The 11 costs your venue did not quote you
On a 150-guest wedding these add up to about $9,795, and almost none of them appear in the package price. Every one is negotiable or avoidable — if you ask before you sign.
| Line item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Service charge on food & beverage18–24%, applied before tax | $2,800 |
| Sales tax on the service chargeYes, tax on the fee | $340 |
| Cake-cutting fee$2.50 per guest | $375 |
| Corkage$20 per bottle you bring in | $600 |
| Vendor meals8 vendors × $65 | $520 |
| Overtime$500 per hour past contracted end | $750 |
| Chair upgradeFolding → chiavari, $8 each | $1,200 |
| Linen upgradePolyester → cotton, $24 per table | $360 |
| Dance floor & stagingRarely included in the room rate | $900 |
| Security & parking attendantRequired by most venue policies | $450 |
| Ceremony site feeCharged even when on-site | $1,500 |
| Not in the quote | $9,795 |
Why none of this is in the package price
Venue packages are priced to win the comparison, not to describe the wedding. The number that gets you in the door excludes the things that are easiest to defend later — a service charge that is “industry standard”, a cake-cutting fee that is “per guest”, an overtime rate that only applies “if you run long”.
None of that is fraud. It is just that the person quoting you is measured on bookings, and every line moved out of the headline number makes the headline number more competitive.
What to ask before you sign
Ask for the full estimate with service charge and tax applied, for a named overtime rate, and for the corkage waiver threshold in writing. Ask what portion of the service charge reaches staff. Ask whether vendor meals are charged at guest rate — they usually should not be.