What to do About Venue Rules You Don't Like
So, you’ve found the perfect venue for your Maui wedding . . . only to suddenly realize there’s some weird and troubling rule in your venue contract. Believe it or not, this situation is more common than you might think. A lot of venues can be surprisingly picky about what they’ll allow and what they require. Thankfully, though, there are things you can do if faced with a “weird rule.”
Spot Them Before You Sign
The best case scenario is that you’d spot one of these rules you don’t like before you sign the contract. If you do that, there may be some room for negotiation. To ensure you notice any rules that seem weird or harsh, read your contract carefully and fully before you sign on the dotted line.
Often, you’ll be asked to sign it right then and there, in front of a representative from the venue. This situation can make you feel pressured and like you have to hurry through the signing. To avoid the awkwardness, ask if you can take the contract home to really look at it. This way, you can either go over it carefully yourself or, even better yet, have an attorney look through it. Then, if you spot a rule you don’t understand or wish to negotiate, you can do it before anything is set in stone.
Determine if It’s Common
Sometimes, rules that seem harsh- like not allowing any outside alcohol or having to provide your own generator- can actually be fairly common. So, before you jump the gun and ask for negotiations, research other venues in the area. If most of them have the same or similar requirements, then you may, unfortunately, just have to deal with the rule and make the best of it.
Negotiate within Reason
If you do ultimately have to negotiate on a point, do it within reason. Don’t ask the venue to change their entire rule. Just see if they’ll make a few reasonable exceptions and explain why you need those exceptions. If, for example, your wedding venue doesn’t allow outside food, see if you can pay a small fee to have certain food items brought in, especially if they’re not available through the venue.
Whatever the case may be, if you’re willing to “give” a little and can plainly state your reason for needing to bend the rules, you have a much better chance of getting permission.
Finally, remember that, at your wedding, you shouldn’t fret much the small stuff. If you’re in love with a particular venue and it means having to deal with an unfavorable rule or two, it may just be worth it to graciously accept them so you can have your big day where you want it.
