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I need your help girls .....doubting my Aruba decision

Original post by kimnsteve

Ok i know you all are going to think I am crazy but I seriously am thinking baout cancelling Aruba .

I have realized how many people I am inconviencing including myself!

Alot of our family is not going including my Nana which really hurts me

So now I am thinking about going to look at places in NJ on the water

So I need help
I have a budget and I need to know if it is possible to pull this off with a certain amount of money ....(around 35K)

My orginal wedding in SI was 30k just for the hall! so I could use all the suggestions possible

Teamhurldon Posted:

Re: I need your help girls .....doubting my Aruba decision


Posted by Espo22

what about the shadowbrook in nj or nanina's in SI i think or is it NJ

what about bridgewaters in manhattan i heard their prices aren't that bad but check first and gorgeous view



Bridgewaters is expensive.... that was out first choice, but wasnt willing to spend $142 ahead.... lol
ant n tilde Posted:

Re: I need your help girls .....doubting my Aruba decision

you can DEFINITELY do a wedding for $35K!

but make sure it is what YOU want to do and you are not being pressured into it!

would you consider changing your date? winter prices are MUCH cheaper and you can pick and choose your vendors bc they dont book up as fast

i dont even think you have to skimp on anything!!
kimnsteve Posted:

Re: I need your help girls .....doubting my Aruba decision

that place oceanresorts is beautiful ...looks pricey though ..i requested some info ...thanks !


think nanina's is in northern jersey and i know they are super expensive ...ty though
kimnsteve Posted:

Re: I need your help girls .....doubting my Aruba decision


Posted by ant n tilde

you can DEFINITELY do a wedding for $35K!

but make sure it is what YOU want to do and you are not being pressured into it!

would you consider changing your date? winter prices are MUCH cheaper and you can pick and choose your vendors bc they dont book up as fast

i dont even think you have to skimp on anything!!




defin not a winter wedding ...I really want may
sassygirl9 Posted:

Re: I need your help girls .....doubting my Aruba decision

I'm on the border of winter/spring and let me tell you the prices are enormously different. Some girls have given quotes for places we were quoted for and it's over a $20 difference at times

Espo22 Posted:

Re: I need your help girls .....doubting my Aruba decision


Posted by Teamhurldon


Posted by Espo22

what about the shadowbrook in nj or nanina's in SI i think or is it NJ

what about bridgewaters in manhattan i heard their prices aren't that bad but check first and gorgeous view



Bridgewaters is expensive.... that was out first choice, but wasnt willing to spend $142 ahead.... lol



was that with T&G, ahhh thats less than what i am spending and its funny bc FH's mom has a hook up there and always throws functions for her company at bridgewaters, and although i wanted a wedding in the city somehow it was decided against

for a city place that is actually a real decent price
MayBride08 Posted:

Re: I need your help girls .....doubting my Aruba decision


Posted by sassygirl9

I'm on the border of winter/spring and let me tell you the prices are enormously different. Some girls have given quotes for places we were quoted for and it's over a $20 difference at times



I looked at halls in both LI and NJ and for some reason, all of the halls in Jersey said that the discount for winter months ends after Easter, regardless of when Easter falls, which in 2008 is the middle of March. In LI there was so much of a price difference between March, April, May and June whereas in Jersey it didnt seem to make much of a difference.
I found this site to be really helpful when I was searching...
http://www.sitesandservices.com/?event=site_results&state=NJ

Also, for Ocean Place, Im pretty sure my friend paid 100 pp, but that was for the buffet dinner...
kimnsteve Posted:

Re: I need your help girls .....doubting my Aruba decision

oh boy i have some work to do
Teamhurldon Posted:

Re: I need your help girls .....doubting my Aruba decision


Posted by Espo22


Posted by Teamhurldon


Posted by Espo22

what about the shadowbrook in nj or nanina's in SI i think or is it NJ

what about bridgewaters in manhattan i heard their prices aren't that bad but check first and gorgeous view



Bridgewaters is expensive.... that was out first choice, but wasnt willing to spend $142 ahead.... lol



was that with T&G, ahhh thats less than what i am spending and its funny bc FH's mom has a hook up there and always throws functions for her company at bridgewaters, and although i wanted a wedding in the city somehow it was decided against

for a city place that is actually a real decent price



LOL well i believe that was the lowest quote we got for like a sunday in dead of winter.... a decent time they were really high$$$
kimnsteve Posted:

Re: I need your help girls .....doubting my Aruba decision

i think i might be bale to do this

-i dont need limos since i want to get married at my reception hall...
-already bought my dress
-just wont do pocketfolds like i wanted to
-cut out the cala liilies and get cheaper flowers ( lets face it most flowers are very pretty

what else????
sassygirl9 Posted:

Re: I need your help girls .....doubting my Aruba decision

there you go, prioritize.... in the end you really don't skimp cause the most important thing in the end is getting married:)

Espo22 Posted:

Re: I need your help girls .....doubting my Aruba decision


Posted by Teamhurldon


Posted by Espo22


Posted by Teamhurldon


Posted by Espo22

what about the shadowbrook in nj or nanina's in SI i think or is it NJ

what about bridgewaters in manhattan i heard their prices aren't that bad but check first and gorgeous view



Bridgewaters is expensive.... that was out first choice, but wasnt willing to spend $142 ahead.... lol



was that with T&G, ahhh thats less than what i am spending and its funny bc FH's mom has a hook up there and always throws functions for her company at bridgewaters, and although i wanted a wedding in the city somehow it was decided against

for a city place that is actually a real decent price



LOL well i believe that was the lowest quote we got for like a sunday in dead of winter.... a decent time they were really high$$$



oh ok that makes more sense then, i was surprised that a city venue that popular would be just that much but yeah def alot more during other times
LuvMyAlfonse Posted:

Re: I need your help girls .....doubting my Aruba decision

no limos
cheaper flowers
cheaper invites (COSTCO!)
cheaper BP gifts
splurge on photography
cheaper favors
kimnsteve Posted:

Re: I need your help girls .....doubting my Aruba decision

this doesnt sound that bad

dante31300 Posted:

Re: I need your help girls .....doubting my Aruba decision

I live in New Jersey also and the first place I looked for halls was New Jersey. Honestly the places were beautiful, I wanted water or water falls and nice chandeliers with lots of property for pictures. I found plenty of places with these options but once I saw the places in LI and the difference in cost I realized that though NJ was beautfiul I could get a better deal in same options in LI. I ended up booking in New Rochelle which had waterfalls and a view of the Long Island sound for a great price and I am having 150-200 guests. I think that you shouldn't just narrow your search to NJ just because you live close to it. Make a list of what you want in a hall and check out books and web sites like sites and services and call the places to get a rough idea of the PP charge before going there. If you were going to Aruba I think that going to LI, Westchester or NJ would definitely be more convenient for most of your guests. People will complain regardless and those that want to be at your wedding will be there.

Good Luck!
ant n tilde Posted:

Re: I need your help girls .....doubting my Aruba decision


Posted by kimnsteve

this doesnt sound that bad



let me know if you need a florist -
designs by rose has been the MOST helpful vendor when it comes to saving money. . . seriously, they actually talked my mom OUT of certain things bc they felt it wasnt necessary and saving us a lot!

i mean, in the end i keep upgrading and stuff but if i stuck with what she told me originally - it would have been SO inexpensive.

as for limos - you can do the bare minimum like parents only and the two of you. . . i am sure your BP will understand

photo - i would splurge on this

video - some girls skip this, if you dont want to you can look around for a bare minimum package

dress - i cant remember if you have one already? but you can check out david's bridal, sample sales, running of the bride events ( just saw that you have your dress so even better!)

if you havent told your BP yet - you can cut back on that, i am having a small BP and you dont realize it saves on: BP gifts, flowers AND limos!

invitations - you can DIY or like a PP mentioned Costco - or online sites

favors - you can do a small donation or a food favor ( some people dont even do favors anymore!)

DJ - there are some inexpensive ones for about $1000 if you get a no frills package like no give aways or light effects. mine was about $1500

you can pay less for hair and makeup if you go to an actual salon instead of having someone come to the house. . .

ok i am still thinking here. . .
mrspalomino148 Posted:

Re: I need your help girls .....doubting my Aruba decision


Posted by kimnsteve


Posted by sassygirl9

you can totally pull it off. When is your wedding?
Look for places by the water that will allow you to have a day wedding. Or a Sunday wedding or Friday night. This will cut your costs big time



I really want to keep my date which is May 17 and I also really want it by the water ...so I have to start looking because I have no clue where to go



Not sure where in NJ you are looking for, but central NJ in Spring Lake try Breakers, its gorgeous! I was going to have my wedding there, because its right on the beach and there is a bridge and lake 5 min. away.. If you have any questions just FM!
kimnsteve Posted:

Re: I need your help girls .....doubting my Aruba decision

THANKS AGAIN...these are great suggestions

AmandaLynn04 Posted:

Re: I need your help girls .....doubting my Aruba decision

I think you can do it for 35k without even having to cut too many corners. You may just have to shop around. Also, if you change the date, you could potentially save a ton. Ever consider April or even March?

We were originally going to do it in October, and we changed it to February. That alone saved us at least 10k.

Good luck!

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