We are having our rehearsal dinner at a very good friends bowling alley/restaurant/bar. My FI has worked for this place for many years, and so did FFIL. FI practically grew up in this place and because of that he is an awesome bowler (certainly much better then me!). With that being said when we booked our rehearsal dinner a month ago, we were told to not worry about anything and we'd be taken care of. Now, I took that to mean that we will be taken care of food/drink wise and it will be spectacular. After discussion with FI and FFIL (who both know the owner extremely well) they both said that it could be possible that we won't have to pay anything. I told both of them that we will talk with the owner and see.
FI and I plan to go see the owner in the next week or two to nail down our menu, etc. Not to mention, I have to send out Rehearsal dinner invites by the end of next week so people know what the details are. So, with that being said, I asked FI what he thought about this situation: See if we can get a flat rate for 30/35 people (give or take a person or two) for 2 1/2 to 3 hours - buffet style appetizers, buffet style hot food for dinner, beer/wine/soda/coffee with dessert provided by myself and mother (we'll bake a cake, brownies, cookies -whatever). Obviously cash bar would be available for mixed drinks/specialty drinks/shots. He said he doesn't see why it wouldn't work. We're not asking for a "break" or "discount." We're just asking for a flat fee.
What are your opinions on this? Is it wrong for us to ask for a flat fee? Or are we right in looking for this? That way, we aren't paying x for the buffet food and x for liquor...it's all rolled into one price. Make sense?