Another 'Below Minimum' question re: vendor meals

Last week I posted a topic asking people stuff they got thrown in free and got ALOT of great advice. Click here to read that post

Some ladies said that if you are below your minimum they might charge you full price for your vendors before they start throwing in free stuff.

My contract specifically states that vendor meals are $35. Can they still try to tell me I have to pay the price of a full meal for the vendor?

You will have to pay for your contracted minimum no matter what, so it's actually beneficial for you to include children and vendors at full price.

For example:

Contracted Minimum: 70 people @ $10 each
Your actual guests: 65 people @ $10 each
Vendors/Children: 3 @ $5 each

You will pay for 70 people ($700) - even though in total you will have 68 (guests + vendors/children.) - TOTAL = $700

Otherwise, you will end up paying full price for 70 ($700) people, plus 3 vendor/children meals at half price ($15). - TOTAL = $715

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Posted by ChrissynRicky

You will have to pay for your contracted minimum no matter what, so it's actually beneficial for you to include children and vendors at full price.

For example:

Contracted Minimum: 70 people @ $10 each
Your actual guests: 65 people @ $10 each
Vendors/Children: 3 @ $5 each

You will pay for 70 people ($700) - even though in total you will have 68 (guests + vendors/children.) - TOTAL = $700

Otherwise, you will end up paying full price for 70 ($700) people, plus 3 vendor/children meals at half price ($15). - TOTAL = $715

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Excluding children for now...

If my total contracted bill for the day is, say $10,000, and I have 90 people at $100 and 3 vendors at $35, then I am left with $895 that I would presumably think I would get something for?

If I do the vendors at full price then I only have $700 that I would get something for?

Am I not looking at this correctly?

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Posted by melbalalala

Excluding children for now...

If my total contracted bill for the day is, say $10,000, and I have 90 people at $100 and 3 vendors at $35, then I am left with $895 that I would presumably think I would get something for?

If I do the vendors at full price then I only have $700 that I would get something for?

Am I not looking at this correctly?

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$10,000 / $100 = 100 guest guarantee

You have 90 people, you are still contracted to pay the $10,000 - even though it would 'normally' be 90 guests = $10,000
3 vendors @ $35 = $105

It's actually a BENEFIT to you if they count the vendors at full price, since no matter what you HAVE to pay the $10,000.

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Posted by melbalalala

Am I not looking at this correctly?

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Each hall is unique to how they will allow you to reallocate that extra $$$ being spent. However, legally (contractually) you are obligated to pay that $10,000 no matter what. It would be a coutesy on their part if they allow you to pay for the 93 (including vendors) guests, and let you slide w/the 7.

No they can't do that. Unless of course you're below your minimum by a few, they can count the vendors as 'guests.'
You HAVE to meet that minimum but u can always have a B list....

Some RH's will charge u 1/2 off for a vendor if the vendor is recommended by the RH. But if they were Not recommended, there more than 1/2 off. Thats how Villa Lombardi's did it anyway.

Aditionally, if you are below ur minimum, your RH should be sending plates home...

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Posted by ChrissynRicky

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Posted by melbalalala

Am I not looking at this correctly?

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Each hall is unique to how they will allow you to reallocate that extra $$$ being spent. However, legally (contractually) you are obligated to pay that $10,000 no matter what. It would be a coutesy on their part if they allow you to pay for the 93 (including vendors) guests, and let you slide w/the 7.

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But you are saying that assuming that they aren't going to throw something in for free, correct?

I know I have to pay the $10,000, but my thought is, the cheaper the vendor meals means the larger the deficit I have, which to ME sounds beneficial because it means getting 'more' or 'better' goodies thrown in...

If they say absolutely not,, no freebies, I might as well invite like 8 LIW girls and pay the $35 for the vendors to round out the rest of the $10,000?

ETA: So once you are below the minimum, there is a chance that the fee listed for vendor meal in the contract goes out the window?

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Posted by melbalalala

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Posted by ChrissynRicky

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Posted by melbalalala

Am I not looking at this correctly?

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Each hall is unique to how they will allow you to reallocate that extra $$$ being spent. However, legally (contractually) you are obligated to pay that $10,000 no matter what. It would be a coutesy on their part if they allow you to pay for the 93 (including vendors) guests, and let you slide w/the 7.

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But you are saying that assuming that they aren't going to throw something in for free, correct?

I know I have to pay the $10,000, but my thought is, the cheaper the vendor meals means the larger the deficit I have, which to ME sounds beneficial because it means getting 'more' or 'better' goodies thrown in...

If they say absolutely not,, no freebies, I might as well invite like 8 LIW girls and pay the $35 for the vendors to round out the rest of the $10,000?

ETA: So once you are below the minimum, there is a chance that the fee listed for vendor meal in the contract goes out the window?

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No matter what you have to pay the $10K - it'll be up to them to decide how the plates that are not filled (7 guests, including vendors) will be reallocated through upgrades and such.

I promise you that they will not allow you to pay $9,105 for the 90 guests and 3 vendors. You will pay $10,000 and they will decide whether or not you can use the 'extra' $895 towards something else. Either way, you will pay the $10,000.

For the record, I never ever thought I would have to pay less than my contracted rate/price. Thats the point of a contract, isn't it?

I just wanted to get a sense of other girls experiences so that I can get the most out of my 'deficit' when I go in there to negotiate.

My hall DID say when I signed that they would 'work with me' if I didnt meet my minimum and implied that they would throw something in.. Im just trying to get a feel of what this negotiation process is like.

Thanks everyone for your help, its nice to go into a situation fully armed.

It's new to all of us trust me....we all learn from each other through experience right?

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Posted by ChrissynRicky

It's new to all of us trust me....we all learn from each other through experience right?

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Thank GOODDD for LIW!!!