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Danielle - I ask for 25% up front, balance due 30 days in advance, and I have a cancellation policy stipulated in my contract that graduates based on amount of time between event and cancellation...
If cancellation occurs:
Percent of
On or before estimated Program Total
March 15, 2011 cancellation fee will be 50%
June 15, 2011 cancellation fee will be 75%
September 1, 2011 cancellation fee will be 100%
Bride Cancelled July 1st, but I didn't owe her any money (she opted to Pay in full at booking) because I had this lined out
Hi Danielle, definitely a non-refundable deposit is required to reserve the date. Depending on the amount of planning time 2-1 yr 25%; less than 1 yr 50% and the balance could be quarterly installments for 3 weeks before the date. My aim is always to have the wedding paid for by the date.
I normally break the payments into a payment plan of 3 payments the 1st is the deposit and the full payment is due 30 days before the wedding date. To re-leave the stress... Let's say its 2000 for a wedding I break that down into 4 payments, 1st is the retainer the next are payments. This has worked wonders I have the verbiage to my contract below.
DEPOSIT, RESERVATION AND SCHEDULING (FOR PERSONAL EVENTS)
For events, a non-refundable retainer totaling of the agreed upon amount is due upon signature of this agreement. The
retainer will hold the date immediately. The remainder of the amount left will
be the balance which is broken up into easy payments and due in full 30 days
before the event. Any overtime or travel fees associated with the event approved
verbally by the Client during the event are due upon completion of the event. There
will be a $10.00 per day late fee beginning the day after the given and agreed
upon due date and after 10 days the contract is subject to cancellation for
non-payment. Upon signature and receipt of the deposit A Timeless Touch will reserve
the specified date and time for the event. All deposits are non-refundable and all payments made upon at agreed upon due date once received even
if the date has changed or the event is cancelled for any reason.
I require a $750 non-refundable retainer and I ask for the balance on the wedding day (many photographers ask for it two weeks-one month in advance. I am a photographer).
If the retainer was only $100, it's not a huge loss for your clients to cancel on you if they decide they no longer want a planner. It's not fair to you for them to commit and then cancel. If you were a hall and clients had booked you, they would not be getting back your retainer amount as the hall could've booked another wedding at full price for that date.
As an ordained Reverend and Marriage Officiant, when I worked on the East Coast, I used to charge a $100 deposit; [as a non refundable "reserve" this date fee] when the contracts were signed because it is ALMOST impossible to book a wedding if you only have 30 days notice of a cancellation.
I do offer couples the option of changing their wedding date - if they provide me over 30 days notice and I am available on the new date for a fee. If that date is in the future, I ask for full payment of all fees to guarantee the "new" date. If they completely cancel, the $100 deposit is forfeited because I probably have passed up on other opportunities to book weddings for that date and having lost the booking, for whatever reason, I experience out of pocket expenses.
Now that I am in Northern California, where the cost of everything is SO MUCH HIGHER - I am trying to adjust my fees accordingly based on my experience and credentials. I write every ceremony that I perform. I give the bride and groom the choice between over 30 different ceremonies ranging from civil to modern to spiritual. If the couple chooses a ceremony from one that I have written - in my book - I charged them a flat fee [based on location] - unless they wanted to customize the ceremony or add a Unity Candle, things of this nature, etc...
I am curious to learn what the average cost of a marriage officiant in the Wine Country of California actually is.
I have been quoted vastly different fees and charges for things that I previously would have included in my ceremonies are often seperate charges here. For example, I used to include participation in the wedding rehearsal [adding travel time if beyond 30 miles of my office]; however, celebrants here in the Wine Country of California are charging in the area of $200+ for participation in the rehearsal.
I also offer the service of composing a completely personalized service for the couple which I base on each individual circumstance as well as the size of the wedding.
Would any of the celebrants in the Wine Country Area - who participate in Bridal Tweet - be interested in discussing how they base their fees? I think that there are enough couples getting married in the busy season to allow all Reverends / Professionally Trained Marriage Officiants to have their schedules full!
I look forward to follow up comments.
Sincerely,
Reverend D.A. Keegan
We are wedding planner in Tulum, Mexico for 4 years now and after one year with just asking for 200USD we decided we'll change because it was kind of non formal and we had cancellations.
So now we work with a contract, we ask for 30% of the coordination fee witch is non refundable. As we work helping find the best place at the best price for their wedding, our client are happy with our policies and payments way. For the wedding then we ask for 50% 1 moth before the wedding and 50% 1 week before.
Thank you to have this kind of discussions!
Saludos!
Always call it a retainer, first payment, or something similar. Never, ever call it a deposit! In some states a "deposit" is fully-refundable, no matter what your contract says. No matter how much work you've put in or how close to the event the cancellation was made.
Recently I had a couple cancel less than two weeks before their wedding date. Because of the short notice, and the fact that I could not reasonably expect to book another wedding, I refunded all but $50 of my fee. The couple has done everything that they could think of to damage my reputation, including calling my local Town Hall and writing a really nasty "review".
Be absolutely clear in your contract that if your services for the wedding are cancelled that you have the right to keep a specific amount of money. Having different amounts based on the cancellation dates is A Good Idea. No matter how much you like the couple, or how friendly they are, always, always have a written contract.
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