engagment party help

eternitybride Posted: Dec 02, 2007 11:44 PM

engagment party help

For those of you who had them, where did you have them?

FH and I have booked a restaurant, anticipating a guest list, including us, of 25 people. now, with people future in laws say HAVE to be there, and friends FH is saying would be upset if they weren't invited, and people asking if they can bring significant others, the invite list is at 40. which would put the cost at around 900-1000 for the dinner.

I am at a loss of what to do. we are covering the cost because my family is in Florida, and his family cant afford to cover it, and the house we were originally hoping to have it at wont hold that many people, so we went with the restaurant.

What do you think we should do? The anticipated date is January 12, so we are running out of time to make changes to contracts and find a new place that is affordable. Should we suck it up and deal, look for a KoC or a VFW hall we can rent, see if we can have it at a library and reprint the invites again, I am so frustrated now I cant even scream. It was supposed to be small, and now its like half the size we are anticipating for the wedding (well, not quite half, but dang close)

What do you recommend? I also posted on BHB, but wanted some advice from my fellow 2010ers

rocketsummer17 Posted: Dec 05, 2007 09:35 AM

Re: engagment party help

IMO try having it at a KoC or VFW, something like that...I can FM you the price breakdown of how much my engagement party cost if you would like, we had it at the Hibernian Hall in Babylon. The hall isnt that expensive, someplaces let you bring yourown liquor/soda and if they dont the pp is very affordable. It stinks you have to reprint the invites but if it is something that has to be done then so be it...

And dont worry about it being larger than you planned....you will make the money you spent on it from all the gifts people give you and you will even come out ahead..

HTH, FM me if you want a price breakdown of my party...it really wasnt that expensive for everything we had.

flairforfashion Posted: Dec 08, 2007 04:26 PM

Re: engagment party help

I think you should stick it out and have it at the restuarant. Did you already book it and put a deposit? I would keep the invite list at a certain number. Like if you are inviting 50- have him invite 25 people and you invite 25 people. That way, it's fair and you both have people there that are very important to you. Plus, if you keep it at the restaurant as planned, you don't have to reprint invitations which costs some money AND more than likely- you will make the money that you paid for the party so I don't think you will lose much. Good luck and let us know how it all goes!!!

xBrunette Posted: Dec 08, 2007 11:42 PM

Re: engagment party help

u can't have your party at your home maybe... over the summer??? that would help keep cost down... when i called the VFW hall this guy quoted me like $200 for 4 hours i think... but then again we have to clean up and cook...

eternitybride Posted: Dec 09, 2007 01:07 AM

Re: engagment party help

FH and I have a small apartment, and his mother isnt comfortable having 40 people over, 1. the living room is too small, and 2. she is embarrassed about the shape the house is in, not the inside, but the outside. We originally had it planed there, then she sprung that on us and we started scrambling.

THEN the party she wanted with her friends got somehow mingled into ours when she handed us her address list for the party

xBrunette Posted: Dec 09, 2007 06:15 PM

Re: engagment party help

Ooo that *****... well do you have to invite her friends... if she basically told you, you can't have it at her house...?? honestly... you shouldn't have to invite everyone if you can't afford it.. if you are inviting them to the wedding, they should be content.... I would just keep it at the 20 instead of the 40.. they DONT have to bring their other half... yea it would be nice, but you have to hand over more money....