What are you paying for VENUE

jdandlr

Hello:
I am looking for a venue for 200 guests that will cover the following for between $10k-$14k: ceremony & reception, 3-4 passed hor d'oeurves, 1 cheese/crudite station, 3 course dinner w/choice of 2-3 meals, cake, champagne or wine toast, 1 hour open bar, nice linens (colored if possible), maybe some centerpieces, and all admin fees, taxes, etc.  I am looking to include some wish list items in that price range as well: raw bar or at least shrimp cocktails, late night snacks, etc.
I am having a hard time finding venues w/reasonable prices.  Have looked at Indian Pond CC and The Villa and the prices quoted seem very high.  I just want to make sure I am being charged a fair price and can get some items at a reasonable cost.  I have also told them that I am looking to get married on a Sunday and in April for off season discounts.  IPCC was willing to offer an off season package at $49.95 pp but menu is very limited (dinner choices were steak tips and chicken and the FI is not happy w/that at all).
I know this is long but I am so unsure as to what things should really cost!  Thanks!! 

Blueyed228

If you break that down, its $50-$70 per person and you want it to inclide a lot.  If you take out colored linens, centerpieces, and open bar, you *might* be able to find it. 

The only places I saw those prices that included all of that (or at least most of it) were in southern NH.

carolbridebabe

for 200 people that seems like asking a lot. we spent 25k for only 140 people

jdandlr

Thanks for the tips/advice/information.  I guess I may not have worded myself correctly.  I have been quoted different prices for packages that include some of the things I mentioned and some that basically just cover the food and service.  I am willing to pay up to $85 pp but I don't want that just for the food.  I would like for it to include some other items.  For $25k I would hope that this included a lot and not just the food.  I am also not interested at all in packages where they include DJ, photographer, limo, or invites as I am interested in obtaining those separately because the package price ends up being very high pp.
IPCC quoted me 2 different prices: 1 for the off season special (that you cannot pick your own food from as the menu is set) for around $12k and one for ordering a different menu (a la carte) w/the same amount of food, service, fees for $19k.  Huge difference.

michelle11988

Groveland Fairways sounds like it might be within your budget with the exception of open bar and centerpieces included.   Their rental fee is $1,500 in season and lower out of season and they have 3 caterers that have a range of prices.  I think with open bar for an hour and about 180 people I will be close to $12k but I didn't use the cheapest caterer nor his cheapest choices of food.

SG+CD

The lantana in randolph... you can get all of the items you mentioned.

Jen6862

Can you do two seperte budgets? One for reception/food/drinks and one for decorations? You might have to bring in your own linen/florist if you are looking for something special. And open bar is going to up your budget a lot, maybe just do beer and wine.

Your biggest cost saver is going to be cutting your list down if you can.

jerseychic24

check out bourdale function facility....they offer a bunch of the things you are talking about and you and your guest can stay over night and have breakfast the next day  capefunctions.com

kellyeliz

I looked into bourndale and for my list of 150 it was going to cost $30,000. I ended up choosing the Villa -their quote was middle of the road. Most of the cheaper places I found had an older decor that I just didn't like! Try scituate country club... I did notice when I was looking that a lot of country clubs offered seasonal deals.

17uv514

Hi! I am having a much smaller wedding (75 guests) so my venue wouldn't work for you, but when I was doing research, Monponsett Inn and Jones River Trading both have good opyions with a lot included for a lower price.  going off season and off day (Sunday) should help you a lot.  I went to a couple of venues, told them my budget ($10k max for the entire receotion) they told me what I could get for the money and I went with the best package (The Hampshire House).  Good luck!

rsmiles77

There are some options but you really have to look into it. One place we almost booked at that was super affordable (definitely within your budget range) that included linens, dinner, hors doevres, champagne toast, etc.  It was at the Stowe Country Club in Stowe, MA. It is beautiful there- an old victorian house with wraparound porch- on golf course but very nice. It is a little dated on the outside and one of the coordinatorswasn't the friendliest person to deal with, but overall it is a GREAT deal for your money. Good luck!

HockeyFan4

I got married at Stow Country Club in Stow, MA and it definitely comes close to what you are asking for.

fill out the form on their website and they will send you a package of information which includes prices, some of the different packages they offer, and meal selections (and a wealth of other info)..... They really do send the most information and it is easy to break down the costs. 

My guests absolutely loved the venue....yes it is a bit "dated" but i loved the outside (my guests loved the porch too!) and to be honest the inside sorta matched some of my colors (wine) so everything looked great

jdandlr

Thank you all for your responses-very helpful.  My FI and I have whittled our venues down to 3: The Villa, Indian Pond Country Club, and the Quincy Marriott.  The Marriott is actually on our "if we had extra $$" list because it's quite pricey but they include great things: chiavari chairs, linens in the colors you want, 1 hour open bar, 5 hor d'oeuvres, and 3 hotel rooms!  Not to mention it's a beautiful hotel inside and out!  I think we don't want to travel more than 45 minutes SOUTH from where we live (Dorchester) and the Villa and IPCC did offer fairly reasonable prices--things do add up.
What it come down to is the food, service, if I can get married indoors or outdoors w/o any issues w/space and if the place is pretty to look at.  I did receive great service at The Villa and the Marriott.  I didn't feel that we got the greatest service at IPCC--I felt rushed...
If anyone has any thoughts on the venues that I listed--please feel free to comment and share!   Thanks so much!!

kellyeliz

I looked into those three places as well! We live in Quincy and FI and I are both from the south shore. We are getting married at the church my FI grew up in and having our reception at the Villa - the church is only 5 mins away and we both fell in love with the Madera Ball room and the fireplaces! The only downfall with the Villa is that the nearest hotel is in Rockland and some things arent included in the price - they are very accomodating though and they actually wrote up 5 different proposals for me before i signed the contract. The Quincy Marriott obviously has rooms in the same place which is ideal but it didn't have the feel I was going for. Did you check the Tirrell Room in Quincy? I think they have deals for off season and Sunday!

Truthworld

Hello!  We are getting married at Indian Ponds in September and I'm SO happy with our decision!  I LOVE the foyer for the cocktail hour.  And Coleen and Laura are really good to work with.  We even got our photographer (Michael Sparks Keegan) from their list of preferred vendors and LOVE him!  I'm so excited for our wedding and can't wait!  Another reason we liked Indian Pond is it will be like a "mini vacation" for our guests.  We wanted to do the Cape, but didn't want our guests to have to pay for a 2 night minimum for the hotel.  If you're looking for something a little less expensive have you checked out Independence Harbor in Assonet?  Good luck!

MeaghanandMichael

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_massachusetts-boston_what-are-you-paying-for-venue?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:89Discussion:6557ea0d-f35f-42c2-b440-f07ddf25ca69Post:308a5793-1406-4bb5-af3a-f4491dec5cac">Re: What are you paying for VENUE</a>:
[QUOTE]If you break that down, its $50-$70 per person and you want it to inclide a lot.  If you take out colored linens, centerpieces, <strong>and open bar,</strong> you *might* be able to find it.  The only places I saw those prices that included all of that (or at least most of it) were in southern NH.
Posted by Blueyed228[/QUOTE]

NOOOOOOOOO! YOU CAN'T.

good.old.boston.board.days <3