Price of reception site

Re: Price of reception site

• kasabby

  

  July 2010 edited December 2011

  Do you know what month of the year, or date (Fri, Sat, Sun) you are looking to have the wedding? That is really going to make a difference on what the price is. The other stuff that you mentioned above including the price range seems pretty standard for a NJ wedding.

  
  Good luck planning!

  

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• smw42 member

  

  July 2010 edited December 2011

  What are the places you're looking to check out? Often times the bridal magazine pricing is inaccurate/outdated or very general. You'll find out a lot more and it'll be easier to narrow down once you go to the venues.

  

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• StefaniBel member

  

  July 2010 edited December 2011

  The wedding is going to be on May of 2011.  The reason why we picked May of 2011 is because it is when I am going to graduate from college.
  I am from another country and my boyfriend was borne and raised in NJ.
  Originally we wanted to have two weddings. One here and one in my country.
  But them I started thinking about it and I had the idea of getting married around the same time I am graduating.  This way my family could come to United States, spend maybe 10 days here, and see my graduation and my wedding.
  It wouldn''t be necessary two weddings anymore.  And instead of having two small weddings, we can have only one and nicer.  The two families would be able to meet each other.  And finally my family will be able to visit my house here in the US.  I think it will be great!!
  My boyfriend wanted a wedding on a Saturday night.  But after looking at prices we are really starting to think about a Sunday afternoon wedding because of the lower prices.  The price range I mentioned before are for Sunday weddings.  And the prices are accurate because I got it from the vendors after sending them a e-mail.  I might be able to negotiate a little when I visit them, which is going to be this week and next week.  We are going to visit 7 different places.
  So is 100 dollars per person too much for a Sunday wedding?
  Thank so much for the people who already answer my first posting!
  

  

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• Julephenia member

  

  July 2010 edited December 2011

  The PPs have good questions. Also, you can frequently get the ceremony thrown in for free with negotiation. My venue says they will charge $5 pp for the ceremony, but since we took May 1 (a Sunday) afternoon, they knocked out the fee.

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• smw42 member

  

  July 2010 edited December 2011

  No one can tell you if it's too much. It depends on what you're getting for that money and the venue. It's like asking if 40,000 is too much for a car- it is if you're buying a focus but it isnt if you're buying a BMW.
  
  It's really up to you and your FI and your budget. All we can tell you is what an average price or what we've paid for a particular venue is, but $100/person is a pretty middle of the road price for girls on here- maybe a little high for a Sunday in May.
  

  

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• StefaniBel member

  

  July 2010 edited December 2011

  Good answer!
  So I guess the prices I saw are right to the region.  Nice!
  Now it is just see where we like best.
  We wanted to spend 10 thousand dollars originally.  After some research I saw it we have to spend a little more than that to have what we want.  So we now are thinking about spending between 10 and 15 thousand dollars in the wedding. Sunday wedding with about 70 people.
  Do you think it is enouth for our region?
  
  
  

  

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• felicia220 member

  

  July 2010 edited December 2011

  In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-jersey_price-of-reception?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:90Discussion:d98cd03b-744c-4018-bef9-7b1083162a58Post:c9306b09-f875-49ce-a9f2-ac757325c0a7">Re: Price of reception site</a>:
  [QUOTE]No one can tell you if it's too much. It depends on what you're getting for that money and the venue. It's like asking if 40,000 is too much for a car- it is if you're buying a focus but it isnt if you're buying a BMW.<div>
  </div><div> It's really up to you and your FI and your budget. All we can tell you is what an average price or what we've paid for a particular venue is, but $100/person is a pretty middle of the road price for girls on here- maybe a little high for a Sunday in May.
  Posted by smw42[/QUOTE]
  
  </div><div>Great point about something being too much or too little. But I was actually thinking that it was kinda of a normal price for May, I just feel like May is a popular wedding month so it will be a little higher than usually.  </div>

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• StefaniBel member

  

  July 2010 edited December 2011

  And I don't even know how to use the one I made : P

  

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• diamondx423

  

  July 2010 edited December 2011

  I think you're going to have to look for a venue that would accommodate only 70 people, as the lowest minimum I've seen is 100 people. Maybe others will have suggestions for places with 70 guests.
  
  With your estimates on price you might be OK, since you're planning the wedding at the venue you can cut out a limo. You'd need to do minimal flowers (DIY centerpieces or find a venue that has silk you can use) and also a less expensive photographer.

  
  
  

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• ffbride_0813

  

  July 2010 edited December 2011

  In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-jersey_price-of-reception?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:90Discussion:d98cd03b-744c-4018-bef9-7b1083162a58Post:76622965-2ab5-4f23-9993-5ca66c38d386">Re: Price of reception site</a>:
  [QUOTE]Good answer! So I guess the prices I saw are right to the region.  Nice! Now it is just see where we like best. We wanted to spend 10 thousand dollars originally.  After some research I saw it we have to spend a little more than that to have what we want.  So we now are thinking about spending between 10 and 15 thousand dollars in the wedding. Sunday wedding with about 70 people. Do you think it is enouth for our region?
  Posted by StefaniBel[/QUOTE]
  I think the grand total depends on how you allocate your money.  You should write up a quick budget to figure it out.  Based on your numbers 70 people at $65 plus 20% gratuity and tax comes to about $6000.  Usually this number is about half the total cost of a wedding.  With a cost of about 10K total I think you may need to get creative in some areas.  For example photogs go for $2K on the less expensive side, DJs are $1k, dress 1K.  These can all add up quickly.  I am not saying its impossible but you def have to look at low cost vendors and you have to prioritize what is important to you and maybe cut the rest. 

  

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• StefaniBel member

  

  July 2010 edited December 2011

  The photographer is going to be a friend.  He is a professional photographer and also works as an assistant of a internationally know photographer.  All we will need from him is to take the pictures.  After he takes the pictures we can print them at home because my fiance takes pictures as a hobby and he has a giant printer just to printer pictures.
  The flowers I am not sure yet what I will do.  But I found a website for people who want to do the arrangement of flowers themselves.  Also two friends of mine already offered themselves to spend the day before the wedding making the flower arrangements.
  I really don't care about a limo.  My mother is the one who thinks it is essential...lol.  But she works in a cab/limo company and she can get one with a excellent discount.  She said she will give as a gift to me. 
  So if I don't have the minimum of 100 guests some places might not accept to catheter my wedding?
  

  

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• smw42 member

  

  July 2010 edited December 2011

  They'll cater your wedding, but you'll end up paying for an extra 30 people that aren't coming. Also, keep in mind that there's usually a 20% drop off from your invite list that RSVP's No.

  

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• Reilly626 member

  

  July 2010 edited December 2011

  Try Ravellos- their ceremony/site fee was free!
  http://www.ravellobanquets.com/welcome.html

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• Lolyalyssa member

  

  July 2010 edited December 2011

  Try the Stony Hill Inn in Hackensack.  They will do a lower minimum number of people on a Sunday night and they are in your price range.
  
  Also, the Royal Manor is Garfield was recently renovated and is a great price for a budget wedding.  They are very popular with Polish brides in the area.  I don't know where you are from but I thought I would through that out.

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• StefaniBel member

  

  July 2010 edited December 2011

  Thank you for the suggestion.  The Royal Manor was one of the places that I sent a e-mail asking for information.  They never replied. 
  I went to the website again and it looks really worth to try to contact a second time.  This time I will make a phone call.
  
  

  

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• stbryan member

  

  July 2010 edited December 2011

  Just a suggestion - make sure you also ask if there is tax and service charge and a matre'd fee on top of the price they quote.  When budgeting service charge can be as much as 20% from what I saw but some places are lower.  Bridgewater Manor has some good prices and lower service charge...I think you can get as low as 65-75 for Sunday and they have a nice outdoor ceremony area.  I don't remember their minimum head count. 
  Best of luck with the searching : )
  

  

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• StefaniBel member

  

  July 2010 edited December 2011

  Yesterday I wasn't doing anything special. So I made a phone call to Royal Manor and made an appointment to visit the place.  It is about 20 min from where I live. I went to the place with my mother since my fiance was working.
  I loved the place!  My mother loved it too.
  They can make their ballroom smaller using a wall division and would be perfect for a 75 people wedding (the minimum required for wedding in their facility). They have open bar and and a good menu for a price we can definitely afford.
  Thank you for suggesting the place.
  But it is still the second place I went until now, we need to see more places.  And my fiance needs to visit Royal Manor too, since he couln't go yesterday.
  When I went back home and I told my fiance I had visited the place.  Then he said "Why didn't you wait for me? You don't want me to participate?"  So cute! I am surprised how much he enjoys participating of all the planning.
  Once again thank you for all the suggestions.
  
  
  

  

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• lblumetti

  

  July 2010 edited December 2011

  For $100 per person, there are nice places you have have your wedding on a Friday evening.  For a little more, even a Saturday evening wedding.

  
  

  What are the places you are interested in?  People may have some feedback on the venues and some insightful information.

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• StefaniBel member

  

  July 2010 edited December 2011

  I am still visiting places, so I don't know which ones I like best.  Tomorrow I am going to visit "Perona Farms". Seems to be a nice place for an outside ceremony.

  

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