Hi everyone! This would be my very first post on here & many of the posts regarding in-suite receptions are giving me great ideas. I'm actually planning on a vow renewal/10-yr wedding anny celebration hopefully sometime Aug 2014 (no date set yet). I'm trying to keep things under $5k for everything. The lower the costs, the better if it's possible.
Maybe 50 guests w/ some children (most coming from out of state). I'm a major DIY type of person so all the little details aren't a big deal. Anything to cut down on costs I'm all for. I improvise very well. We were thinking of just dinner & cake at a restaurant (thinking of maggiano's based on reviews) after ceremony which we would be just fine with BUT we also have an 11-yr old autistic daughter who doesn't do very well in places like that. Our main concern for our day is that we would like to accommodate our daughter as much as possible (a retreat area for her for example for those who aren't familiar w/ how autisic children function), so we can keep her meltdowns to a minimum (basically keep her happy as long as possible) & still have everyone enjoy the day/night without rushing everything (because our daughter can be hard to control @ times). I've only now became aware of these in-suite receptions through everyone's post on this website which I'm now trying to get as much info as I can so I can start planning. No need for DJ or anything like that. Just a gathering for dinner, drinks, & cake. I keep reading about sneaking the caterers &/or alcohol into the suite but I'm a pretty paranoid person when it comes to that. If anyone knows full pricing on going w/ the hotel services, pls also do tell just so I know. Can anyone suggest what I should & shouldn't say/ask when calling to get info about the suites?? Any advice for going this route for our reception would be greatly appreciated as well. Ok.... I'm gonna come out & say I come from a Filipino family so even if it came down to catering the food ourselves to cut costs, that would be no problem too. What's your feedback on that idea?? hehe
Do most of these suites/penthouses come w/ a full kitchen?? Like a full stove w/ a regular fridge?? Also, we're local so anything that can get things @ a cheaper rate would help too. Thanks in advance!