Ok, so FH and I are planning on hosting our engagement party (my family is in FL, and his cant afford it, but everyone has been asking).
so we book a restaurant and left a deposit, figuring our invite list would be 25 including us, which we could afford.
Well, we started getting names of people from Future In Laws on people that HAD to be invited, then FH started thinking of friends who would be upset if we didn't invite them, and now our guest list is somewhere near 40, and we are looking at around 900-1000 if everyone shows up.
Advice time: Should we leave it at the restaurant (Charlie Browns, best price we could find) or see if a library will let us cater in some food in one of the downstairs rooms or look into KoC halls. I dont know if we can afford nearly $1000, and the invite list is turning into a mini wedding.
What should we do?
Thanks in advance
meshelly
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Re: need advice about E-party (may be a little long)
I had my engagement party in a knights of columbus and even tho u think its going to be less expensive, it really isnt. Between renting the hall catering the food (there was no way i was cooking for that many people), liquor and a dj (a friend of ours so it wasnt really that bad) and then to decorate it was more expensive than i planned. Its all about what you want and how much you can spend. If you're really pressed for money try to work out the numbers before gettin rid of the restaurant. it might end up being cheaper. And you could make it back.
Penelope23
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Re: need advice about E-party (may be a little long)
yeah, that's very true.
On a larger scale, I was planning on having a backyard wedding. Big tents, tables, chairs, catered, (all the things that a catering hall would provide) etc. all added up to be more expensive than if i had it at a hall and had people just wait hand and foot on both my guests and me.
There is a chance it could be cheaper having it catered at the library, but for the few extra dollars you save, you might find it less stressful just to have it at the restaurant.
also -- have you thought about having it at a family member's home? We had our engagement party at the Future In Law's house (and in the backyard) and it was a really sweet, intimate little affair (which is hard to do with 80 guests). And not too much work either, we hired two catering 'helpers' for 20$ an hour. For 80 people, we ended up spending about $1200 on everything.
hope some of this helps! good luck!
angl2001
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Re: need advice about E-party (may be a little long)
KOC halls run about $400 an hour not including food...so it depends on how long u want it to be and how much food you wanna make. we had our E-party at eisenhower park in june it was only 150 to rent a spot fot the whole day 25 for the alcohol permit and we ended up bringing in food that cost like 400...for the whole party we spent maybe 650-700 and we were there all day!
just a suggestion incase u wanna wait till spring/ summer
longislandlibrarian
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Re: need advice about E-party (may be a little long)
KOC halls are going to run you a decent amount of money before even catering the food..... Maybe wait until spring to do an outdoor backyard engagement party???? or maybe just explain to your family that you have to stick to a certain amount of people because of financial reasons...... I am so sorry you have to be stressed about this... when it should be a YAY Happy thing!
eternitybride
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Re: need advice about E-party (may be a little long)
we originally wanted it at FMILs house, but she wasnt comfortable with that many people being over and fitting them all in (meanwhile half the guest list is her friends that originally she wanted to have a separate party for, then she invited them all to the one we are hosting) and she was embarrased about the condition of the house.
FH and I cant have it at our place, we have an apartment, and there is no way that many people would fit into a 1 bedroom apartment without bumping into each other and no space available.
I cant wait till the Summer, I have hte bar exam in July, and dont need to have to worry about a party on top of reviewing and finding a job, which is the stressful party
Thanks girls, any other advice?
TnJ041809
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Re: need advice about E-party (may be a little long)
IMO have it whre you'd like and cut the list. You both are paying for it and it is a big expense do what makes you happy!
CMS
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Re: need advice about E-party (may be a little long)
Posted by TnJ041809
IMO have it whre you'd like and cut the list. You both are paying for it and it is a big expense do what makes you happy!
I have to agree here. Your future inlaws who are making demands on who HAS to be invited, aren't putting any money towards the party, so, as far as I'm concerned, they don't have a say in who is invited to the e-party. Sorry if I'm coming across mean on this, but that's my BIGGEST pet peeve about this whole wedding thing! I finally told my family that when they hand over cash for my wedding, then I will let them offer me some advice.
The other thing I noticed is that your wedding is 2010? Why don't you seriously consider postponing your e-party till after the bar exam? It'll give you time to put some money away and after the bar you'll REALLY have a reason to let loose at a party!!!
I got engaged Labor Day weekend, but I'm waiting until the Spring/Summer to have an e-party and our wedding is August 2009.
siffleuse319
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Re: need advice about E-party (may be a little long)
Here's my own humble opinion: Keep it at the restaurant, unless it contradicts with the tone you are interested in setting. I had my E Party in the hall at my parents 55+ complex and had to supply EVERYTHING. We received no help from anyone, made a lot of our own food, and had 73 people attend. It cost us $3,800, we received $2500 in monetary gifts, and had a sh*t load of cleaning to do at the end of the very busy night. I wouldn't trade in that night for anything...but I wouldn't do it again either. A party at the restaurant means that the forks, food and toilet paper are included, and that you don't have to clean up when it's over.....FM me if you want more details. But, I think you're doing the right thing!!! Good Luck and HAVE FUN!!!!
little34
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Re: need advice about E-party (may be a little long)
I would think that having it at a restaurant may turn out to be a little cheaper because you don't have to worry about decorations and food and drinks and all of that. Maybe you could switch it to a brunch instead to cut costs. Not sure if this is do-able but some hotels have some great continental breakfasts that maybe you could have there. Not sure where you are from but the Brickhouse Brewery in Patchougue was very affordable and they really work with your budget....a friend had a surprise party there and the upstairs room was really nice.
