Found the perfect wedding location - feel like budget is spiralling! HELP!

Misticles · 04-08-2013 02:24PM #1

I had some criteria,
outdoor
water had to be near by
didnt want a standard run o the mill sit down wedding so opted for self catering

The venue itself is literally a blank canvas so you have to hire in everything.

Our costs are totalling 8 - 9 k

Venue - 670
Photographer - not booked yet - estimating 1k
Food - 1000 (bbq style, starters and mains and evening bites)
Alcohol -1000
Rings - 2000 (the OHs is the majority of this, I feel that as I have a lovely engagement ring that I don't want him to sacrifice on his one)
BM attire - 200
Suits - 400
Flowers - 215
Legal fees - 220 + solemniser at 450
Ice cream van - 100
hiring tables, chairs, plates, glasses, cutlery - 485
decorations - allowing 100
Music - not booked yet. I really wanted a harpist but they are 400e, so looking into playing music through the ipod for ceremony and dj for afters.

Going to ask my mam to make our wedding cake and the OHs dad to the welcome reception sandwiches.

I want a polka dot table cloth for the top table and multicoloured tablecloths for the other tables. Standard white tablecloths are 10e to rent so I don't know if my DIY job will work out more or less.

I can't see where I can make cuts or savings.

One thing we are doing, as the venue isnt licensed to sell alcohol and I'm sure people don't expect a free bar, we are going to sell raffle tickets for 4e, these tickets will be used like drink tokens. I think 4e is still very cheap in comparison to what they would pay if it were a hotel bar.

Any advice on where I can cut things would be great. Just not the rings or the ice cream van or the flowers

I already have my dress paid for so thats excluded from the above budget.

stinkle · 04-08-2013 02:35PM

DVD only package for photographer would be less than 1k. You could always upgrade after if you have cash to spare then. Some photographers do gift vouchers so IF someone asked was there a particular present/voucher you would like them to get you could say that. I've heard of people doing that as a kind of group present (eg from workmates/gang of friends).

Will try to think of more! We were at a family wedding recently which was quite lavish in terms of food+drink and but at the same time didn't have loads of crazy extras so am inspired to do something similar and cut costs wherever possible

stinkle · 04-08-2013 02:51PM

If you're buying your own booze, tesco (and possibly other supermarkets) do specials on wine every so often, so you could start stockpiling now and it might not seem as bad if the cost is spread out. Going up north might be good value too, and maybe giving money to people who are going abroad to get some duty free spirits/local drinks could work... Im willing to be corrected on that though!

For decorations, etsy is a great website but if you're anything like me its easy to get carried away and want to buy everything!

pwurple · 04-08-2013 05:21PM

I was at a vintagey wedding where my cousin hung paper bunting banners as decoration, cut out triangles of coloured paper and taped them onto twine.

She had coloured glasses with straws holding mini banners in the tables too. Really cute and cost about twenty quid. Twine, straws, tape and paper.

Found a link with a pattern that might tie in with your checkered tablecloths idea.

http://www.handjobsforthehome.com/2011/06/diy-paper-pennant-banner/

You can even link the cake into it.

http://decoratorsnotebook.wordpress.com/tag/cake-bunting/

I've done them for my daughters birthday and they are easy enough, but time consuming. Don't leave it to the night before.

AoifeCork · 04-08-2013 05:31PM

I think you are overestimating the price of ceremony music. If you shopped around you could get a lovely self accompanied singer locally for 200-250 and a Dj for 200 as well.
I can also recommend some photographers for much much less if you want to PM me

Misticles · 04-08-2013 06:13PM

For the table setting - do you have to have all of the knives and forks for every course?
I just noticed the quote I have is just for dinner plates, dinner forks & knives, desert plates, desert spoons.
So there is no side plates and no plates for the evening food - but the caterer will have paper/plastic plates for the starter and evening food.

pwurple · 04-08-2013 06:25PM

Plastic plates at a wedding... I dunno about that. How casual are you going?

Misticles · 04-08-2013 06:53PM

pwurple wrote: »

Plastic plates at a wedding... I dunno about that. How casual are you going?

Well it's a buffet style, but after doing my sums it works out more expensive to do down the disposable route rather than hiring the plates etc

There are some really good plastic ware out there - I was surpised!

sweetie · 04-08-2013 07:29PM

We had a similar wedding. A lot of effort but worth it. We had the bar similar except it was 2e for bottles, 3 for cans, 4 for spirits and cocktails (mojito and cosmos) we made a profit of approx euro per drink that paid staff, bar hire fridge etc. I think people will begrudge paying 4 for a bottle of beer that can get for a euro.

I'm may be biaised as I am a wedding dj but you may very well get a dj to play 4-5 hrs for 200 but an experienced wedding dj will be at least twice that or more. there's also quite a difference between playing after a band and bring the sole entertainment for a full night.

niallam · 04-08-2013 07:33PM

How many people?

Misticles · 04-08-2013 07:35PM

Its for 40-45 people.

niallam · 04-08-2013 07:40PM

Misticles wrote: »

Its for 40-45 people.

Drinks, just buy bottles, saves on glass rentals.
M o'byrne for rentals for other bits.
Some of the pig roast companies do a package for about €1k that would feed everyone, they'll also supply cutlery and crockery with that so saves on that.
Dj will work out cheapest option but if you wanted to get a 2 man band it might work out only slightly dearer but far more entertaining.

Misticles · 04-08-2013 08:08PM

niallam wrote: »

Drinks, just buy bottles, saves on glass rentals.
M o'byrne for rentals for other bits.
Some of the pig roast companies do a package for about €1k that would feed everyone, they'll also supply cutlery and crockery with that so saves on that.
Dj will work out cheapest option but if you wanted to get a 2 man band it might work out only slightly dearer but far more entertaining.

Thanks but will be buying wine, and although I have been known to drink from the bottle at times ha I think I will have to get glasses for that and water.

Most of the spit roast provide disposable plates. Although I did find one tonight that had real crockery - it this was the case I would get the plastic glasses as they look quite good.

niallam · 04-08-2013 08:20PM

Misticles wrote: »

Thanks but will be buying wine, and although I have been known to drink from the bottle at times ha I think I will have to get glasses for that and water.

Most of the spit roast provide disposable plates. Although I did find one tonight that had real crockery - it this was the case I would get the plastic glasses as they look quite good.

Only wine for drinks all night?
I've done this for 150 people myself this year already.
Will people use the same 1 glass all night? Will you have washing facilities?
I meant beer when I said buy all bottles, you won't need pint glasses then, except for Guinness drinkers.
Tea and coffee? Cups, teaspoons, milk jugs, sugar etc
Water jugs and ice.
Cuttlery for starter, main etc because people don't want to use the same cutlery all night.
I could go on for an hour about everything needed.

Misticles · 04-08-2013 09:22PM

niallam wrote: »

Only wine for drinks all night?
I've done this for 150 people myself this year already.
Will people use the same 1 glass all night? Will you have washing facilities?
I meant beer when I said buy all bottles, you won't need pint glasses then, except for Guinness drinkers.
Tea and coffee? Cups, teaspoons, milk jugs, sugar etc
Water jugs and ice.
Cuttlery for starter, main etc because people don't want to use the same cutlery all night.
I could go on for an hour about everything needed.

We are getting beer and wine. We wont be having guiness, so will just need wine glasses and tumblers.

Did you get spirits?

There is a kitchen off where the mail is but its tiny so I don't expect people to go in washing stuff up.
We will get water jugs and will have buckets of ice. There is only a small fridge in the reception area - where did you store all of your alcohol/ice?

Please go on, I need all the help I can get

fgaha · 04-08-2013 09:59PM

I was at a 21st in a marquee a couple of years ago and a local pub had set up a bar area in it. Meaning they didnt have to go to the bother of buying in piles of drink, glasses, ice etc. Would this be an option?

Also could you borrow the delph bits? You eould be surprised how much stuff some people have (I must have about 60 wine glasses)Or could you rent them from a hotel or the like. Might work out a lot cheaper.

Some duo bands would be really cheap and are fantastic.

On the flowers I went to a wholesale place and bought all artifical flowers for church etc. My mothers friend has made me two gorgeous wooden pedastals and fbil has two smaller ones!

Just beware the smaller bits do really add up that you dont factor in!!

Senna · 04-08-2013 10:23PM

Sorry but that is just madness, its a wedding for 40 people and you are going to be spending over €3000 on food, drink and venue etc.

Is there not one nice venue in the whole of Ireland that wont provide the BBQ food you want for less than €50 a head and remove all the hassle with plates, glasses etc?? After all, its €50 a head for what sounds like fairly simple food requests, I doubt you want BBQ fillet steak etc.

edit; Sorry that might have sounded like I was getting at you, I wasn't at all. I just meant are venues making so much money that nowhere is willing to offer you what you want for what seems like a very generous budget?

Misticles · 04-08-2013 10:29PM

Senna wrote: »

Sorry but that is just madness, its a wedding for 40 people and you are going to be spending over €3000 on food, drink and venue etc.

Is there not one nice venue in the whole of Ireland that wont provide the BBQ food you want for less than €50 a head and remove all the hassle with plates, glasses etc?? After all, its €50 a head for what sounds like fairly simple food requests, I doubt you want BBQ fillet steak etc.

I'm finding the smaller the group doesn't necessarily mean a smaller cost foodwise. We don't want a standard sit down 3 course meal that's provided at hotels. Any all inclusive packs are for larger groups so venues I did like were working on par with this one.

The only 2 requirements I have are, th venue is waterside and its not a standard meal.

Saw your edit: our budget started at 5/6k. I've compared some venues but we want something Different.

pwurple · 04-08-2013 10:41PM

I didn't realise your numbers were 40-50. I agree with the poster above, try expanding your search away from hotels and I think you will find some fantastic restaurants that can cater that for you for much less, and probably much better as well. They will have much much more experience than you at this. You won't need to hire a thing. Fridges, glassware, crockery, cutlery, clean up, will all be done without you having to worry about it.

What part of the country are you thinking? I can think of 3 or 4 places in Cork that might suit for a start.

Senna · 04-08-2013 10:49PM

Misticles wrote: »

I've compared some venues but we want something Different.

I understand that, but I assume you have found venues that would be suitable from a location, atmosphere perspective. Were any of those willing to offer you exacted what you wanted (BBQ, etc) for less than €50 a head? Or where they not willing to offer anything other than a 3/4 course meal? or were they willing but it was working out much dearer?

seosamh1980 · 04-08-2013 11:20PM

€2000 is a lot for rings excluding engagement one!! My h2b's ring was €30 in Argos but even splashing out there is no way we'd have gone higher than €300, and for mine the most would've been €400-700 (only because I need one to match my ring specifically but got one as a gift from family), you could easily knock €500-1000 off that if you wanted to.

Misticles · 04-08-2013 11:37PM

pwurple wrote: »

I didn't realise your numbers were 40-50. I agree with the poster above, try expanding your search away from hotels and I think you will find some fantastic restaurants that can cater that for you for much less, and probably much better as well. They will have much much more experience than you at this. You won't need to hire a thing. Fridges, glassware, crockery, cutlery, clean up, will all be done without you having to worry about it.

What part of the country are you thinking? I can think of 3 or 4 places in Cork that might suit for a start.

I just want somewhere where a civil ceremony can be held on the premises or closeby. The ceremony surroundings- lakeside, seaside or on beautiful gardens. For the reception, seaside, overlooking the sea as we eat. This doesn't have to be in cork, I wouldn't exclude anywhere as long as it met the above criteria.

other venues I looked at were only offering set menus. I might go back and see if there is any negotiation on this part. Edit- quotes I got for packages were about 3500. When you add the extras ( music, rings, photographer etc) it adds up to,about the same as we are at now

regarding rings, he is going to be wearing it for the foreseeable future so I'd like him to pick what he likes as he is not a jewellery wearer, it's not an area we are going to skimp on.
(That's not a dig at you btw

)

stinkle · 05-08-2013 12:06AM

You mentioned the ice cream van was 100, and youve your heart set on it which seems great value (I've no idea how much they are, but our venue told us they could organise it for extra, which I took to mean $$$$$$$!).

Having said that, a friend was raving about getting ice cream at a recent wedding during the heatwave, and a groomsman just had a coolerbox full and stashed away somewhere - was considering doing this when our time comes and have loads of multipack ice creams in it, maybe disguise the cooler in a fancier box or something. It might not save you much in the long run, and might be extra hassle, not to mention possible litter, but could actually ensure everyone has a choice of a few different ices and gets more than one

seosamh1980 · 05-08-2013 01:28AM

Off topic as you don't want to use that as an area to reduce cost, if he's not a jewellery wearer I can't imagine spending so much on it, that's why my boyfriend's is so cheap, because he doesn't wear jewellery and doesn't want to commit to wearing something expensive when he might get sick of it. I've never actually known any man to get one worth more than €700 and that one was even a very expensive one in terms of men's rings. Anywho, it's irrelevant so.

clint_silver · 05-08-2013 03:13AM

Definitely do not spend 2k on a ring if your budget is under 10. 50e Max. At some stage in the future if he decides he wants nice jewellery save up and get it then Saving on other things to get that ring is madness in my opinion.

Pro Hoc Vice · 05-08-2013 03:35AM

Misticles wrote: »

I just want somewhere where a civil ceremony can be held on the premises or closeby. The ceremony surroundings- lakeside, seaside or on beautiful gardens. For the reception, seaside, overlooking the sea as we eat. This doesn't have to be in cork, I wouldn't exclude anywhere as long as it met the above criteria.

other venues I looked at were only offering set menus. I might go back and see if there is any negotiation on this part. Edit- quotes I got for packages were about 3500. When you add the extras ( music, rings, photographer etc) it adds up to,about the same as we are at now

regarding rings, he is going to be wearing it for the foreseeable future so I'd like him to pick what he likes as he is not a jewellery wearer, it's not an area we are going to skimp on.
(That's not a dig at you btw )

A venue that is often forgotten about in cork, is UCC, amazing location, had a do there last year, for 80 sit down 4 course, including champange reception, picked the tattinger up in tesco, red and white wine ditto, port for the cheese course, the hire of the staff common room for the reception and the Aula Max for the food total including corkage and also a cupcake for every guest was under 5k. Can

It really is a fab setting, and one does not have to be associated with UCC to use it. While UCC is not waterside the river does flow through the grounds.

A sample of the menu http://www.kylemore.ie/ucc/docs/UCC_hospitality_staff_guide_a5.pdf

pwurple · 05-08-2013 07:01AM

How about bunnyconnellans? They do a great BBQ and you can't beat that view.

http://www.myrtleville.com/bunnys.html

The pink elephant outside kinsale?
http://www.pinkelephant.ie/weddings.html

Aherns in youghal.

The bayview is good in ballycotton (is a hotel but they are very accomodating).

The Rectory in Glandore

The Maritime in Bantry

There are absolutely loads, that's just off the top of my head.

Misticles · 05-08-2013 11:43AM

pwurple wrote: »

How about bunnyconnellans? They do a great BBQ and you can't beat that view.

http://www.myrtleville.com/bunnys.html

The pink elephant outside kinsale?
http://www.pinkelephant.ie/weddings.html

Aherns in youghal.

The bayview is good in ballycotton (is a hotel but they are very accomodating).

The Rectory in Glandore

The Maritime in Bantry

There are absolutely loads, that's just off the top of my head.

Have sent a few e-mails

Nicman · 05-08-2013 12:30PM

Oh my God Misticles I so feel your pain. We're in the exact same boat...same numbers, but don't want to be shoved into the corner of a large function room with a huge piece of MDF as a partition! W're finding it surprisingly difficult too to find a spot. We also want something different, not OTT but well done all the same, we dont want regrets.
Iwould say on the rings,thats a personal thing. I think they'll be on your hands hopefully forever so dont scrimp on them.
Regarding venue, its no harm to go outsið the box here and have a plan b- like do a plan up for an alternative venue then compare everything, ease, comfort, costs etc. which part of the country are you in? We saw a place in killaloe that may tick all your boxes, its lakeside and has a pavillion that maybe they can downsize for your numbers. We were considering eating in the onsite brasserie there and having our ceremony down by the lake. Its called anna carriga.

On decorations, my futu sis in law just got married and had some fabulous touches all made cheaply by herself. This may also work for your tablecloth idea - she bought a couple of lengths of oilskin and cut triangles and sowed them onto a material tape. The most beautiful bunting I've seen and didnt look cheapat all. So, rather that buying tablecloths you could also buy lengths of oilskin and tuck them under the table top, tacking them on. Would be much chaeaper that bing tablecloths id imagine. Your local hickeys or meadows and byrne will sell the stuff.

Im plannning on picking up flowers locally the day before my wedding and being creative. You could save lots there, therers no need for many flowers just on the pews and centre pieces. Pinterest have great ideas there and so cheap. Like my sis inlaw had those wicker white hearts that you get in penneys for about e2 tied
to the back of their chairs with a cute flower thingy attached. It was gorgeous.

I dont know, its hard to save here, with the weather in ireland demanding so much indoors i cant see how its possible to do for under 10k

Misticles · 05-08-2013 12:52PM

Pink Elephant came back, 6950 plus a 20% premium of want a weekend wedding.

That's based on 85 people.

hoodwinked · 05-08-2013 01:15PM

misticles i know you said you don't want a 3 course meal but just to give you a costing on it we got married in the Carlton in Kinsale last July at 70euro a head for 50 people, (€3500)

that covered, harpist, food, punch, tea and coffee, red carpet..etc on arrival,
4 course meal, free wine during the meal, free drink for everyone for the toast, all the little bits (chair covers, cake stand, cake knife, flowers for the room and tables, seating charts) and 3 free bedrooms for the night...etc the only thing we had to sort out for the reception was the dj and sweet table.

it also had gorgeous views of the sea (oysterhaven bay),

so thats roughly how much it should cost at most to feed 50 people.

they do civil services (outside on the water side if its sunny/dry - although a marquee could probably be used in the event of rain!) so you could always ask them to have the harpist for the ceremony rather than arrival for probably no extra cost...

they if you asked might do the bbq food also, on the balcony outside (its huge) and just use the main room for the function after wards.

also this would cut your alcohol budget as people would help themselves at the bar.

photography wise if anyone you know has a professional enough camera you could ask them to be the photographer for the day, you'll find with iphones and digital camera's you'll have 100's of photos anyway (you just need to make sure you get someone to make sure they get shots of the special things you specifically want)

i disagree with those saying save on the rings, after the day they are one of the few physical reminders you have, and to me the ring that went on on the day is my wedding ring ill have for life, so much so if it ever got lost i probably wouldn't replace it or have to have a renewal ceremony.

as for flowers, again what flowers do you actually need? i bought my 4 bouquet in debenhams (fake flower bouquet) in the sale for €20, i then did the ribbon around the stems myself (bought the ribbon in a dress shop to match the colour scheme) different flowers in mine so i knew the difference, and the morning of my wedding my step dad brought home from work some wildflowers i specifically wanted that he freshly picked and i added to it, made it more special too. if you do the work (and something different) its easy to keep costs down.

and i found buying little things one by one in the lead up to the wedding helped lessen the bulk of the expense, aka we made our own ceremony books, by buying card and paper and spending two nights printing and stapling,

we also found most people are brilliant for lending their talents (or jars in our case for the sweet table) so that helps costs stay down,

be creative think outside the box and you'll find your budget is easy to keep if you bend the rules here and there depending on whats important to you.

Found the perfect wedding location - feel like budget is spiralling! HELP!

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