SO IF IT MADE US HAPPY WHY NOT LEAVE A 10% BALANCE FOR THE PARTYS END AND THE TIP OF 15-18% TIL AFTER THE PARTY AS WELL. THAT WAY THEY HAVE TO STAND BEHIND THEIR SERVICE AND QUALITY AND REPUTATION WITH A LITTLE MONEY AS LEVERAGE. MY FATHER SAID JUST A FEW YEARS AGO ALL CATERERS GOT PAID THE DAY OF THE AFFAIR. SO I DON'T THINK THIS IS UNREASONABLE. THOUGHTS?

If you want to compare it to a regular work day....we typically are given a full lunch hour. That's for an 8 hour work day. They're working close to 12 hours - and if I didn't feed them, they'd leave to go get food. I'd rather have them there just in case dinner ISN"T a full hour...so they don't miss anything.

Besides, it is illegal for my employer to ask that I work 12 hours without a coffee break and a a full lunch hour.

WHEN TO PAY

If you don't mind sharing, I'd be curious to know which hall negotiated with you a flexible gratuity & contract payment schedule?

At the Milleridge, I do not have to pay the remaining 5% of the contract until that day (just in case there are no-shows, etc.), but the gratuity is fixed & is in the contract. I found that to be true at most places I visited.

I do believe your proposal is very reasonable and I'm curious to know which other hall was "enlightened" enough to see it your way.