$5-10,000 wedding for 120 guests remotely possible?

Re: $5-10,000 wedding for 120 guests remotely possible?

• kristinanddan member

  

  January 2011 edited December 2011

  Honestly, a Saturday in July is peak wedding season and the most expensive prices you will find. I can't think of any reception halls in the area that are less than 50pp, especially on a Saturday night in July. That doesn't mean one doesn't exist, but if you're set on a Saturday night in July you may need to think outside the box for reception venues and hire a caterer and have a reception at someone's home or something like that.
  
  

  

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• psichick

  

  January 2011 edited December 2011

  less than 50/pp including tax and gratuity being all inclusive? i highly doubt it. most places are at least double that. i'm surprised you were even able to find 65/pp. 

  
  

  you're going to have to look into alternative venues like barns or vineyards or something. maybe do it later in the evening, after 7 or something so that you can do like a tapias type of reception not a full meal. a dry reception, or beer and wine only to keep costs down. also think about things other than flowers as centerpieces to keep that expense down, maybe a ipod reception. it's doable but you are going to have to cut some corners. 

  
  

  
  

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• yoko2011 member

  

  January 2011 edited December 2011

  Make a list with your FI as to what the most important things are to you and prioritize so you can figure out where to cut corners. I.e. dj vs band - use an ipod, do you really need a videographer, limited booze, scaled back menu, DYI, etc. I'd be surprised if you can find cheaper than 65 since that is a great price. You may have to consider cutting your guest list. Do you really need to invite first cousins? kids? Just make the cuts consistent not to offend and plan for everyone you inivte to show.
  
  If you're open to a daytime wedding, the Poughkeepise Grand has a package around 40pp plus tax but that's for a Sunday or Sat. daytime wedding. I'm not sure if that is too far.
  
  And while MI or outside of Westchester may not be everyone's top destination, unless their paying - it's up to you and your FI to plan a wedding you can afford. I'm not implying you ask anyone for money either, just no one really knows how much it costs until you start planning. So whatever you decide, if you hear flack as you cut back on the local wedding or opt for destination, you can point out you're paying and doing what you can afford. Aside from this board, the budget board also has some great ideas.
  
  Good luck!
  
  

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• bridaljoy member

  

  January 2011 edited December 2011

  It will be very difficult.  Maybe look into restaurants that have a large party room.

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• TerriandJoe

  

  January 2011 edited December 2011

  Is the $5000 - $10,000 for the entire wedding? Or for just the reception?
  
  Like pp's have said, you are going to have a hard time.
  
  Look into the Pok Grand "economic stimulus package that pp mentioned. It's a great deal to get a "wedding" at a traditional venue for a very good price.
  
  Other days/ times / hours will help.
  
  Offbeat venues will help as well.
  
  But if you want the Saturday night in July, a restaurant might be able to give you a great rate . There are a bunch in the area that have party rooms attached.
  
  Is the 120 people the number you are inviting, or is that how many you expect? Because regardless, if you go to MI, you will probably have less then you are expecting in NY.
  
  If it's how many you are inviting, remember that usually some cannot attend. So that will save you some money.
  
  Good luck!

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• em0677 member

  

  January 2011 edited December 2011

  Thanks for the suggestions.  I'll definitely look into restaurants and see if anything pans out there.  I actually don't want a spring or summer but because I live in Japan, that's pretty much the only time off.  My ideal was always a fall wedding.  I used to joke that I wanted to get married on the island of 684 because it's so gorgeous on it in the fall! 
  
  The majority of the guest list is family that will come on my FH's side.  Apparently all of the weddings include all of the aunts, uncles, and cousins and almost everyone goes.  They have family reunions the years that don't have a wedding.  I'm only inviting 1 first cousin, because she and her husband are the only ones I talk to consistently.  Plus, we have more people that we want to invite, but might have to limit because of number.  We easily have 170 to invite, but will probably be making more cuts.   :-/
  
  One frustrating thing is that neither of us drink, and yet we have to provide alcohol, which seems to be the other big expense.  The $65 was for a Nov wedding, with beer and wine for the bar.  Changing the bar to that was a big help too. 
  
  The crazy thing is that my immediate family would be fine with a destination wedding somewhere else, even if it was in Japan!  My mom even suggested Hawaii.  Not sure how that works, since her complaint about MI is that my aunts and uncles wouldn't be able to come. 
  
  If anyone has suggestions for restaurants and such, I would appreciate it.  I haven't really live in NY since I left for college.  I was there briefly a few years ago while in grad school, but I was in NYC at school more than out in Westchester. 
  Thanks again!!
  

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• JSweetieXO

  

  January 2011 edited December 2011

  My wedding is at www.latriestina.net and they have pkgs under $50 pp. Check it out. Their tent definitely holds more than 120 pp so it should be perfect.

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• psichick

  

  January 2011 edited December 2011

  In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-york-hudson-valley_5-10000-wedding-120-guests-remotely-possible?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:113Discussion:3d697db9-a5ed-4e73-a496-d4830de0e46fPost:157ec876-cc3a-491e-901c-f368670a447b">Re: $5-10,000 wedding for 120 guests remotely possible?</a>:
  [QUOTE]Apparently all of the weddings include all of the aunts, uncles, and cousins and almost everyone goes.  They have family reunions the years that don't have a wedding.  I'm only inviting 1 first cousin, because she and her husband are the only ones I talk to consistently.  Plus, we have more people that we want to invite, but might have to limit because of number.  We easily have 170 to invite, but will probably be making more cuts.   :-/ 
  Posted by em0677[/QUOTE]
  
  <div>who is paying for this wedding? if it's you and your FI, then you most certainly do NOT have to invite his entire extended family. you are not paying for them to have a family reunion. if they all want to get together they can do it on their own dime. you two invite the people that are important to YOU. if your FI's family has a problem with that then they are welcome to pick up the tab. until then, they get no say in the guest list or anything else. so make a guest list based on whom you guys want there, not who his family is demanding goes. </div>

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• Kris0816

  

  January 2011 edited December 2011

  A Friday night will a more afforable deal! You may want to consider that.

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• anncall

  

  January 2011 edited December 2011

  i got married at the Mansion at Colonial Terrace and paid under $7,000 all inclusive for a great wedding.

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• em0677 member

  

  January 2011 edited December 2011

  Thanks so much for the suggestions and locations!  I'll look into some of those.  I was wondering about the restaurant option but haven't been having much luck finding restaurants that have big enough banquet rooms, or even listings.  I guess you have to have an idea of where to go. 
  
  I'm not sure if I should take this on as a challenge or just give up and elope, have a immediate family only affair (not at all what I want, definitely want my friends there), or go the destination wedding route.  *sigh*  At least I have time to figure things out still.  Unfortunately, it looks like we will just have to try to add to the budget to make it all work out. 
  
  Thanks again and if anyone else has other restaurant ideas, let me know! 
  

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• TerriandJoe

  

  January 2011 edited December 2011

  Again, is the $5000 - $10,000 for the entire wedding? Or for just the reception?
  
  Someone asked the other day about restaurants that can accomodate a large bridal shower. Some of these might work for you as well. I edited my response for you.
  
  
  These are restaurants that have private party rooms:
  
  Chalet on the Hudson* in Cold Spring
  
  Lakeview Terrace at Four Brothers Restaurant in Mahopac
  The Lantern in Mahopac
  
  Sciortino's restaurant in Brewster
  
  The Piatto Grill in Yorktown
  
  Bistro 19 (formerly The Pinnacle) in Somers
  
  At the Reefin Cortlandt
  Cortlandt Colonial*in Cortlandt
  
  The Cove(formerly Crystal Bay) in Peekskill
  
  Traveler's Rest*in Ossining
  
  (* restaurant with private party room that has special menu already set up for "weddings. Also means a pre-determined wedding price. But see if they will work with you to customize a package at a rate you can afford for your event).
  
  The other places above usually have packages for use of their rooms. Sometimes around $30pp! (Obviously that would be the bare-bones package, but still something too start with. And best for you that low rate often only has soda, with alcohol being an up-charge. So you can add beer or beer and wine at a reasonable rate if you want!)
  
  
  Additionally, they following catering halls have a pre-determined "non-wedding" packages for non-wedding events. (Showers, sweet 16's, etc). See if they will work with you to customize a menu.
  
  Putnam National Golf Club (the smaller room) in Mahopac
  
  Hollowbrook Golf Clubin Cortlandt
  
  Colonial Terrace(the small room)  in Cortlandt
  
  
  And finally, if you are open to a day wedding, the Poughkeepsie Grand is still offering their economic stimulus package. (or at through 2011). But ot's not available on a Saturday night.
  
  Good luck!
  
  Remember - it's your day! You only get one wedding day. You can have "parties" all your life, but the bride / groom/ vows / dress and reception that follows only happens once. The day is about you two. But the people you are surrounded by you will remember forever. Do NOT severely cut out your guest list, to afford a "top" spot. If you don't invite people that you really want there you will remember and may regret it. The people who want to be with you to share your day really don't care if you are serving corn chips or caviar, but want to be able to share it with you!
  
  The restaurants listed above all have private rooms that can accomodate the size wedding you are talking about. Good luck! Hope you find some thing you (and FI) like!

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• em0677 member

  

  January 2011 edited December 2011

  Thanks, TerriandJoe!!
  I will look into some of those suggestions.  I've been talking with Evan at Cortlandt Colonial and he has been helpful and lowered some of the pricing when I asked for just a beer/wine option.  Some places don't charge differently.  We are going to shoot for $12,000 total, if possible.  I played with the numbers in theweddingchannel.com's budget calculator, and we're taking out some things, like a DJ and opting for ipod/laptop for music.  Although, I do also have a friend who's likes to DJ, who I may ask for some help.  Although we're totally fine figuring out the playlists in advance and just asking a friend to occassionally make annoucements.  We're also skipping the limo because neither of us drink, we really don't need it.  So, all of those cuts can go towards the food and drink. 
  
  I think you're right about cutting the list too much.  It's important for my FI to have his extended family there, so we're not cutting there.  And, I definitely have some frineds that I wouldn't want to not be there.  So, we'll see what we can do. 
  
  Also, with a lot of the wedding packages, the cake is included.  I/We don't want a regular cake, as we don't eat flour anymore.  I want an ice cream cake.  Wedding cakes seem to also be a crazy additional expense, so a sheet cake of ice cream, is more my preference.  We both love ice cream, and that's how I found my engagement ring.  I went to get us ice cream for dessert and there was the box from the jeweller with all of the ice cream.   
  
  I did check out the Pok Grand Economic Stimulus package, and now my fiancee is open to a Saturday daytime wedding, so that's another option to look at.  I'm so glad to have this list of restaurants to check out as well.
  
  Thanks!!!
  

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