House Vendor weirdness

The reception places I've checked out really push their house vendors. I asked if the house vendors have to pay the reception hall a commission and the salesperson wouldn't give me a straight answer. They STRONGLY recommended their florist, dj, photog and even limo company. I asked them what happens if their house vendor is booked on my date. They told me their house vendors hire freelancers to handle multiple bookings. How would anyone know if they're getting the best freelancer? I asked if freelance photogs are full-tme photogs, and was told that some have day jobs during the week -- one of the best is a shoe salesman -- lol!!! (does this mean I could get a discount on wedding shoes?
I think I'll pass on house vendors -- I would rather have my vendors all be owners and not last-minute freelancers. I also asked about vendor meals. They told me vendor meals are half-priced for house vendors. Then I asked if non-house vendors got the same meals as house vendors and they said Yes!!! My mom asked if a guest doesn't show up, can the vendor have their meal. The saleperson said Probably. My vendors won't be drinking, so I think they should cost less to feed. I don't mind feeding them because they will be there a long time and can't leave. Sorry, just had to vent.

Re: House Vendor weirdness

It's ashame all the BS some places push.
I can honestly say WM never pushed their house vendors on us. AND at WM all vendor meals are half price.

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I didn't have that problem with house vendors. Sure, each place gave me a list, but only one tried to "push" me toward them. Whatever any reception hall tells you, ALL vendors pay a fee to the site to be a house vendor. It can be as much as $5000 per month.

As for vendor meals. Some places I looked at told me house vendor meals were free, others half-price. Some had free for house vendors and half price for outside vendors. East Wind has half-price for all vendors. Thus far, I am not using any EW house vendor, but there are two currently on my horizon that I am likely to book with.

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I didn't book house vendors. and yes, they get a commision....

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I shopped house and non house vendors to compare pricing and the prices were in the same league. Maybe house vendors give up some of there profits to have house vendor statice. One house vendor I shopped photographer related, turned me off because they said that they were the only ones who can shot pictures in certain areas because they were house. I called my banquet consultant and she told me that was untrue. Do your own research thats your best bet.

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I'm at the Fox Hollow and they haven't pushed their vendors on me at all. They actually told me to shop around and find vendors that i'm comfortable with. Personally I'm going to be booking two house vendors, but I'm not sure about the rest yet. And I pay half price for vendors whether they are house or not.

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We were just given a list of the house vendors and we only ended up using the house DJ, but didn't even know it until we met with him. I think vendors and the bride and groom should be free. Doesn't the hall get enough already?

A friend is getting married at Windows on the Lake and she was told that she has to pay for the party planner's plate the night of her wedding and his wife's!!! What's that about?

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I here that.

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Which hall did you book? I know some places are pushy with their vendors but Fox Hollow isn't. The only ones they seemed to mention a few times were the tux guys, the ppl claim to have used them for their own needs-who knows if it's BS anymore!! I will prob use their tux guys anyway...

As for other house vendors--FH claims that they send fake brides to the vendors to test them...I dunno if that's BS but I can assure you that the vendors PAY to be on that list!! I booked 2 house vendors so far-may end up using 4 total when I finish booking. They come highly rec so I can't go wrong!

Def check the BBB- a complaint is OK (some people like to complain) but I checked one of the house photographers and they had about 5! They had a few bad reviews here too so I cancled my apt to meet with them! Be careful no matter who you book.

Good luck!

PS- after reading the 1/2 price vendor plate amounts on here I'm going to my BM and asking him to change my contract- it says 1/3 off after I meet my min! I'm WELL over that by about 75 people!!

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My vendors are all people who do not job out their work. It was a real pain to find that but I insisted on it.

I'm self employed, and I know that if I job out work, my clients would be getting a lesser quality than they would get from me directly.

It was hard to even get a straight answer from some vendors as to what their practices are.

Our hall has a reasonable price for feeding vendors.

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I used all owners of companies. I did not use house vendors. I was very happy and was glad I did what I wanted to do and not be "pushed" into using the house vendors. HTH

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Yes, if you use house vendors the hall gets kickbacks!!! That's why they push them so much. IMO, since the house vendor gives them kick backs why wouldn't they charge you more money since they have to give some to the catering hall.

Re: House Vendor weirdness

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Posted by Jackie&Justin

I didn't book house vendors. and yes, they get a commision....

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Re: House Vendor weirdness

I didnt have this experience at all at my hall and I ended up using the house DJ's because they were really good and I didnt have to pay for their meals either.

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The only benefit I got from booking a "house vendor" was that their meals are free...I didn't think that was such a big deal, so I ended up booking all non-house vendors.

I would definitely look into the vendors that are recommended by your hall (because if they're great and you can save a little money, why not?), but certainly do your homework just as you would for any other vendor. I looked into a photographer that was on my hall's list and they ended up having TONS of unresolved complaints against them with the Better Business Bureau. They basically stalked me even after I told them I wasn't booking them b/c they were in poor standing with the BBB. They left me messages a couple of times a week insisting that they were the "preferred" photographer at my hall (there are two or three other photographers on my hall's list).

Long story short...I'm really glad I put in the effort to do my research and not just pick the vendors on the list. Good luck!

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I negotiated with my caterer and all of my vendors ate for free. The only house vendor I used was my florist.

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good grief

the catering hall industry is as sleazy as it gets!

of COURSE they get a kickback everytime their house vendor is used. that's a fact.

I would not deal with any hall that was so pushy. if they're like this now before they have your business, can you imagine how they will be when they have your money??

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I used all house vendors at Chateau Briand, but they weren't heavily pushed on me. I did, however, get an upgrade for using all House Vendors, so it was to my benefit. Anyway, my vendors would've eaten for 1/2 price if I'd gone over my minimum like I thought I would, but I didn't.

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I booked a couple of house vendors.

I figure out of all the businesses out there they must be chosen as house vendors for a reason.

After all, if a hall recommends them and they do a poor job, that would reflect poorly on the hall itself.

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So far I used 1 of the Watermill's house vendors and am very happy!