Ridiculous vendors

sarahufl · May 2015

luckya23 said:

louxnoelle said:
I know that the prices are the norm, and they just cost what they cost, but I can't get over the price tags of the belts and sashes that you can buy to bling out a dress. They're so pretty. And I want to just comprise a wedding dress by wrapping myself in them head-to-toe. But they're also so much money for such little strips of fabric.

The consultant pulled a belt for me to try that was $2800 - yes, double the price of my dress!!!

You could not have gotten me to stop laughing at her.

luckya23 · May 2015

sarahufl said:

luckya23 said:

louxnoelle said:
I know that the prices are the norm, and they just cost what they cost, but I can't get over the price tags of the belts and sashes that you can buy to bling out a dress. They're so pretty. And I want to just comprise a wedding dress by wrapping myself in them head-to-toe. But they're also so much money for such little strips of fabric.

The consultant pulled a belt for me to try that was $2800 - yes, double the price of my dress!!!
You could not have gotten me to stop laughing at her.

She actually couldn't believe it either - she was like "???? is this a misprint????" Based on some of the veils she did seriously show me, probably not!

geebee908 · May 2015

luckya23 said:

louxnoelle said:
I know that the prices are the norm, and they just cost what they cost, but I can't get over the price tags of the belts and sashes that you can buy to bling out a dress. They're so pretty. And I want to just comprise a wedding dress by wrapping myself in them head-to-toe. But they're also so much money for such little strips of fabric.

The consultant pulled a belt for me to try that was $2800 - yes, double the price of my dress!!!

I hope it was diamond encrusted. Wow!

Accessories are way overpriced. You can buy some of that trim for $20 to
$100 a yard, and that's on the expensive side for that stuff. Just
because you stitch about half a yard to a length of satin ribbon and
call it a bridal accessory, you can mark it up 1000% and brides will pay
because they don't know the actual cost of that kind of thing.

julieanne912 · May 2015

The free chairs at my venue are not my favorite. They're the folding type (I mean, it is a barn), and they're dark red. They charge a silly fee to use the white chairs they have set aside for outdoor ceremonies. I priced out covers, and then decided to tweak my décor scheme to match the free chairs... now doing chocolate brown, burlap (sorry not sorry), burnt orange, and dark red.

I also got caught up in the fun and bought my veil and belt where I bought my dress. I regret it a bit, I mean, they're pretty, the veil is lace trim etc., but I guarantee I could have found something equally as pretty at least a couple hundred cheaper online. But at least that whole part of the planning is done, just have to wait for them to arrive, which counts for something, right?

banana468 · May 2015

lyndausvi said:

banana468 said:

larrygaga said:
I also want to say that I KNOW venues buy really ugly chairs, pretty chair covers and charge for the pretty chair covers on purpose.
I can understand the need for the fee - but I can't understand being a banquet facility that purposely bought ugly chairs.
Chairs are used for many different reasons. They can be used for a class room setup in the morning for a conference. Then used for a wedding later that day. Venues buy multi-use chairs that can life up to the wear and tear of their various uses.

Plus decor is subjective. It would be impossible to pick a chair that every bride would think is pretty.

That I completely understand. I mean the sort of locations that are clearly a "wedding factory" vs. a location that's going to be used for a conference. There are a few of those around here. The only stand out was a venue that was a wedding factory on the water and the chairs were very clearly dated.

thisismynickname2 · May 2015

hellosweetie1015 said:
Um. The biggest racket, for me and my budget, is DEFINITELY flowers.

I called and priced bouquets EARLY on in my planning. I don't like cut flowers, but I hadn't lurked enough yet and thought they were a requirement for a Good Wedding, so I figured I could at least get a quote to get me started. I wanted in-season blooms. I'm not picky. Pinks, a little white, greenery, if possible. My bouquet, three bridesmaids, groom's boutonniere, one groomsman boutonniere, a FOB boutonniere, two mother's corsages.

The most reasonable florist I found quoted me something like $150 for my bouquet. $90 for the three bridesmaids. Just the four bouquets were $420. 14% of my budget, to things that would look pretty for 45 minutes and then they'd die. I don't even remember what the quote was for the rest, because I was already going "No, thank you, I will pass" in my head.

Fucking no. I could carry a pot of flowers for $15, and then I'd have a pot of flowers I could have forever.

Hmmmm! I have a little pot of bamboo on my desk here at work. One could totally carry that down the aisle. Bamboo is for luck and money, right? So appropriate to bring into a wedding. ;-) I'm going to start a new pinterest trend, yo.

photokitty · May 2015

thisismynickname said:

hellosweetie1015 said:
Um. The biggest racket, for me and my budget, is DEFINITELY flowers.

I called and priced bouquets EARLY on in my planning. I don't like cut flowers, but I hadn't lurked enough yet and thought they were a requirement for a Good Wedding, so I figured I could at least get a quote to get me started. I wanted in-season blooms. I'm not picky. Pinks, a little white, greenery, if possible. My bouquet, three bridesmaids, groom's boutonniere, one groomsman boutonniere, a FOB boutonniere, two mother's corsages.

The most reasonable florist I found quoted me something like $150 for my bouquet. $90 for the three bridesmaids. Just the four bouquets were $420. 14% of my budget, to things that would look pretty for 45 minutes and then they'd die. I don't even remember what the quote was for the rest, because I was already going "No, thank you, I will pass" in my head.

Fucking no. I could carry a pot of flowers for $15, and then I'd have a pot of flowers I could have forever.
Hmmmm! I have a little pot of bamboo on my desk here at work. One could totally carry that down the aisle. Bamboo is for luck and money, right? So appropriate to bring into a wedding. ;-) I'm going to start a new pinterest trend, yo.

Either way, I couldn't have it "forever" bc I can't keep plants alive to save my life

wandajune6 · May 2015

Our budget was tight enough that we didn't find ourselves in a lot of situations to see crazy prices. We booked the MUA, DJ, and photographer through Thumbtack. Flowers were a combination of Costco and a small local florist. Dress was clearance at David's. Shoes were something I could wear again- nude pumps from Cole Haan (clearance and I wear them all the time for work).

But I fell in love with this stupid hair clip I saw on some website I can't remember. It was ~$800. I was obsessed. I searched everywhere for it. The cheapest I found was used for $450. Not happening. I eventually found something similar-ish on Tradesy for $15, plus free shipping and 20% off for new users. I went with the cheapie and have no regrets. My friend is getting married in November and is using it. She's breaking it apart (I have a ton of hair, she has less) but I'm happy it can be used again. She's actually using a ton of our unused/old wedding stuff. No point in buying anything if she doesn't need to.

momofbride530 · May 2015

photokitty said:

louxnoelle said:
I know that the prices are the norm, and they just cost what they cost, but I can't get over the price tags of the belts and sashes that you can buy to bling out a dress. They're so pretty. And I want to just comprise a wedding dress by wrapping myself in them head-to-toe. But they're also so much money for such little strips of fabric.

This! The accessories are what blew me away the most.

Vendors I expect there to be a solid range and as long as it is commiserate with your quality then I don't care - doesn't mean I'll pay for it, but I respect them valuing their work as worth paying extra.

Napkins, runners, table clothes, chairs, chair sashes, ceiling drapes, up lighting - that stuff baffles me as well. So accessories for me and for my table, I think are the most inflated for a wedding.

There is a great website www.Gloryshouse.com that sells beautiful "bling". Their inventory changes frequently and they have great prices. Accessories are one of the most ridiculously priced wedding items.

We received two catering quotes for DD's wedding that were $5,000, for heavy appetizers. For our area that is pricey.

afox007 · May 2015

So far the only thing price wise that has really shocked me was the venue we want. It's a park down the road from where we live that is beautiful and as of January of this year the full day was 890. They only let you book a year out so when I went to check availability in March the price was up to 1400.

I know this is still super inexpensive for a venue, but and extra 500 over night for a park? I looked and only one other park had gone up in price. I called to ask about it and was told that the park I chose was more "rustic" and therefore becoming quite popular.

We also found out it may still be more money since we would have to pay the non resident price. This has also changed. Last year the resident price was for anyone living in the county. Now it's anyone living in the county who doesn't live in one of the major cities, any of the decent sized towns, basically there are 4 tiny you didn't realize you were driving through a town places where the resident discount applies.

larrygaga · May 2015

lyndausvi said:

banana468 said:

larrygaga said:
I also want to say that I KNOW venues buy really ugly chairs, pretty chair covers and charge for the pretty chair covers on purpose.
I can understand the need for the fee - but I can't understand being a banquet facility that purposely bought ugly chairs.
Chairs are used for many different reasons. They can be used for a class room setup in the morning for a conference. Then used for a wedding later that day. Venues buy multi-use chairs that can life up to the wear and tear of their various uses.

Plus decor is subjective. It would be impossible to pick a chair that every bride would think is pretty.

Yeah but they could be buying plain white, black or grey chairs. Instead they buy red plaid or some weird palm tree pattern.

I could have clarified what I meant by pretty. I meant not gouging my eyes out with ugly. Most wedding venues are so bad IMO that plain neutrals are gorgeous now.

bizzy592 · May 2015

Before choosing our venue, we checked out a complete wedding factory. 2 weddings per day, obscene charges for basic comforts (and yet their roof should have been replaced 5 years ago).

The chairs included in packages were covered in a scratchy brown and orange material, which completely clashed with the included linens and china. The lowest upgrade was $25 per guest.

Ridiculous vendors

Re: Ridiculous vendors

Choose Another Board

Search Boards