We (just ~2.5 weeks ago, for our daughter) did a wedding location + reception at a public park, albeit a very nice one. (Wedding in a pretty outdoor setting, reception in adjacent vintage greenhouse converted to reception hall). Venue had list of ~6 preferred caterers, we picked probably the most popular (but not most expensive) one. Buffet dinner. Open bar & champagne toast. We paid for a tent (rain insurance, in part).Planning a wedding this year. Top 5 from our budget are:
1. Reception Food & Catering Staff
2. Venue
3. Tent, linens, setup (Outdoor reception)
4. Wedding coordinator (Look at full-service vs. "month-of" vs "day-of" coordinators)
5. Photographer
DJ not band. Photography but not videography (I think). Paper invites - can't remember if we did paper save-the-dates.
Groom's family paid for welcome dinner night before. We paid modest Sunday brunch (gazebo area in same park, but not same exact location as wedding+reception)) day after.
We paid for D's dress. Couple/groom paid for rings, honeymoon.
"Day of" coordinator who actually did a lot of consulting with my wife and D weeks/months before-hand, so, arguably, low-end general consulting (but we picked venue & caterer on our own). Even with an outdoor setting for wedding and a vintage greenhouse (with plants) for reception, wife and D arranged for lots of flowers (too many, IMO, but, eh...)
Park/venue had a vintage house near the rest of it (old park-keeper's house?) that we could, and did, rent for the day for the girls (mostly) to primp and hang out. Wedding was ~13 months after engagement - we had booked the venue ~2 months after they got engaged.
Catering (+ alcohol) biggest cost.
Statistics: Posted by psteinx — Tue Oct 08, 2024 10:51 pm — Replies 5 — Views 206