AZE.US
Wedding venues in Baku are preparing to resume celebrations after a nearly two-month pause, with some halls raising menu prices by around 10%.
The minimum banquet price currently ranges from 40 to 45 manats ($23.50-$26.50) per guest. Venues may offer discounts of two to three manats when alcoholic beverages are excluded.
There is effectively no upper price limit, as the final cost depends on the food, drinks and additional services requested by the customer.
Venue administrators say intense competition prevents them from sharply increasing prices, with packages often adjusted to fit each client’s budget.
Operators attributed the higher rates to rising prices for meat and other food products, as well as increased labor costs.
Demand has also strengthened compared with last year. Wedding halls are reporting numerous reservations for August, September and October, while some clients booked their dates as early as five months in advance.
Industry representatives estimate that bookings have increased by 3% to 5%.
Wedding celebrations were largely suspended from June 16 through August 14 during the Islamic months of Muharram and Safar.
AZE.US