What's Cheaper

Kita507

Hi,

I was wondering if someone could help find out what's cheaper for a reception to have at a venue were the supply everything or a place were I would have to do everything and buy things myself. My budget for the whole wedding is 5,000 with 85 guest.


Thank anyone for helping me

kerrie2121

I guess it depends on the venue/city you are looking in. I decided to go with a place that did everything based on my lack of time not money. I did look at both kinds of places around the wayne county area and felt like the places that were not inclusive wanted to nickel and dime me for every little thing. I'm sure that everyone has a diffrent experience though. Good luck in your search.

michgirl8

Honestly, I'm not sure there is a clear answer to your question.  Because venues vary so widely in terms of costs and in terms of what is included, you're probably going to have to price out a few places and compare it to a few vender quotes for things.  It also depends on how formal of an event you envision and your location.  I got my venue, which includes pretty much everything but special decorations and wedding cake, for about $40pp (including tax and tip).  That's outrageous to my family, who come from a small town, and insanely cheap to a lot of people around the metro area.

There are some places that are just empty shells and you have to rent tables, chairs, linens, dishes, flatware, etc.  Maybe with 85 guests that is doable, but I thought the costs added up quickly when I looked into it myself.  There are also places in-between, where they supply tables, chairs, and linens, but you bring in your own caterers and bartenders. 

A little research and calling around in probably going to have to happen.  Feel free to PM me if you want any more specifics.  And good luck! 

Kita507

Thank you I will try call around

entropicbeauty

I may have saved myself $5,000-$7,000 by DIYing a lot of things, but it also took a LOT of time and effort and things didn't exactly go smoothly for me...so you have to decide if saving a certain amount of money is worth the time and hassle.

Honestly if I had to do it over again I would much prefer an all-inclusive sort of deal. The wedding would have been more cookie-cutter, but I would have been a lot less stressed out.

Sue-n-Kevin

I suppose your question is in response to the earlier post you had asking for input on places.

It depends on your personal circumstances and how you envision your wedding. I was 57 when I got married, and my husband and I both had kids, and each have a mortgage. I was in it to save money, and I'm crafty and did a TON of DIY stuff. I basically made everything except the tablecloths, linens, plates, utensils and glasses that we rented, and the food our caterer supplied. I planned this for 18 months, and spent money when I had it. I bought a sample dress for my reception, and made my ceremony dress (in the picture below in my signature).

I purchased the 20 piece white rose wedding package from Costco for our bouquets, bouts, corsages for $399. I made my floral centerpieces with bulk flowers from Costco that cost me $173, for 10 centerpieces.

If you are handy and can take the time to make all of these, including candles, table decor, decor for the chapel, centerpieces, menus, invitations, etc, and have time and energy, then you can save some money. But in the end, you still have to have the following:

- tables & chairs for guests
- some type of table covers & napkins
- plates, utensils, glassware which cost about $5 per person unless you are using plastic
- decor of some type, even just candles
- food, plus the things the caterer also has to supply, like chafing dishes, people to serve the food, clean it away, bartenders....each of these elements costs MONEY
- things for your guests to drink, whether it's alcohol, beer, wine and pop, or just pop, tea, coffee & water
- if you are doing a lot of DIY, you may feel better having a DOC (day of coordinator) to do the set up, keep things running, and help with clean up. Because, unless you get an "all inclusive" banquet hall, you or family members will be doing this, and it's not fair to ask them to do it........DOC's do this for a living, and it was some of the best money I spent

With the rental fee for our venue, the caterer costs including food & rental items, the cost of the DOC, WITHOUT alcohol, we spent about $75 per person for 73 people. Again, in the end, if I'd known then what I know now, I would have realized this was NOT the cheapest way to go. This also does not include the DJ, photographer, bartender or alcohol which we purchased and supplied.But, we had an 18 month period to set aside money, pay as we went, and have exactly what we wanted.  

If pushed, I'd probably say I'd have done an all inclusive but still would have done some DIY. I am not disappointed at all with the caterer we used (Holiday Market), or the way we went about securing all our other vendors. However, because I chose really top of the line food which was really important to me, in the end I probably did NOT save money doing it this way. They prepared what we wanted, the way we wanted it, and our guests raved about the food that night and still are.

Hope that gives everyone something to think about.

mommy2my3

I'm not exactly sure either of what you're asking. It really depends I suppose, it depends on what kind of reception you want, because an evening reception of dinner would cost so much more than an early afternoon reception of cake and snacks. If you wanted an early afternoon type of affair then I would imagine you could strech 5000 for 85 people with little problem, given you could find/use a venue in your price range. Best of luck to you!

goblue78

IMO, all inclusive. We are having a 150 person, backyard wedding. Everything tells me "THat's GREAT, you're saving so much money. " Um,,,,WRONG! More expensive, but it's the only way I wanted to do it...I just think the all-inclusive banquet hall is soooo boring!