Below is a real (anonymized) review for a Sonoma venue contract. Three flags, with the exact language we sent the couple to forward to their venue.
4(a) Client agrees to a non-refundable retainer equal to fifty percent (50%) of the contracted total, due upon signing.
4(b) A gratuity of twenty percent (20%) will be added to the food & beverage minimum and may be adjusted annually at Venue’s sole discretion.
4(c) Final guest count must be confirmed no fewer than thirty (30) days prior to the event date and is non-reducible thereafter.
Section 4(b) is the one that matters. The clause lets the venue raise gratuity above 20% any time before your event, with no cap and no notice. On a $40,000 F&B minimum, a 5-point gratuity bump is $2,000 you didn’t plan for.
4(a) and 4(c) are standard but worth understanding before you sign. Details below.
“A gratuity of twenty percent (20%) will be added to the food & beverage minimum and may be adjusted annually at Venue’s sole discretion.”
Your 20% gratuity can rise to 22% or 25% before your event, with no cap and no notice. On a $40K F&B minimum, that’s up to $2,000 unbudgeted.
“Please revise 4(b) to fix gratuity at 20% of the final contracted F&B total, not adjustable after this agreement is signed.”
“In the event of force majeure, including but not limited to acts of god, neither party shall be liable; deposits are non-refundable.”
If the venue cancels for a force-majeure reason, you lose your $20K retainer. Mutual force majeure usually requires a refund or credit.
“Please add to Section 9: ‘In the event of force majeure preventing the Venue from performing, all monies paid by Client shall be refunded within 30 days.’”
“Overtime hours shall be billed at venue’s standard hourly rate at venue’s sole discretion.”
If you run 30 minutes long, the venue can bill an unspecified rate. Standard rates we’ve seen range $400–$1,200/hour.
“Please add: ‘Overtime shall be billed at $___/hour, agreed upon at signing, and shall not exceed two (2) hours.’”
“The venue agreed to every change in the report. Our coordinator said the redline was ‘the cleanest she’d seen from a couple.’”
Upload your contracts today. Get findings by Thursday.
