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What's your sticker shock?

Sue-n-KevinSue-n-Kevin member
First Anniversary 5 Love Its First Answer First Comment
in Second Weddings
This was on my wedding month board and thought I'd bring it here. We had the "fluff" post a long time ago, so in all your wedding planning, what has been the ONE thing that gave you sticker shock at the price?

Mine was rentals. Because we have a non-traditional venue that only provides tables & chairs, the following just blew me away:

Napkin $1 ?
Fork, knife, spoon 75 cents each?
Water goblet $1 ?

Oh really, you pay for it when you rent it, but can't take it home? I'm renting the above, because I have this thing, like my caterer called it, "if it touches the lips, it should be real". So yes, I bit the bullet on the above, but purchased (IMO) nice hard plastic plates and nice(r) plastic glasses for the remainder of the food service and bar service. Will they be thrown out? Yes. Do I have to pay the caterer for the rental price, PLUS an extra person to WASH ALL THAT OFF before it's picked up by the rental company, at $20 per hour? NO! That was honestly the deciding factor......... labor vs cost of item.

So, what's your "sticker shock" item?
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Re: What's your sticker shock?

  • thealphabridethealphabride
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    15 bucks for the pen that went with my guest book, which I got on sale at Michaels for 15 bucks. And here they are sitting on my desk, never to be used again????

    All the little one off items, like flower girl basket, ring pillow, is so high priced. I was able to purchase my garter for 2.50 at Michaels. I didn't use a flower girl or ring bearer, but as I looked at the prices for that stuff it blew me away. We also didn't do a garter toss, but I still wanted to wear one!!

    Really, anything that has the word "wedding" associated with it was marked up several hundred per cent.
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  • right1thistimeright1thistime member
    First Anniversary 5 Love Its Name Dropper First Comment
    edited December 2011
    My cake was my sticker shock.  Basically we got sucked in by the bakery tasting.  Y'know, basic cake with basic frosting costs X.  Here try this, and this, and this, and now this with this and that with that.  Ok, what do you want?  We want X except with Y filling, and Z frosting and Q layers.  Ok, ka-ching, ka-ching, ka-ching, that wll be more money than is humanly decent to pay for a dessert.  It was delicious, but definitely not worth it.  ~Donna
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  • nmauser82nmauser82 member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    The photographer. I knew that it was going to be expensive because let's face it, I've done this before. But it really hurts my head to spend that kind of money on something that is going to sit in a box 364 days out of the year.



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  • fireytigerfireytiger member
    First Anniversary First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Photography was my big sticker shock, which is why I decided not to go with a professional. I didn't have the big wedding with my first marriage, so I was totally in the dark about stuff like that. I couldn't believe that the CHEAPEST package was like $1000 around here! And I didn't even get much photography time from that money! I decided to just have a good friend from work do the photography, she's willing to do it for $50 and she's just as good as any professional i've ever seen. :)
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  • NZbride2011NZbride2011
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    My first wedding was in 2003, so I didn't have too many sticker shocks.  The photographer was expensive, but I was expecting that.  We are having a destination wedding and multiple events.  I think the cost of the other 2 dinners gave me a little bit of a shock, but it's so worth it for our family and friends who are traveling over 10,000 miles to share our day with us.  Oh, and I think I'm missing an arm and a leg thanks to my linen rentals. Ugh!!!!!
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  • 2dBride2dBride member
    5 Love Its First Anniversary Combo Breaker First Comment
    edited December 2011
    You could definitely buy napkins, forks, knives, and spoons for less than that:
    And of course, if you buy them, you could resell them after the wedding.
    Anniversary
    Our wedding bio page (including vendor reviews) and items for sale
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  • belletopbelletop
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Chair covers - $4.50 per chair for a cover & sash.  So, $675 to put on & remove chair covers onto 150 chairs and (supposedly) wash them afterward.  I would never pay it but FI's mom says we HAVE to have them so she is paying. 
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  • Lisa50Lisa50 member
    5 Love Its Combo Breaker First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Videography was our sticker shock.  So shocking, in fact, that we have opted to do without.  *sigh*
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  • MikesAngieMikesAngie member
    Name Dropper 5 Love Its Combo Breaker First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Currently it's the Rehearsal Dinner!  Yes, I know we could forgo the dinner but we definitely need the rehearsal - so we should feed the people we're putting through the rehearsal and include those we are recruiting to assist with set up. 

    If we were having a traditional aisle and processional then we could easily forgo the rehearsal and do a pizza party some where for the early arrivers.  But that is not what we are going to do...so rehearsal it is and dinner too.
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  • Marrin713Marrin713 member
    5 Love Its Combo Breaker First Comment First Anniversary
    edited December 2011
    Flowers - made me glad I am allergic to nearly all of them!
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  • shytownkellyshytownkelly
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    So far the prices for stuff have been about what I expected.  However I was starting to research vendors for invitations - and that had me curled up in a ball under the desk!

    I guess I will continue to look for a reasonable priced vendor or figure out how to do them myself (but I really don't want to be a DIY bride!)...

    Anyone have a vendor they'd recommend? 
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  • Lisa50Lisa50 member
    5 Love Its Combo Breaker First Comment
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_second-weddings_whats-sticker-shock?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:35Discussion:da2236b7-59db-48ec-b003-f2194dcd60e2Post:366288ea-1a5f-4824-9a3f-3129fc806fa3">Re: What's your sticker shock?</a>:
    [QUOTE]So far the prices for stuff have been about what I expected.  However I was starting to research vendors for invitations - and that had me curled up in a ball under the desk! I guess I will continue to look for a reasonable priced vendor or figure out how to do them myself (but I really don't want to be a DIY bride!)... Anyone have a vendor they'd recommend? 
    Posted by shytownkelly[/QUOTE]

    What's your budget?
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  • ichellemay1ichellemay1
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Just the photographer.  It's really not that high for just her and the package, but the price for getting the disc with all the photos is a lot to us.  It's $500.  According to a couple of experts - that's not an unreasonable price, but still a lot to take in.
    Anniversary
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  • shytownkellyshytownkelly
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_second-weddings_whats-sticker-shock?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:35Discussion:da2236b7-59db-48ec-b003-f2194dcd60e2Post:3a2ca5a9-92b7-4882-a669-8d91c2fd6c17">Re: What's your sticker shock?</a>:
    [QUOTE]In Response to Re: What's your sticker shock? : What's your budget?
    Posted by Lisa50[/QUOTE]


    Cheap!  <img src="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-laughing.gif" border="0" alt="Laughing" title="Laughing" />

    Seriously I'd like to stay under $300 if possible.  We only need like 75 total - so I'm hoping that is doable?
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  • Lisa50Lisa50 member
    5 Love Its Combo Breaker First Comment
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_second-weddings_whats-sticker-shock?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:35Discussion:da2236b7-59db-48ec-b003-f2194dcd60e2Post:3f404afd-68f9-4da3-b4a9-a94cbeb143d1">Re: What's your sticker shock?</a>:
    [QUOTE]In Response to Re: What's your sticker shock? : Cheap!  Seriously I'd like to stay under $300 if possible.  We only need like 75 total - so I'm hoping that is doable?
    Posted by shytownkelly[/QUOTE]

    Crap!  That <u>is</u> tight.  OK!  Let's give this a shot:  (1) First option -- perhaps go to one of the schools (universities) there, give a call to the fine arts department to see if they have any aspiring photographers yearning to build a portfolio in wedding photography.  (2) Of course, there is always craigslist.  (3) Wait!  Do you know anyone in high school sports?  Sometimes, either a team or athletic department has a photographer on retainer and/ or there are talented parents who are great amateurs.  (4) Is there an art district or artists' enclave around?  If so, there may be budding photographers there, again, yearning to build a portfolio.  (5) Has anyone on the Chicago board had any good ideas??

    That's all I've got for now ... HTH!
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  • UTTER5864UTTER5864
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    I failed to take into account the price of postage for the invites and the RSVP cards.  So postage ended up costing almost half as much as what I paid for the invites.  Ouch!
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  • Marrin713Marrin713 member
    5 Love Its Combo Breaker First Comment First Anniversary
    edited December 2011
    Kelly - DIYing the invites might be more DIY than you want to do.  Ours were simple, without all the extra inserts, ribbons and whatnot, so they were fairly easy.  Have you checked Hallmark stores?  They have an invitation department.  Are Michael's and Hobby Lobby strictly DIY?
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  • shytownkellyshytownkelly
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_second-weddings_whats-sticker-shock?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:35Discussion:da2236b7-59db-48ec-b003-f2194dcd60e2Post:b446403e-2f08-4c9f-b6b0-bbafad4cb6f7">Re: What's your sticker shock?</a>:
    [QUOTE]In Response to Re: What's your sticker shock? : Crap!  That is tight.  OK!  Let's give this a shot:  (1) First option -- perhaps go to one of the schools (universities) there, give a call to the fine arts department to see if they have any aspiring photographers yearning to build a portfolio in wedding photography.  (2) Of course, there is always craigslist.  (3) Wait!  Do you know anyone in high school sports?  Sometimes, either a team or athletic department has a photographer on retainer and/ or there are talented parents who are great amateurs.  (4) Is there an art district or artists' enclave around?  If so, there may be budding photographers there, again, yearning to build a portfolio.  (5) Has anyone on the Chicago board had any good ideas?? That's all I've got for now ... HTH!
    Posted by Lisa50[/QUOTE]

    Just to clarify - I am paying WAY more for a photographer.  It is invites that I'm trying to keep to the cheap side! 

    Actually photographer is one of my splurges - my first wedding my exsil did our photos as a "gift".  How sweet right?  well sadly she didn't use lighting for our shadowy gazebo (very sunny outside dark in the gazebo).  And all of the photos ended up looking like snapshots.  Nothing frame worthy.

    So this time I'm going with a pro - and because we'll be on a beach - I'm even thinking about doing a "Trash the Dress" session the next day.  :)

    Now Invitiations - they are paper that people just throw away - so I'm looking to keep them pretty simple - single card invite, rsvp card and envelope deal.  I've been looking at Etsy as well as the regular google search answers.

    I will go check out Michaels and Hallmark too.  thanks for the help!
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  • Lisa50Lisa50 member
    5 Love Its Combo Breaker First Comment
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_second-weddings_whats-sticker-shock?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:35Discussion:da2236b7-59db-48ec-b003-f2194dcd60e2Post:667f0faa-be9f-42ef-baba-4d85a8387871">Re: What's your sticker shock?</a>:
    [QUOTE]In Response to Re: What's your sticker shock? : Just to clarify - I am paying WAY more for a photographer.  <strong>It is invites that I'm trying to keep to the cheap side!</strong>  Posted by shytownkelly[/QUOTE]

    Oh ... duh! <img src="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-embarassed.gif" border="0" alt="Embarassed" title="Embarassed" />  Then, yeah ... Etsy seems the way to go!  Good luck.
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  • milesbellamilesbella member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    I received our floral quote today and about crapped my pants.  I want garden roses for my bouquet, plus I'll need 5 bridesmaid bouquets, loose flowers for vintage bottles for the reception, along with a few vases filled with flowers.  The florist also talked to us about an arbor (wedding is outdoors) and we loved the idea, IF it was within our budget.

    So the quote came to $3,200 (our max budget is $1,000...we're in Iowa so that is totally doable).  In going through the quote, she was using the expensive garden roses for every bouquet, plus the flowers in the bottles (I was wanting dahlias) and having garden roses woven throughout the arbor - YOUCH!

    I emailed her back with our max and all the corrections of what I was expecting - hopefully we'll get down to a realistic number.
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  • AbbeyS2011AbbeyS2011 member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    shytownkelly:  have you looked at invitationsbydawn.com?  They have seal n sends that have the RSVP card attached, that are $112.00 - $114.00 per 100 and you dont need envelopes. 

    That is what I am ordering.  The RSVP is perforated - they tear it off and drop it in the mail and they are really nice.  The only reason I am ordering 100 instead of 75 is because there is a $2 price difference and what the heck - I might need them after all LOL. 

    So far, I have not had much sticker shock.  I am having a hard time deciding on the cake topper and the ring bearer's pillow.  The FG will be carrying a small bouquet since we have to clean the church after and I refuse to ask someone to try to pick up all thos little petals off the floor. 
    Anniversary
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  • hccpsuhccpsu member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Kelly, I got my invitations at Ann's Bridal Bargains (online), and paid $177 for everything for 125 invitations, and that included an extra $25-35 to have our address printed on the outside labels.

    There are a lot of online vendors that are really inexpensive--do a search on discount or budget wedding invitations.
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  • handfast4mehandfast4me member
    5 Love Its First Anniversary First Comment
    edited December 2011
    As far as the invitations--For my daughter's reception, we bought blank invitations on sale at Office Depot--100 for about $50.  The were white with sort of a toille pattern in black around the edges--very pretty, and kept within her theme of black and white.

    We printed them at her FI's (now her DH) mom's work--it took a couple of tries to make it look nice, but it wasn't that big of a project.  Then she addressed them, we stamped them, and about 80 invitations were sent out for about $100 a piece. 

    We were lucky because my husband is a professional graphic designer, so we used his pro software (not photoshop kids) and it took him about 10 minutes to set it all up for us. 

    I find it amazing, though, how many people ask him to do things for free--so keep in mind that these folks have to earn a living, too!
    image Don't mess with the old dogs; age and treachery will always overcome youth and skill! BS and brilliance only come with age and experience.
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  • BLESSEDUNION9BLESSEDUNION9 member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    I WOULD SUGGEST FIRST OF ALL LOOKING FOR A RECEPTION HALL THAT WILL ACCOMODATE YOU ON - SAY- THURSDAY OR SUNDAY. WE HAVE CHOSEN A THURSDAY AND THE PRICE WAS CUT IN JUST ABOUT HALF. NO, WE HAVE NOT SACRIFICED ANYTHING. EVERYTHING THAT IS AFFORDED ON A FULL PRICE SCALE IS AVAILABLE ON THE HALF PRICE SCALE.
    I WILL ALSO SUGGEST THAT YOU FIND OUT IF THE RECEPTION HALL HAS 'IN HOUSE' VENDORS. BECAUSE THE HALL I HAVE CHOSEN HAS 'IN HOUSE' VENDORS I DO NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR A PLATE FOR THEM AND THEY ALL GAVE ME DISCOUNTS FOR CHOOSING THEM. LET ME TELL YOU I AM PUTTING MY BOOTY IN A PHANTHOM AND MY BRIDAL PARTY IS AN INFINITY SUV AND WE ARE PAYING LESS THAN $2000.
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