Cake and Champagne reception?

Pumpkin_Princess

I think that I mentioned before that I'm helping my sister to plan (more like just planning) her February 2012 Vegas wedding with 20 guests. She told me what her budget was, and I've figured out most of the details so that we can stay within the budget. The problem is that she's not exactly a very money-wise individual, and I'm concerned that she won't be able to come up with the cash. She was planning on taking everyone to Cravings in the Mirage for dinner, but if the funds aren't available, I was thinking that we could cut it down to an in-suite cake and champagne reception with an optional (everyone pays their own way) dinner afterward. I know that no one on our side of the family would be offended, but I'm not sure about on the groom's side. I've seen people mention it on here before, but it's been a while since I was a regular on this board. What do you ladies think?

vegasgroom

I think if guests will be asked to pay, might be best to leave the optional part off the invites and just have them mention in-suite cake & champagne reception.  You can announce the dinner in person in a way that will make it clear it's not free.

junebug61103

I have to admit, I might be offended if I was spending the $$ on a trip to vegas and then asked to pay my for own meal. You could look into Masterpiece Cuisine for catering...you can get the havy apps for like $16/pp.

aerinpegadrak

I would also see about providing more than just cake and champagne.  Unfortunately, since a DW is requiring more of your guests, it increases your obligations as a host as well, and I think people would be kind of cheesed to have spent all that time and money to get there and not even get a single meal in return.  We hosted our RD out of the suite, it was catered by Fazoli's and cost about $4/person.

amityr1976

IMO a cake and champagne reception before an optional dinner seems a little out of order.  Could she maybe provide heavy apps and cake champagne in-suite.  That's what FI and I are doing to help save costs. 

kara811

Agree with all PPs. I would understand the cake and punch reception if this wasn't a DW. But the guests are already spending so much just to come to the wedding, you'll need to provide a bit more than that IMO. How about some heavy apps like someone has suggested? Or finding a restaurant or even a buffet that would be in budget. But your sister needs to thank her guests properly. 

Pumpkin_Princess

Thanks! I'll look into heavy apps. Like I said, as of right now the plan is to pay for everyone to go to a buffet, which fits into the budget. The problem is that I don't know if she'll be able to actually come up with the cash. I'm just considering back-up plans.

LilMissScareAll

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_nevada-las-vegas_cake-champagne-reception?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:91Discussion:6e0e9331-02f1-4c66-a13a-d5f6e606ea2ePost:c5ea01a5-ed35-499e-b0d9-622008269a4f">Re: Cake and Champagne reception?</a>:
[QUOTE]. The problem is that I don't know if she'll be able to actually come up with the cash. I'm just considering back-up plans.
Posted by Pumpkin_Princess[/QUOTE]

I would suggest to her to set up a seperate wedding account. figure out how much she needs and divide that into 12 months. Have the bank do an automatic transfer each month.

I've found for me the easiest way to save up for something is to seperate that money from my spending/bills/nessesities money. I'm a waitress at one of my jobs, so I make cash tips every night. I keep 2 shoe boxes in my closet. Box #1 is our vacation fund, Box #2 is wedding fund; I put a certain amount of my tips in each box every shift I work. It doesn't sound like a lot but it adds up quick.

vegasgroom

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_nevada-las-vegas_cake-champagne-reception?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:91Discussion:6e0e9331-02f1-4c66-a13a-d5f6e606ea2ePost:c5ea01a5-ed35-499e-b0d9-622008269a4f">Re: Cake and Champagne reception?</a>:
[QUOTE]Thanks! I'll look into heavy apps. Like I said, as of right now the plan is to pay for everyone to go to a buffet, which fits into the budget. The problem is that I don't know if she'll be able to actually come up with the cash. I'm just considering back-up plans.
Posted by Pumpkin_Princess[/QUOTE]

how about not having a destination wedding instead?  If she's that bad about saving and/or her financial situation would be stretching to make this happen, it seems like a bad idea.

ahhhitsshannyn

She definitely needs to do something more than cake & punch. Try and in-suite with heavy apps from masterpiece or even like Aerin said, Fazolis is super cheap and FIs brother did el pollo loco. There are options but she definitely cant make people travel all that way and fend for themselves after the wedding.

I also agree with the other post, she needs to learn to save her money somehow. I would be a little weary of planning a wedding for someone with no money, be it your sister or not, I would not want to be the person they turn to when they cannot pay.

aerinpegadrak

I'm sorry, but I think if your sister is old enough to be getting married, she's old enough to be able to sort this out for herself, including the part about being able to save enough money for her party.  You can't bail her out forever.  I understand wanting to help, but I honestly don't think you're doing any favors by trying to solve her problems for her.

snowmagnolia

i'm glad i saw this.

we had been planning a cake and champagne reception to follow our wedding at the Grove (wedding at 4:30pm, reception to be over at 6:30pm), and then to invite anyone who was interested to have dinner with us (no-host) around 8pm.

smokeybailey

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_nevada-las-vegas_cake-champagne-reception?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:91Discussion:6e0e9331-02f1-4c66-a13a-d5f6e606ea2ePost:26f783a2-af1e-485a-b89d-728c2777773b">Re: Cake and Champagne reception?</a>:
[QUOTE]i'm glad i saw this. we had been planning a cake and champagne reception to follow our wedding at the Grove (wedding at 4:30pm, reception to be over at 6:30pm), and then to invite anyone who was interested to have dinner with us (no-host) around 8pm.
Posted by snowmagnolia[/QUOTE]

A reception that runs 5-6:30 has some expectation of dinner since that is the dinner hour for some.  You should try to do more for your guests who are traveling to see you.  The girls on here have done wonders with small budgets going the in-suite route.  If you aren't going to do that, be honest on your invites and say, Cake and Champagne to follow.  Don't "trick" your guests into thinking that there is a full reception after with food and beverages.  Personally, I think that you need to do more for your traveling guests. 

ahhhitsshannyn

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_nevada-las-vegas_cake-champagne-reception?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:91Discussion:6e0e9331-02f1-4c66-a13a-d5f6e606ea2ePost:26f783a2-af1e-485a-b89d-728c2777773b">Re: Cake and Champagne reception?</a>:
[QUOTE]i'm glad i saw this. we had been planning a cake and champagne reception to follow our wedding at the Grove (wedding at 4:30pm, reception to be over at 6:30pm), and then to invite anyone who was interested to have dinner with us (no-host) around 8pm.
Posted by snowmagnolia[/QUOTE]

I am glad you saw this too, I know that planning a wedding can get really expensive really fast, but If you are not local, people are spending a lot of money to travel to see you get married. Cake and punch might be fine if it was home-town, but when they spend hundreds- probably more- to get there you need to be hospitable. Just try some of the suggestions that us girls mentioned, in suite or buffets (most are under $20pp if you don't need alcohol) are a great way to save money but still make your guests happy.

ahhhitsshannyn

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_nevada-las-vegas_cake-champagne-reception?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:91Discussion:6e0e9331-02f1-4c66-a13a-d5f6e606ea2ePost:2ea38470-8b55-4955-a6fa-1bbc4452d94e">Re: Cake and Champagne reception?</a>:
[QUOTE]I'm sorry, but I think if your sister is old enough to be getting married, she's old enough to be able to sort this out for herself, including the part about being able to save enough money for her party.  You can't bail her out forever.  I understand wanting to help, but I honestly don't think you're doing any favors by trying to solve her problems for her.
Posted by aerinpegadrak[/QUOTE]

Completely agreed, let her figure out how she is come up with the money and where she wants to spend it for her wedding. I have a feeling you are being "big sister" and helping, but it could easily turn sour when it comes to money.