Price per. person question...really personal--SORRY!

I almost died when I found out that my price/person for a SUNDAY evening in September at the New York Botancial Gardens (Garden Terrace Room) with everyting I needed was going to be $230/person (including tax and service not site fee) what i need to know is....Am I getting TOTALLY ripped off??? Please help!!!!
All this includes is 4 cocktail stations (had to add two) and the viennese instead of desert. Does this sound ridiculous???

Re: Price per. person question...really personal--SORRY!

That is pretty bad, but that IS the Botanical Garden.. you're paying for the name baby..

Re: Price per. person question...really personal--SORRY!

Wow!! That is alot but like Marcella said you are paying for the name.

Re: Price per. person question...really personal--SORRY!

I attended a wedding there, and not to be a big downer but ... I don't think its worth it. As a guest we really didn't get benefit from the location being in the Botanical Gardens above and beyond what you get at say the Carlyle or Carltun for being in a park for much less money. In the end, if you have the money to spend and thats what you want -- go for it. Otherwise I'd say give the Carltun/Carlyle a look if you haven't already.

Re: Price per. person question...really personal--SORRY!

That's alot but you must keep in mind the place that quoted it. There is definitely room for improvement on that price....even at high end places.

Re: Price per. person question...really personal--SORRY!

I would not say you are getting ripped-off since the price is what is is. I don't think Abgail Kirsh has a venue for under $200 per person. Price is all relative. For many brides $235+ site fee would be a budget breaker, for others that is affordable.
The food will be great, the place is beautiful. It is expensive compared to many LI venues, but not above average for New York City venues. Look around to some of the LI venues and see what you find. If this is your dream reception and you CAN afford it then Go For It. I never tell anyone not to spend $$ on their wedding. It is a very personal decision.

Re: Price per. person question...really personal--SORRY!

That seems like a lot, but again you are paying for the name. I'm sure you can find many great places for a reception for less money and just as nice as that.

Re: Price per. person question...really personal--SORRY!

This is probably about the range since you are also adding additional stations and viennese table. I have heard that AK venues do a great job and provide great service. You might want to post on the Knot in the NYC section to get more feedback since this is kind of a 'NYC' venue and there may be more NYC brides having receptions there would could give you more info. I think LI venues in general are less expensive.

Re: Price per. person question...really personal--SORRY!

I think that is A LOT, but like everyone says it is the name. I am getting 10 Stations for my cocktail hour (I didn't have to add any), plus more for that hour, 5 course dinner, open bar (top shelf), no veineese hour, but veineese trays, plus espresso/cappacino machine, cordial cart, etc... for way less than that pp. I mean I'm not having my wedding at the Botannical Garden, but Fox Hollow has a pretty good reputation from what I hear Good luck with your search... I mean it is your wedding, but I'd still look into more... Sorry I hope I helped...

Re: Price per. person question...really personal--SORRY!

oh annie - that's the price on the places you were looking at! I remember the first time I found out the per head on some of the places I was looking!!! It's shocking! And that is just the catering! You have to factor in so much on top of it! I found a lot of other places to be more affordable than the Abigail Kirsch locations. The quality is great of course, but I think you can find lots of other options!

Re: Price per. person question...really personal--SORRY!

it is a very personal issue, what you want to spend on your wedding, but i am spending about half that price for a saturday night and people told me i was getting ripped off which i think is unbeleivable!!!

i mean, per person for that money you are getting loads of appetizers, a full course sit-down dinner with excellent service in a beautiful location and dessert with unlimited drinks, etc...if you were to go to a nice restaurant to eat like that you would probably spend about 100-150 pp (with a bottle of wine or drinks)....

the bg may be charging a lot more for those same things, but if the food, service and decor are a lot better, then it's worth it... if not, then maybe you can look at some other places....

Re: Price per. person question...really personal--SORRY!

jenny...one of the reasons I did not go with Oheka is because i thought they started at 225$/person for sept. oct. sunday night (without tax and tip) are they very negotiable? I don't want to end up passing on such a gorgeous place only to end up paying the same thing somewhere else!

Re: Price per. person question...really personal--SORRY!

honey its really up to you! if you can afford it without breaking the bank than go for it! if the food and quality and service is wonderful than how could you go wrong? just to help you out a little im having my wedding at Russo's on the Bay in Howard Beach....and we are paying 165 p.p for full octail hour with seafood choice of 3 appetizers 2 salads-3 pasta dishes-12 main course choices that the guests can choose from themselves...a whole lobster is on the menu along with filet mignon-veal chop-pork chop-etc! then of course we have a full venetian hour with endless choices such as cotton candy-candy apples-crepes-pancakes-eggs-they have a donut machine like krispy kreme-fruits-cookies-cakes-pastries-chocolates....expresso bar and much more! we definatly got a great deal for what we are having!!!! go for what you want not what anyone else wants!!!! its you and your fiances day!!!!!

Re: Price per. person question...really personal--SORRY!

If you can afford it and its your favorite I think you should go for it. Its a beautiful venue and will be a truly memorable event. There are many beautiful places for less but its a very personal decision. Its hard to even get good advice on a question like this. To those of us who can't afford it it sounds a little crazy but budgets are all relative. Some people are spendging 10,000 on the entire wedding, some 100,000 and more. Do what you feel in your heart (and wallet)

Annie

I looked at Oheka...and I found that they were VERY negotiable...

I fyou choice a 'holidy' - fathers day, mothers day, mem day, labor etc...

they cut the site fee in half and they reduce the price per plate...when I was looking in 2001...they reduced it to $180pp...but you have to remember...you get OHEKA for the ENTIRE day...not rushing in and out... (this was for a summer too!)

I would imagine that they are also negotiable in the winter months as well...

Re: Annie

There's a reason you picked Botanical Gardens to begin with and if you can afford that venue, then PLEASE don't second guess your decision.
I booked Harrison House and if I had added on the same things you did (2 extra stations plus viennese hour) My price for a Saturday night would be $227 with the service and tax added in.
I'd never let anyone tell me I was spending too much or I could get more for less. More what? More food, maybe. Same service, maybe...but setting the 'scene' for my wedding was also very important.

Botanical Gardens was one of the venues I was considering as well. $200+ is average for what places would charge in NYC and I think that the caliber and the ambience of Botanical Gardens is worth the price. YES!! Of course you're paying for the ambience, but if you chose this venue then that's obviously the kind of 'look' that YOU wanted for your wedding, so why settle for less? Especially if it's within your budget.

While there are many places on Long Island that are a lot less than the AK venues, my fiance and I were very specific in what we wanted in terms of our site. While I've been to MANY wedding at Russos, and Leonards and quite a few other LI venues and while I have no complaints, I knew I definately didn't want a catering hall or country club wedding.

Comparing your site to other venues in terms of price per head is like apples and oranges. Not all reception sites are the same and some places can and will command a higher price. I wanted something more along the lines of a castle, historical home or Botanical Gardens type venue. This was the overall 'tone' that I wanted to set for my wedding, and it knocked out about 80% of the locations on Long Island, but it was important to me and I've never questioned my choice.

Re: Annie

I think that Susan has a very good response. To many times in the wedding planning process people have made me second guess things because of price. If you can afford this and it is what you truly want that you should book them!

Re: Price per. person question...really personal--SORRY!

Hey Diamondgrl1, I live right near Russo's. Maybe you could toss a lobster and some krispy kreme's out the window for me! I'm getting married the week after you, and I'll be too busy to cook for myself!