Affordable and Unique Receptions in Boston?

Cupcakes4

Hi All.... I just got engaged this weekend and have decided to join the knot! I am already looking for recption sites as I want to make sure I have my date! I am looking for affordable, yet unique sites in Boston... I have NO idea what a usual wedding cost is... what is everyone else finding is the 'average' for their receptions? I guess I am looking for a ballpark range - so far most places are quoting me at about 19K for everything... food/room/linens/open bar etc. Is this reasonable?

JenniferLuvsCandy

Hi Cupcake!  Welcome!  It would depend on your guest list (number) and what is important to YOU!  I am having 100 people and including dress it will be approx $5000.  (not including rings)

jonchrissy

For just the reception, which will include an open bar, cake, 4 course meal, tax ,6 passed and 2 stationary apps it will be close to 25k

jonchrissy

That's for 130 people.

noodle_oo

Congrats and welcome!

The costs will vary greatly depending on a lot of factors.  The first things I did was 1) put together a rough guest list (to get an idea of our number of guests, you will need this to talk to the venues) and 2) figure out the budget.  Unless your budget is unlimited, you need to have an idea of what you can afford before you talk to venues.

I think the average cost in Boston is like $25K, but it totally depends on what you want to spend.  You can do $5K like Jennifer or the sky is the limit!  Most of the hotels I talked to were about $85 to $100 per person, but if you want downtown Boston, that can be more like $150 pp or if you want NH I saw places at $45 pp.  This is why you need to know how many guests and what you can afford to spend.

Good luck! 

Cupcakes4

I am having at MAX 120 - thats all that fit in the Chapel where we are getting married! I have priced out the Langham - Esplanade and The Charles Hotel - Regattabar, and they both come to about 19 - 20K....  I was wondering if this was about standard for the locations We wanted something modern and clean - which I think translates into pricey in the city!!!

Cupcakes4

Oh and we were thinking of ~20K for the reception... but if we can get it below that, all the better! I am also not limiting myself to Boston, just I cant seem to find anything around MA that says 'ME' thats any less than this - we are getting married in Andover, and that means the guests will have to drive to the city, but I cant seem to find anything closer that I like? Thanks so much ladies!

noodle_oo

That is a bit of a hike to drive from Andover to Boston.  If you end up doing that, I would just make sure that either have valet parking or really clear directions for where to park.  The worst thing is hunting and paying for parking in Boston!

There are a lot of hotels outside the city that will be cheaper.  I don't know many in that area, but I was thinking the Westin Waltham sounds like your style (more modern).  However, I know they are hard to get a hold of which can be frustrating.

The other place you mgiht check out that is cheaper is The Hyatt Regency Cambridge.  They have a *beautiful* ballroom with a full skyline view of Boston.  Amazing!  And I know they are much cheaper than downtown venues.

Karen's MOH

I did not price anything out in Boston, only on the cape, but for 140 people I was getting quotes between 18-25K for the whole reception-- food, drinks (open bar), tax, servers, linens, furniture.... NOT including flowers, DJ, etc. Obviously it varies a LOT.

I've heard good things about both Hyatt Regency's, downtown and Cambridge. I'm sure others can suggest more places.

kebmtm071605

Check out www.vinaliaboston.com; definitely modern and clean look to it.  I think their pricing is pretty reasonable too.

megandjay

I went to check out 15 places IN Boston (after doing research online), and the prices varied from $120-$400pp. Please note that most hotels do not include the gratuity/tax, this can add up to 25% to the "per person" cost!! Make sure to read the fine print.

Also think about the other costs- dresses/music/ceremony/transportation/florist/photog/BP gifts/invites/honeymoon/rings, etc. The cost of the reception should be less than half of your total budget...