Have you had a budget wedding in NYC area?

Re: Have you had a budget wedding in NYC area?

• NadiaT1980 member

  

  March 2011 edited December 2011

  Help! I can't go over $15k.... prob shouldn't go over $10k really.... for everything (minus the dress my mom is buying).
  
  What worked for you?
  
  I am willing to eliminate the flower budget, cut guest list (prob no less that 75) and go simple. How can I have a nice party, doesn't have to scream pink and white wedding and just do this right? I don't need limos or fancy honey moon suites. I just want to marry my love, in a pretty setting, with our family present. Prob will marry in church & just have a reception.
  
  Have you ever lied to venues about having a wedding party? I told a place I wanted to keep the reception to $10k or less... and she seemed to think that meant I was having a $40k wedding.... how does she figure the math? It just made me feel bad.

  Nadi

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• JadziaDax member

  

  March 2011 edited December 2011

  I agree with not lying to venues- that just doesn't sound right. And then what will happen once they find out the day of your wedding?
  
  I understand it can be hard living in NYC and sticking to a budget. Here's some tips:
  
  -Keep the guest list small
  -Consider having an afternoon reception, or choose a friday or sunday rather than saturday, you can even have a weekday wedding but be prepared that many people may not show up
  -Rather than host a full open bar, serve wine and beer (and maybe a signature drink)
  -Have a small bridal party
  -Hire budget vendors, such as photographers and videographers- I don't know if I would recommend Craigslist but I think photography is where a lot of people can end up spending a large sum of money
  
  I think the woman at the venue you spoke with figures $10,000 for the reception possibly before tax and tip, and costs for photo/video, dress, DJ, etc. It's ridiculous how much some vendors charge so I would def. do research to find good quality ones for a budget price. Look outside of Manhattan to the other boroughs which may be a lot cheaper- even long island and hudson valley.

  

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• Geri510

  

  March 2011 edited December 2011

  I was in a wedding party last Sept in NJ for 60 people that cost $8,000. It was in a restaurant on a Sat evening & it was very nice.

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• Goldlie11

  

  March 2011 edited December 2011

  I'm having a budget wedding in NYC.  Here are a few things I did to save money:

  -Fairly small guest list (around 80)

  -DIY invites

  -1 tier cake and sheet cake in the back

  -david's bridal dress

  -Beer and wine instead of full bar

  -skipping the limo

  -DIY makeup

  Definitely come over to the local board for suggestions.

  
  

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• mbcdefg member

  

  March 2011 edited December 2011

  If you have no more than 75 people at your wedding (correct?) and a $10K budget, that leaves you with maybe $5k for the reception (since the reception budget is usually about 50% of your whole budget). Which means that you can spend maybe $50-60 a head on food and drinks ... that's probably enough to take everyone out for a nice lunch or a simple dinner at a restaurant or a low-key hall, and maybe offer beer and wine. A wedding reception hall would probably in the neighborhood of $50-60pp for a brunch or lunch reception. Don't forget to factor in the tax and gratuity.
  
  Or make it really fun and low-key and offer pizza or barbecue, which are on the cheaper side for catering. There are ways to keep it classy and still laid-back. Maybe rent out a bowling alley or a cute cafe, or do an outdoor picnic with upscale sandwiches and then have croquet or horseshoes set up. Check out offbeatbride.com for ideas.
  
  That leaves you $5k to spend:
  
  * Hire a solo musician (pianist, strings player), either a pro or a talented student, to provide background music: $500, maybe? Cheapest DJs I've seen here are about $1k.
  
  * Or make a CD or an iPod playlist and ask the restaurant/hall to play it: $0
  
  * Don't have bridesmaids and groomsmen (no flowers or thank you gifts to buy, and no rehearsal which means no rehearsal dinner): $0
  
  * Have a supermarket make a nice bouquet and boutonniere for the two of you: $50-75
  
  * Your fiance can wear his own suit, and you can wear your own shoes and jewelry or borrow stuff from friends ... a veil is $25 or so on eBay and Etsy.com, or borrow it, or skip it: say maybe $100-150 if you need to buy accessories, more if your FI needs to buy or rent a suit/tux
  
  * There are good NJ photographers for maybe $2500, and maybe they'll charge less if you're having a simple wedding and don't need them there for more than 5-6 hours. A friend can videotape your ceremony for free.
  
  * Church fees depend on the parish ... anywhere from $300-1000+. If you are truly dealing with a tight budget sometimes they will work with you.
  

  

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• MCRM22011

  

  March 2011 edited December 2011

  I am having my wedding at restaurant with a private party room and I am getting all this for $31.25pp:

  - 4 appetizers (penne with vodka sauce, mozzarella w/ roasted peppers, calamari, and garlic shrimp)

  - soup

  - veggies, rice, potatoes

  - choice of 4 entrees -- one chicken, one pork, one seafood, and one paella

  -choice of three desserts

  -sangria, wine, soda, coffee, and tea

  
  

  I am inviting about 80 people. I bought 50 invitations, 50 response cards, 50 reception cards, 100 placecards, and 140 labels from VistaPrint for $100.49, which included shipping.

  123 Print is also another place for reasonably price invitations, or as previous posts said, you can DIY.

  Warning No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml

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• Bena29

  

  March 2011 edited December 2011

  I am Looking to have a budget wedding in NYC my FI put me on a $10,000 budget so I have to work with it and so far this board is giving me alot of ideas except for the DIY invites I am totally stuck on them and where to start if anyone did the DIY invites please give me a little incite on how????? Thanks

  

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