15K for food only at the reception - is this too much?

Willow1 Posted: Oct 21, 2003 09:11 PM

15K for food only at the reception - is this too much?

Hi,
My dad said he had 30K for me to get married and I feel guilty enough being 30 and having to take money from him ! Anyway he loved the golf clubhouse in Montauk so that's where we're going to have the reception but we only had two choices of caterers. So I went with the less expensive one but I made the mistake of talking to the caterer too early before I budgeted properly and I told him I wanted to give him 15K and asked how much food he could give me. So of course he comes in at $100 per head just for food alone (we're planning on 150pp min.) but that's just the food. I have to get all the booze, mixers and dessert also. So it'll probably be about $115 to $120 per head.......and here I am now looking for photographers and videographers that are $1,000 to $1,500 because I don't have any extra money to spend especially with the limos, rings etc. I am supposed to sign the contract this week....should I ask for a cheaper price???

wc0143 Posted: Oct 21, 2003 09:15 PM

Re: 15K for food only at the reception - is this too much?

Did they give you menu choices for the $100/per? Are there things you an ask to remove that are pricey (like maybe no shrimp cocktail) or if the price included 4 stations, cut down to 2 or 3? I had fallen in love with a place (that I did not book) but it was too much and they were willing to change up what was offered (like filet mignon couldn't be one of the entree options) to get to the price I was comfy with. Hey, it can't hurt to ask especially since you haevn't signed yet.

Willow1 Posted: Oct 21, 2003 09:30 PM

Re: 15K for food only at the reception - is this too much?

I am so bad at asking for things like a lower price per head!!! But I guess I better get over it! My FH thinks we're getting a great price....I guess I just need a bigger bank account

wc0143 Posted: Oct 21, 2003 09:59 PM

Re: 15K for food only at the reception - is this too much?

SO am I!! I told my FI his job in the wedding planning was to negotiate and speak up since those are not my strong points. Anyway, it ended up because he had already committed to something else, I had to go on the 'please charge us less money' appt. My advice is start out with how excited you are to work with them, blah, blah but you need to revisit the pp/head and you are very willing to make menu changes. Good luck - you'll be fine!!

2003OCT10 Posted: Oct 22, 2003 01:56 AM

Re: 15K for food only at the reception - is this too much?

I would call the caterer and tell them that financial stuf happened and you only have.... say.. 10K to give him.. see what he will do for you. Tell him your dad refuses to pay that much. Good Luck!

kathleenmarie Posted: Oct 22, 2003 06:20 AM

Re: 15K for food only at the reception - is this too much?

i like that idea! tell him you just cant pay that much. I paid a little over 5K for food,including seconds, and all the alcohol and the cake!!! @ a little over 50 PP W/ 100 P

jenny2penny Posted: Oct 22, 2003 06:48 AM

Re: 15K for food only at the reception - is this too much?

if the caterers will not lower the price, and your dad really liked the place, then why don't you are your FH pay for the extras. After all you teo are saving so much with having the reception portion being paid for you.

PrincessRose Posted: Oct 22, 2003 10:06 AM

Re: 15K for food only at the reception - is this too much?

Hon, I don't know about that price.

I'm paying $60 (plus tax and grat) per head.

Haggle.

aliciahelene Posted: Oct 22, 2003 10:27 AM

Re: 15K for food only at the reception - is this too much?

That price seems high but then again we are getting married ona friday night in january and I think ours comes to aorund 80 pp and thats full open bar, a great cocktail hour and a really great menu! I say tell that guy yoru dad changed his mind, Im sure he'll work iwth you and then you can save some money and get a better photographer, etc.!!! Good luck!!!

AMinNYC Posted: Oct 22, 2003 12:22 PM

Re: 15K for food only at the reception - is this too much?

If your only options are the 2 caterers, I would ask each caterer how much they charge for their standard wedding menu:
Cocktail Hour - # of passed hot/cold hor d'oerves; # of stations

Reception - salad/appetizer; choice of 2 or 3 entrees;

Once you have the 2 amounts, you can customize it towards your budget.

As for the caterer you already spoke to, unless you signed anything, I would just go back and say you didn't consult your fiance OR your Dad (who is flipping the bill) and your budget has changed - all true!

Caterers are always more expensive a la carte than going to a reception hall, that's why I gave up on my idea of doing our wedding at a vineyard. A friend of mine that is in the business did share however, that they have HUGE mark-ups, therefore, they should be negotiable.

GOOD LUCK!

p/s Don't forget, you need to add staff, waiters, bartenders (+alcohol), parking valet, etc. $100pp (excluding tax + gratuity) sounds pretty high.

Having just paid my wedding/honeymoon bills, try to get the best deal possible bc everything else will add up!

PlanningFromATL Posted: Oct 22, 2003 12:34 PM

Re: 15K for food only at the reception - is this too much?

$100 pp seems high, especially if you have to pay for the site, the cake and alcohol in addition to that. You should ask them what there prices are, never tell them how much you want to pay......

Willow1 Posted: Oct 22, 2003 08:10 PM

Re: 15K for food only at the reception - is this too much?

Thank you so much - I think I will take the plunge and ask if we can get the menu down a little bit. The cost per head includes the tip and cost for the site so that's good. But I still have to get the alcohol/mixers/wedding insurance for the day/dessert .....yes it does add up.

You're right - I should never have told him how much I wanted to pay !!!! But their sample buffet wedding was $105 pp plus gratuity so I guess I'm saving about $25 bucks per head if you include gratuity.

Thanks for listening!