Venue booking

We booked our venue last year, they asked for a $1000 deposit plus the $500 security deposit -that's it was closer to 10% of our estimated total bill. If they want to be paid upfront a year in advance, I would consider other venues .....

It's the "Or we can pay a deposit and risk losing our date" that I have anxiety about when reading your question. As many people have stated, a deposit is collected to secure your date, and normally has stipulations on what amount, if any, the booking party gets back if they decide to cancel...

Now, do they only have accommodation for 60 ppl? If they can only accommodate 60 ppl, that makes sense that they ask you to pay upfront, to a certain extent, because what you require is their whole inventory, and they want to ensure you don't back out after they have turned down X amount of other possible glampers...

If they can accommodate more than 60 ppl, I would be questioning why a deposit doesn't suffice to hold your date, and "reserving" space for up to 60 ppl, with stipulations that you need to confirm exact numbers (with a min. guarantee), by a date that if you have to drop your guest list under the 60 mark, the glamping grounds can release the sites back into their inventory and make some more $$...

Our venue does it all, one stop shop and only asked for $1000 deposit, but because they are offering you on site accommodation it makes sense they would ask for half upfront, it's basically the same thing as renting a hotel. it's probably the down for the venue, and the down for the accommodations, as long as you get a contract and you read it carefully, I don't see why it would be sketch especially if it's a legit venue.

Always get the transaction along with terms and conditions on paper. Don't just use email back and forth.

So basically they want you to book as if you're buying out their accommodation? Then that sounds about right. If it's just an event venue, I'd be weary but considering the main pricing seems to be for the stay , that makes sense. It'd be the equivalent of going to a hotel and asking for all the rooms to be held for you. In that instance, you would literally book and pay upfront for all those rooms.

I have been to over 15 venues and I have never been told I have to pay in full. Even for a more expensive place that costs $13,000 after taxes. For venues, deposits are usually $2000 and that is with a signed contract. This is supposed to book your date. I would be very weary about a place that takes all of the money right from the start.

My experience ranges from barns, hotels, tents, and destination weddings.

Most of the other vendors, like catering, dj, photography, videographer, hair and make-up usually require 50% and a signed contract to secure your date.

So with that being said. To me, it is not normal at all. But I speak for the Alberta area.