Catering minimum
Also known as: Minimum plate guarantee, F&B minimum
The minimum number of plates the venue requires you to pay for, regardless of actual guest attendance — a key contract clause that affects total wedding cost.
📍 Pan-India wedding venue industry standard
About Catering minimum
Catering minimum (or F&B minimum) is the minimum guest count the venue requires you to commit to catering — you pay for that count even if fewer guests attend. A critical contract clause in Indian wedding venues.
Typical patterns:
- Hall hire waiver threshold: most venues waive the hall hire when catering meets 150-300 plates
- Minimum spend: some venues require a minimum total F&B spend (₹2-5 lakh) regardless of guest count
- Below-minimum penalty: if your actual attendance falls below the minimum, you still pay for the minimum count
- Above-minimum charges: extra plates above your booked count are usually charged at a 10-30% premium
How to handle in contract negotiation:
- Negotiate the minimum to your realistic guest count + 10% cushion
- Get explicit refund terms if attendance is significantly below minimum (rare but possible)
- Lock the extra-plate rate in writing
- Confirm pediatric pricing (under-5 free, 5-12 at 50%)
Related terms
- Banquet hall — A dedicated indoor venue used for weddings, receptions, parties, and corporate events — typically with built-in catering, AC, AV, and seating capacity ranging from 80 to 800 guests.
- Per-plate pricing — The per-guest catering cost at Indian wedding venues — quoted separately for vegetarian and non-vegetarian menus, with non-veg typically ₹200–500 higher.