Terms & Conditions

1. Commissioning & Date Reservation

• Reservation Deposit: A booking is formally confirmed only upon receipt of the signed commission agreement and a minimum non-refundable advance deposit of 50% of the total estimated invoice.
• Calendar Availability: We accept a strictly capped number of commissions per date. Verbal confirmations or unconfirmed quotations do not hold date exclusivity.
• Final Guest Count: The guaranteed minimum guest count must be finalized in writing at least 7 business days prior to the event date. The final invoice will be billed for the guaranteed count or the actual attendees, whichever is higher.

2. Pricing, Invoicing & Tax Structure

• All prices quoted are in Indian Rupees (INR) and are exclusive of applicable statutory taxes unless stated otherwise.
• In accordance with Indian tax laws, Goods and Services Tax (GST at 18% or current statutory rate) is applied to all catering, food preparation, and banquet services.
• Payment Schedule: 50% on booking; 40% due 14 days prior to event date; remaining 10% balance and any incidental adjustments payable immediately upon completion of event service.
• Accepted payment modes include RTGS/NEFT bank transfers, UPI, verified credit/debit cards, and corporate cheques (subject to clearing before service).

3. Client Venue Obligations

To ensure seamless culinary execution, the client or venue management agrees to supply:

• Timely, unobstructed access to the kitchen staging area at least 3 to 5 hours prior to the event service call-time.
• Adequate, continuous three-phase electrical power supply (minimum 15kW–25kW for live culinary heating units), clean potable running water, and adequate lighting in staging zones.
• Designated parking and loading dock clearance for Gourmet Guild's refrigerated transit vehicles.

4. Food Safety, Hygiene & FSSAI Standards

• Gourmet Guild operates under stringent Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) guidelines.
• Allergies & Dietary Protocols: The client must inform Gourmet Guild in writing of all critical guest allergies (e.g. nut, shellfish, lactose, gluten) or strict dietary preferences (e.g. Jain, Swaminarayan, Vegan) at least 7 business days prior to the event.
• Perishable Food Safety: Under FSSAI hygiene guidelines, warm or cold prepared food displayed in banquet environments cannot safely remain out beyond 3 hours. Gourmet Guild reserves the right to withdraw compromised buffet items to safeguard guest health.
• Leftover Takeaways: Due to health liability and temperature degradation, Gourmet Guild does not package unchilled, temperature-exposed leftovers for off-site consumption unless properly handled under controlled conditions.

5. Tableware, Rentals & Loss/Breakage

Gourmet Guild curates bespoke artisanal ceramics, brassware, and fine crystal. While normal handling wear is anticipated, excessive breakage, intentional vandalism, or theft of luxury dinnerware by event attendees or third-party venue contractors will be invoiced to the client at cost value.

6. Cancellation & Rescheduling

Cancellation and refund terms are strictly regulated due to our dedicated procurement of rare, organic, and perishable ingredients. For detailed cancellation timelines and refund formulas, refer to our comprehensive Cancellation & Refund Policy.

7. Force Majeure & Limitation of Liability

Neither party shall be held liable for failure or delay in fulfilling obligations due to causes beyond reasonable control, including but not limited to acts of God, catastrophic weather events, civil unrest, government-mandated lockdowns, curfews, or sudden municipal restrictions. In such events, both parties agree to collaborate in good faith to reschedule the commission.

To the maximum extent permissible by law, Gourmet Guild's cumulative liability for any claim arising out of a commission shall be strictly capped at the total fee actually received by Gourmet Guild for that specific event.

8. Governing Law & Legal Jurisdiction

These Terms and Conditions, as well as any dispute, controversy, or claim arising under or in connection with them, shall be governed exclusively by the laws of India. The courts of Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India shall have exclusive jurisdiction over all proceedings.