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Budget Frustrations

jmucheech21jmucheech21 member
100 Comments
in Florida-Central Florida
So today my fiance and I went to out first venue meeting.  It was great and we totally fell in love with the place!!  About an hour ago the coordinator sent us our price quote... and it was about $5000 over our budget.  =(  

I've been looking at so many places and find that everything just seems to be priced so high!!  I guess my budget is a little low.. but I just can't see putting off our wedding to try to save more money!!!  We were hoping for $15,000.. but then raised it to $20,000 because we realized we weren't going to be able to afford anywhere for that price!!  We figure this will set our ceremony rental/reception rental and catering budget at about $10,000.. which I guess is just not possible??? 

Ahhhhh, the budget part is SO NOT FUN.  =(

Thanks for letting me vent.  =)  
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Re: Budget Frustrations

  • mlharbismlharbis
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I think you can work it out.  I have a very small budget (MUCH less than what you have) and I was able to do everything I want and have excellent food and an open bar for 80 people.  I think it all is finding the right venue and meeting with a good caterer that is willing to be creative.  Heidi at Puf n Stuff has been fantastic to me and has created a menu that surpassed all my expectations for a price as low as John Michael but with much more and better food.  It is a major headache sorting through everything.  GOOD LUCK!  It will all work out!
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  • tickledpinkraintickledpinkrain
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    it's totally possibly...just keep looking!!!  I thought the budget part was going to kill me in the beginning.  We are on a budget of $2,000....for everything.  Finding a venue within our budget was the hardest, most stressful part...but we kept looking, we didn't settle, and finally, fate brought us the perfect one!  There's still hope, girl!  Good luck
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  • jmucheech21jmucheech21 member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Thanks for the positivity!!  I think my biggest budget woe is we had a guest list of 100.. until my mother heard we weren't inviting all of my extended family!!  Now my list is at 150 and its just getting so hard to have a nice wedding with that many people attending!!  You're right.. we'll make it work.  We gave ourselves almost 2 years to budget and save so we'll make it happen.. we've got plenty of time!!!
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  • mlharbismlharbis
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    ya additional guests add to the cost really quickly!!!!  We originally had a list of close to 200 but had to cut down the people to make the wedding as nice as we want it.
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  • Theresa626Theresa626 member
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    You could totally do it with 10,000. What places have you looked at so far?  Have you tried the Winter Park Farmer's Market, Leu Gardens, Lake Mary Events Center, Longwood Civic center, Highland Manor?


    With 150 guests, you'll need to do fifty dollars a plate plus tax and gratuity to meet your budget.  Dubsdread offers options for under fifty a plate.  There's also a nice historic hotel in Mount Dora that has good prices... I think it's the lakeside inn? 

    As far as alcohol goes, that's going to be the biggest budget concern for you.  I suggest offering one signature drink instead of a full open bar or perhaps doing only wine and beer to cut down on alcohol costs. 
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  • ashbosityashbosity member
    Fourth Anniversary 100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    My budget is looking like about $8,000 for 100 people. Its costing us about $1,500 to rent parts of the Lake Mary Events Center, but you can rent the whole thing for $2,800 or less. Casa Feliz, which many people love is also about $2,000. John Michael's Catering starts at $25 a plate and includes linen, plates and silverware. I wish I had your budget. I could throw an AMAZING party! But then again, I've always been a penny pincher. My FI and I are also putting away atleast $200 a month til the wedding, so if you can do something like that or cut out an extra expenditure and save that money for the wedding, it can make a big difference. Just hope that all those extended relatives can't make it!  ;) Good luck!
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  • brit21489brit21489
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I'm doing Lake Mary Events Center, too. I am using John Michaels for my catering. After some tweaking and only having one entree, my total per plate is now down to $19.50 before tax and service. I am expecting around 140 guests. $10,000 is probably the cost of my whole wedding. lol. You can definitely do it. Just keep searching and it will work out! GL!
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  • aonderaaondera
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I think it is totally possible too! I just had to go through a huge budget change/guest list change because of having to change venues.  We are now only doing a cap on the bar, and then it will become a cash bar.  That is one BIG way we are cutting back on cost.

    We did have to trim our guest list too, but it is for the better.  

    I'm not much help when it comes to caterers or anything in Orlando, because I live on the coast. I'm starting to get familiar with some of the popular ones on here though :-)

    Good luck, and these girls are great for anything you need help with!

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  • Pretty ParulaPretty Parula
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_florida-central-florida_budget-frustrations?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:66Discussion:e3290497-ceb4-446d-9d9e-862a17c6926dPost:17d4f997-2bc0-4216-a73c-ad1614474dce">Re: Budget Frustrations</a>:
    [QUOTE]My budget is looking like about $8,000 for 100 people. Its costing us about $1,500 to rent parts of the Lake Mary Events Center, but you can rent the whole thing for $2,800 or less. Casa Feliz, which many people love is also about $2,000. John Michael's Catering starts at $25 a plate and includes linen, plates and silverware. I wish I had your budget. I could throw an AMAZING party! But then again, I've always been a penny pincher. My FI and I are also putting away atleast $200 a month til the wedding, so if you can do something like that or cut out an extra expenditure and save that money for the wedding, it can make a big difference. Just hope that all those extended relatives can't make it!  ;) Good luck!
    Posted by ashbosity[/QUOTE]

    <div>
    </div><div>The rental for the space at Casa Feliz is $2k, and then you have the catering cost, but Casa Feliz only works with Arthur's (which does offer packages for around or less than $50/person, but nothing as low as what John Michael offers). </div><div>
    </div><div>You can do it, as pp have said. Don't fret too much, put away what you can each month into a separate wedding bank account, and you'll be there before you know it. GL!</div>
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  • swtblissswtbliss
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I know how you feel girl! My guest list is just about 200 but I am trying to trim it down to 150... 125 if possible but my family is HUGE! Originally budgeted $20K but after looking at the places I really like.. it's looking to be much more than that! We are having a LONG engagement to save up (putting away money every month) and I am going to try to do anything DIY I can. I have seen pretty decent menu pricing from a variety of caterers/reception venues but of course, all the venues I love start at $100++ per person and go up! UGHH!!!
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  • cjbwifey2010cjbwifey2010 member
    Fifth Anniversary 500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    IMO i think that even if there is a venue that you really like that is at a higher price, you can always get one that is not as expensive but still has some of the great qualities you are looking for and still pull off a great wedding! The wedding industry is here to make $ off of us brides and we have to make sure that we know when to put our foot down. Dont let them get into your heads and make you think that you "need" a whole bunch of things at a ridiculous price!

    Ashley is one of the BEST DIYers I have ever seen! I dont know her budget, but i know that she has done some MARVELOUS things on her own! Also...just stick to your budget. The day is about YOU and your soon to be HUSBAND, not about the rest of the fluff. Dont go into debt for a wedding...it's just 1 day :)

    There are a lot of ways for you to get around a lot of the cost. If you need some help...let us know!
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  • jmucheech21jmucheech21 member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Thanks for all the suggestions everyone.  I'm glad I'm not the only one out there feeling this way!!  I'm sure its doable and it just takes time.. I just haven't found anywhere yet!!!  But I wrote down all your suggestions and I am going to start calling to set up appointments at those too!

    I went on my second venue appointment today.. WHAT A DIFFERENCE!!  On Monday the girl took us around the property for 2 hours and then sat down and spent another hour going over quotes with us and answering questions.. she made us feel so important!  Our appointment today took 20 minutes, gave us the packet at the end, didn't give us time to look at it.. its crazy how different two places can be!!  Thank goodness we have at least 20 months until our wedding so I have lots of time to see lots of places!!!
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