Poll...

RitaLee · December 2009

I keep thinking about how much money everything costs! We are looking at atleast 300 guests so it's gonna cost us an arm and a leg anyway but what did or is everyone paying per person at your reception location?

I mean we saw places that ranged anywhere from $28-$112. What have you seen, or decided on?

ExpatPumpkin · December 2009

Prices really vary around the country. You'd might want to post this on the Boston board to figure out what brides are paying in your area...

Having said all that, the catering options we looked at (in Colorado) were over $112/person.

anna.oskar · December 2009

South Dakota - $9.50 each for prime rib dinner with mashed potato bar, soup shooters and macaroni stations.

YaPuppy · December 2009

Yeah this varies hardcore based on where you're at....here the cheapest we found was 125-150 for a Friday night and that was considered a steal.

For what its worth, we also would've been around God knows how many people between our large Italian extended families and fire/police dept families.

We turned to a destination wedding and didn't look back

Brie2010 · December 2009

In Chicago we're at about $85/pp including gratuity for a five course dinner, wedding cake, and open bar.

ggmae · December 2009

We were married in CT on Long Island Sound, so the proximity to the water and the views played a role in the price.

The venues that we looked at ranged from $75 - 100 per person. We ended up paying ~$92 total per person for a cocktail hour w/ passed appetizers and a pasta and carving station, a 4-course sit-down dinner, wedding cake, and 5 hour open bar.

anna.oskar · December 2009

So the moral of the story is: Have a destination wedding to South Dakota, it's cheap out here.

ggmae · December 2009

I think your best bet right now is SD.

RitaLee · December 2009

Whatever saves me some money, South Dakota sounds pretty good right now!!! $9.50/person is unbelievable...

crfische · December 2009

7.50 a person for a plated meal. Prime rib, chicken kiev (both on one plate), roasted garlic potatoes, asparagus, glazed carrots, and side salad.

ootmother2 · December 2009

Boston's a toughie. Where exactly? I know places near Mansfield/Foxboro area that would be more reasonable than Boston proper. Stay away from the Cape. No one warned me

tmm140 · December 2009

In Baltimore, we paid $70 a person. That included pass around apps., buffet style dinner, and an array of desserts. Also beer and wine, sodas, etc.. It did not include cake or other drinks

beatlesgirl25 · December 2009

We got married closer to the MetroWest area and paid $113/pp for a four course dinner (including cake and desserts), 1 hour open bar and floral centerpieces. But we also did not have even close to 300 guests.

mrs-smith2b · December 2009

We live in Indiana and for our AHR we're paying $14 pp for a served meal of two meats, two side dishes, bread, appetizers, side salad and tea,lemonade and coffee.

This doesn't include our alcohol though.

beatlesgirl25 · December 2009

Holy crap, mrs_smith, have you met Nebb? LOVE your sig pic.

mromag1 · December 2009

My parents found a restaurant in rural Mississippi for $13 per person.

The most expensive quote I got was $150 pp which is insane, but we are having ours for $75 pp.

TurtlesAllTheWayDown · December 2009

$103 pp, which includes 4 passed apps at cocktail hour, a 3 course dinner, and beer, wine and well drinks. It also includes tax and service. They threw in "room rental" and valet parking for free so I could meet my financial goal of just around $100/pp. This stuff, FYI, is about half my total budget. I'm on Los Angeles and I thought it was a steal for what I was getting. It's at a small country club.

pandasquishy · December 2009

Here in Buffalo we're paying $48 pp for two hand passed hors d'oeuvres, veggie/cheese/fruit platters, 5 hrs open bar, italian wedding soup, intermezzo, caesar salad, choice of filet mignon, grilled swordfish or chicken wellington, slice of wedding cake, and a coffee/hot chocolate bar after dinner.

RitaLee · December 2009

These answers are really great and helping me put my wedding budget in perspective. It's also nice to see what everyone is getting. (bang for their buck!)

Da0419 · December 2009

I'm also in Chicago, and we're paying $90pp (off season discount/new hotel discount) for 5 passed hors d'oeurves, open bar, 5 course meal, cake, and coffee & a hot chocolate bar after dinner.

ricksang · December 2009

$125 per person for a buffet style dinner in Jackson MS. and the caterer sucked.

mocha beans · December 2009

Ours would have been $8.50/person, plus the bar tab, if we had stayed in rural MN. We haven't really looked into what we want to do for a Hawaii DW yet.

thesuninherhead · December 2009

We paid $70 per person for food and had a $2000 bar tab (for 70 guests) that lasted the night. We had canapes, mains and dessert served.

Our food was amazingly well-priced for just how awesome it was, but that was a benefit to choosing one of our favourite restaurants (and one located in the country thus much more well-priced than the city) for the reception venue.

tlv204 · December 2009

St. Louis- Ours was $33 per person, no cocktail hour, but it included a pretty huge buffet, the cake, and a 4 hour open bar. I thought we got a really really good deal. I know there are cheaper places here, but not as nice and not with as good of food.

lyndausvi · December 2009

Mine over $150 a person. If you add in the rental stuff it came out to over $230 a person. Boo.

I'm really jealous of the $7.50 and $9.50 prices. In St Thomas just a turkey sandwich costs $7.50. That does not include chips or drinks.

cvl105 · December 2009

Ours was $127/pp....It included a ridiculous amount of food at cocktail hour, 5 hours premium open bar, sit down dinner with a choice of 4 different entrees (picked table side), our cake, a viennese spread (mini cakes, pastries, chocolate fountain, ice cream bar, etc).

Our wedding was in NJ, where it's definitely a bit more pricey and more over the top. Boston is about the same (in the city) I would imagine. I live just north of Boston and I know people pay just about that there. Check the Boston board, the girls are really nice and helpful there too.

LesPaul · December 2009

Total per guest was about $35, plus beverages (beer, wine & soda). Catering (buffet w/ heavy h'd) was $16 per. Headcount at ceremony and reception $8 per for each. Chairs were $3 per. This was at a B&B in Colorado Springs.

ThePinkSuperhero · December 2009

I am seriously moving my wedding to South Dakota

We're doing a cake & punch at my church, but then my Mom wants to take the family out after for dinner, so I'm looking at places for her. A nice Italian restaurant in the area is $45 a person, not including alcohol, tax or tip.

MeaghanandMichael · December 2009

Seriously Rita, come over to the Boston board. I know a bunch of girls there not spending more than 65-80 dollars pp.

We spent over 150 for sure with just food and booze, but if you include rentals (like Lynda mentioned) it could get pretty astronomical

and OOT, I am suuuure M's wedding was worth every penny!

tara_verville · December 2009

We live in North Carolina and it's costing us around $140/person, but this includes EVERYTHING for food and beverage. Cocktail hour, open bar with liquor for 4 hours, 3 course plated meal, wine service with meal, champagne toast, etc. It sounds like alot, but like I said it includes everything (even service charges and taxes), so it's actually very nice.

KatieEHeim · December 2009

On Long Island, AFTER tax and gratuity, we are paying $85 per person. This includes the ceremony, cocktail hour with more food than I could possibly list (passed, hot stations, cold stations, pasta stations, gourmet grille, carving stations, etc.), 4 course seated dinner, 4 hour reception, wedding cake, full open bar (top shelf liquor), bridal attendant, DOC, valet parking, coat check, etc...

We benefitted from the fact that I was set on a winter wedding - January is usually slow from what I hear.

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