Catering minimums
How wedding food-and-beverage minimums work
Understand minimum spends, guest-count risk, service charges and the questions to ask before accepting a venue catering commitment.
A minimum is a spending floor, not a package price
A food-and-beverage minimum is the eligible amount you must spend to reserve a room or date. If your selected menu does not reach it, the contract may still require the full minimum. Service charge and tax are often added after the minimum rather than counted toward it.
Lower attendance may not lower the bill
Suppose a venue requires a $15,000 minimum. At 150 guests, that is $100 per guest before fees. If only 100 attend, the minimum becomes an effective $150 per guest unless you can upgrade the menu, bar or late-night food with spend that counts.
Illustrative minimum
$15,000 either way
$100 per guest at 150 people; $150 per guest at 100 people, before service charge and tax
What counts toward the minimum?
Do not assume room rental, service charge, tax or gratuity help satisfy the minimum. Ask for an itemized example and a list of eligible upgrades.
- Plated meals, buffets and stations
- Hosted bar packages or beverage consumption
- Cocktail-hour food and late-night snacks
- Children’s and vendor meals
- Cake, rentals or room fees—only if the contract says so
Reduce commitment risk before signing
Price the venue at a conservative attendance estimate, learn when the guaranteed count becomes binding and ask whether the minimum can move to another date or room. The cancellation section matters as much as the menu when the commitment is large.