Required Minimum Numbers for venue

I think that if you want to renegotiate with the venue then you need to have a definate number in mind. Have you done a guest list or is it more budget related that you want 60 not 80? We had a number in mind for day/evening and when it came to sending the invites the day invites went up by quite a bit.

Perhaps instead you can ask the venue what they suggest if you get a few nos and the number goes under 80 rather than suggesting that you might not invite as many?

Its budget and guest related really.

We have budgeted for 80 as that is the terms we had agreed on but after thinking about our guest list there were people we origionally thought of inviting that we have now decided not to - its kind of a case of 'if we invite them, we have to invite them'.

Also i think we are going to come in over budget on flowers and photographer therefore if we could save on 20 meals then we would in effect come in on budget again.

You have a contract which states 80 people and they can hold you to that and refrain completely from negotiating. You also have achieved a really good discount. I would still go in and try and negotiate something (as you've correctly pointed out, now is the time to negotiate). The worse thing that can happen is they say no. And the worse thing that can do is to find another venue. The only problem with that is you lose your deposit.

With our venue, we have a minimum of 80 guests. The problem though is that our venue is really expensive (it's the only thing I regret having booked as I did it on impulse). We looked at moving venue but we were then going to lose our deposit. It worked out that even though we found a cheaper venue, we would still land up having paid the same amount as originally set out as losing the deposit made up the difference. If you do change venues, definately take into account the forfeited deposit and see if it's really worth while.

Good luck and let us know how it goes!!

What if you didnt have 80 friends??? what if you invited 80 and only 65 could come???

that systems crazy and unfair I think......they should be grateful they are getting the business!