Our deal: We are a couple that is renewing our vows next Feb. I desire a more formal feel. Our original wedding was very small with reception in the church hall. No dj, dancing, etc. It was simple. We've come back from a near divorce situation and this renewal service holds as much meaning as our original wedding. Of course, I have expensive taste (champagne taste on a beer budget!) and found I was getting carried away. So here I am trying to reign myself back in. I booked the Montpelier Center for Arts and it's on a Friday evening. I was hoping a Friday night will give us some pricing relief, but that Friday is our actual wedding date.
* Is it tacky for me to keep this affair adult only for my non-family guests or should I suck it up and pay for other guest's kids (to the tune to about 25 kids)? This is affecting my overall budget by quite a bit, but if it's a big no-no I'll have to try figure what I could let go. Any tips would be great!
* Caterers - Trying to work with a $3,500 budget for 100 people max. I've got quotes from Mosaic and A Sharper Palate and they are probably similarly priced with factoring just 1 action station and they are both at the high end of my budget if not over it. I talked to Edward's and they were willing to work with any budget. I just haven't gotten a formal, written proposal from Edward's. In that, I need a bartender - labor only, food table linens, china/flatware/glasses. I'm providing dessert (including plates/flatware) and booze. Any other vendors I should consider? Is my budget too low for what I want?
* Photography - I'm willing to consider students looking to build a portfolio, but I didn't know how to go about finding one. Suggestions needed for student finding or professional vendor! I just need ceremony and first part of reception. I guess 4 hours max? I don't have attendants for our ceremony, I'm willing to do cake cutting in the beginning and we are incorporating a few traditional dances since we didn't have this at our original wedding reception. This is the one area I felt I could cut back on in my budget. Any compelling reason I should spring for the top of the line professional? Any tips on negotiating without offending them?
TIA!