Gannons brides

Re: Gannons brides

• kaesha

  

  July 2011 edited December 2011

  Have you taken a look at the knot's suggested breakdown of wedding funds? That was helpful in guiding us, even if we chose to prioritize some areas more than others.
  
  How many guests are you hoping to have? Does the 7k need include rings/dress/invites/etc?
  
  Honestly, because you're working with 7k for the wedding (Let's keep the travel/lodging money in a separate category), I think alloting almost ½ of your budget to photography is eating up too much. Could you reduce the number of hours with your photog? Or get a cheaper photographer? If you could cut that down to the 1500$ mark, that would free up some cash. If you're set on Gannon's, what about doing a breakfast/brunch reception instead of lunch or dinner? That way you wouldn't have to worry quite so much about the alcohol bill either.
  
  Ultimately, we all have budgets - there's nothing wrong with not being able to do everything you want! Figure out what's most important to you and go from there. Maybe you don't need to spend money on decor or invites... or maybe you postpone. There's nothing wrong with that either. We were engaged for 20 months because we knew we wouldn't be able to have the wedding we wanted the first summer we spent as an engaged couple, so we waited (and plotted and planned and saved and saved) for the next one.

  
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• FSForever member

  

  July 2011 edited December 2011

  I can try to remember what we are spending, as my budget is at home and I have to work tonight. We are having our reception at Gannon's, although I have the Lower Knoll verbally reserved if I change my mind on a beach ceremony or if another bride comes forward.  We are using the Lower Lawn for the reception $585, already paid for at this years rate, adding the Bose system $300, the lantern lights $300 (I had to pick between the twinkling or lanterns), we are having the two course dinner at $60 pp but I have budgeted a 15% increase for inflation, we are using our own WC who does her own photography.  The alcohol will be expensive but we are going to pick a few bottles of wine when the prior months list comes out and go with "well" for mixed drinks.  We figure it will give us a little control over the bar tab.
  I have a list of items that another bride who just married there emailed me. I could ask her if its ok to send to you. It was really helpful as her party was about the same size that we are having, 22-25. We are also using the white linen table cloths but bringing our own colored napkins, overlays and centerpieces.

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• joyw1088 member

  

  July 2011 edited December 2011

  7k doesn't need to include rings or invites. It does need to include dress, ceremony and reception for 30 people, my moms airfare, our wedding party (8 people) 2 night stay in a condo, grooms attire, welcome bags, cake, wedding favors, hair and makeup and I'm sure I'm leaving some stuff out.
  
   I wanted to spend around $1500 for photography, but almost every one I contacted charged about $1200 for only two hours.
  
  FSForever: I would love the list! It sounds like it would be very helpful. are you having the gannons staff put out your napkins, overlays and centerpieces? They said we can't do it ourselves. I am also looking for a place who sells napkins and overlays for cheap, but everywhere I have looked they have been pretty spendy. Are you making your own?
  
  Thanks for the advice ladies!!
  

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• Tanq&Tonic

  

  July 2011 edited December 2011

  I think you really have to decide which items you can give up or compromise on.  I think you've listed a lot of things that I would consider "luxuries" when considering a basic budget -- welcome bags, wedding party accommodations, high end photography, etc.  If all of these are truly non-negotiable, then of course postponing is a reasonable option.
  
  Consider looking for student photographers, or one from the mainland that will shoot all day in exchange for airfare & hotel -- you can fly someone from CA & put them up for 2 nights for about $700 after taxes.
  
  Alaska Airlines offers wedding group discounts.  I think it was 7% off any listed fare you found online.  We used this and also offered it to all of our guests.  If you are buying your flight, FI's, and Mom's, assuming $450 each with advance booking, that will save you $100 right there.
  
  Do welcome bags OR favors, not both.  There's absolutely no need.
  
  We bought our chair ties off eBay for far cheaper than it cost to rent, AND they had the exact color I wanted.  I didn't buy the linens because they were included in a different package we negotiated.
  
  Honestly, for every element you'd like to save, I'm sure someone on this board can help with ideas of how you can cut costs, DIY, etc.  ALL of us worked within some level of budget constraints.  You just have to prioritize and be willing to draw the line anywhere you can't fit it in the budget. 

  

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• joyw1088 member

  

  July 2011 edited December 2011

  You bring up a lot of good points. Do you know a good place to look for student photographers?

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• Tanq&Tonic

  

  July 2011 edited December 2011

  We actually posted on Craigslist for our AHR.  Wanted: 6 hours of photography for a dinner banquet for $1000.  We had over 30 responses, and 3 of them were actually $3000+ photographers who were looking to make some extra money on a slow weekend.  You might get lucky and find someone who really wants a trip to HI!

  

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• FSForever member

  

  July 2011 edited December 2011

  @Joy, Sorry just had a break from work and realized I never answered you.  Anyway my colors are hot pink and tangerine/orange and we have been hunting deals in those colors from the start.  Last week we actually bought a pair of Organza drapes from Ikea in Hot Pink and they will be just long enough to remove the tabs and sew together for the center runner on the table.  I heard from another bride that the long table is 16 feet long. We are buying orange dinner napkins at World Market, 6 for 9.99 but I am waiting for the $10 off coupon they have every 6 to 8 weeks.  We have also been making our candle holder centerpieces with silk ribbon and shells with the vases from the dollar store.  Susan, at Gannon's, said there is no fee if I want to have someone from our party come an hour or two ahead of time and set up the table with the wait staff.  We will use their white table cothes and add our decor. I have heard if you have them set up it can run over $300 just for the set up.  I know by the time I am finished with the DIY decor we won't have spent more than $175. 

  I think in your post you also mentioned your welcome bags.  If you can look for them now.  Everyone has beach stuff on clearance.  We got collapsible picnic beach totes clearanced and then with a coupon it made them $7.50 each.  I just saw the exact same ones for $60.  I have to say my Mother and FI are getting a little worried on our shipping of items but I have a post out there on that topic. Oh and for the grooms attire. Right now there are a lot of deals out there for dressy beach wear.  We found some silk Hawaiian shirts for the guys last weekend at JC Penny's.  They were $16 down from $45. 

  You can do a DW on a budget but just pick what you want and start looking for the best deals. 

  @Tanq, I like your idea of going to CL for the AHR.  May need to try that. 

   

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• britters32 member

  

  July 2011 edited December 2011

  Our budget is around 20k for everything. We are getting married at Gannons in Feb of 2012. I found an awesome photographer for 4 hours for 2k. She is amazing as well. I like unique and artistic photography and the price for what you get is unmatched. Check her out...Erica Chan Photography. Also, if you need a cheaper option, Gannons offers a cheap photography package in addition to the pagckage you get through them for the ceremony. Provide your own flowers or centerpieces. My mom wanted us to go the Costco and get some cheap vases when we arrive and then go to the local grocery store day of the wedding and create our own floral centerpieces. I'm not opting for this since I think we can afford a florist but it's an idea to think about. There are tons of DIY wedding websites to create your own favors, centerpieces, decorations, invitations etc. I'm going to make a bunch of paper flowers to put on the back of the chairs. Good luck and hopefully you can make it all work.

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