Nice wedding on the cheap?

Hello All!

My mother has just told me she will take no part in helping out with my wedding financially (and she has enough to be a big help). Now I'm stuck because we can't afford to have a NY wedding, looking at 130 guests, and the cheapest I found was $80/pp. And then to pay for everything else (limos, flowers, dress, tux, etc) I find it near impossible with our salaries combined and living together expenses. We thought destination wedding would be great, but his family is big and really don't have a lot of money to go somewhere. I don't know what to do! Does anyone know of anywhere where the plates could possibly be cheaper, but a nice place (I spoke with Coral and it's 65/pp, but 2 of my friends went to see the place when they were wedding planning and both told me it had a sort of funny mildewy kind of smell to it).

Any suggestions of what to do? We could cut the party to 114 people, but we have a lot of family and I want to invite our closest friends.

My biggest suggestion would be to cut down your list dramatically. We only had about 50-55 people at our wedding, and it was perfect, and allowed us to be within our budget. It really adds up once you start having a lot more people at your wedding.

Can you do maybe a brunch type of wedding instead of a night time? Or if not, maybe on a night like Thursday or Friday, or Sunday afternoon? not sure if you were thinking a Sat night.

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Posted by adelz

My biggest suggestion would be to cut down your list dramatically. We only had about 50-55 people at our wedding, and it was perfect, and allowed us to be within our budget. It really adds up once you start having a lot more people at your wedding.

Can you do maybe a brunch type of wedding instead of a night time? Or if not, maybe on a night like Thursday or Friday, or Sunday afternoon? not sure if you were thinking a Sat night.

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Yea think about day weddings...that cuts down the price and off season like nov to march cuts down the price as well. Try the swan club you could def get cheaper than 85pp.

My mom got married at the coral house...and it was beautiful and the food was great. No weird smell.

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Posted by Zola84

We chose October 19, 2012 because it will be our 10 year anny and it happens to be a Friday! The cheapest was Westbury Manor @ 80/pp.

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Saturday day will be cheaper than a friday night...which is why I went with a sat day.

I'd go to George Washington Manor in Roslyn and work out a deal with them to lower there price to your needs.

It's a historic site. I went to visit last winter/spring and they said they were going to renovate it this summer into fall but it will be open for next year. Renovate as in update the parts that are not considered historic or something or other, changing the ceiling tiles of the ball room, well the entire ceiling (I think theyre getting rid of tiles and using sheetrock from what I remember but dont quote me on that i forget, I just remember her saying the ceiling would be rounded off), wall paper/paint, and light fixtures, and put in curtains. I personally like the big picture windows they have now/had but who knows it might be nicer with curtains. I've not checked back at all with them so I don't know how that went or is going.

I think they would work out a deal with you since its under new management and not very popular yet with brides. When we looked for a year in advance they were all open. I think not many people want to take a risk with new management and renovations but the management is in charge of a lot of good restaurants in the area!! The food should be really good. We overheard management going over there menus and what they wanted to serve and it sounded great at the time.

We didn't choose GW because it was further west than we wanted and the area busier than we wanted, and also I had a family member who had there reception there years and years ago and I don't want to step on any toes as it's their place. My mom really liked the food there years ago under the old management but I'm sure the new management has better food.

It's got an old feel to it, the main part that is but its historic!!!

I don't remember exactly how much they quoted me, maybe in the $85-115+ range but it wouldnt hurt to haggle if you can guarantee a larger number!

Definitely check it out if you don't mind all the above. I think its really nice and good food is important!

If you are willing to switch your date Smithtown Landing has as low as $45++ for any avail 2011 date and as low as $72 inclusive and $78 inclusive pp for some dates May and June of 2012. Plus, knowing Rich you could probably get it lower than that. I'd just go there anyway and check it out, Rich is so nice and willing to work with you on price. Ours is a Sat afternoon in Oct and he was willing to lower the price plus he threw in a free dessert upgrade because we booked within a week of viewing it. Worth looking into.

The food was great and the landscape and main ballroom are beautiful and the staff is extremely nice.

HTH

yea sat and sunday day is cheaper than a fri and sat night option.

It was $5pp cheaper to do it saturday day than it was a friday night for me.

Cut down ur Guest list

Or go to Ariana Waterfalls or Mediterranean Manor...
thy have pckages wth everything on it....
from $10k-$12k...

Def cutting the list will help, but that's hard to do sometimes. Have you considered pushing your date back into 2013? I believe your anniversary would fall on a Saturday then... And you a can do a daytime wedding which would be even cheaper!

Trust me, the time will fly by if you are worried about waiting

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Posted by SMDC2012

If you are willing to switch your date Smithtown Landing has as low as $45++ for any avail 2011 date and as low as $72 inclusive and $78 inclusive pp for some dates May and June of 2012. Plus, knowing Rich you could probably get it lower than that. I'd just go there anyway and check it out, Rich is so nice and willing to work with you on price. Ours is a Sat afternoon in Oct and he was willing to lower the price plus he threw in a free dessert upgrade because we booked within a week of viewing it. Worth looking into.

The food was great and the landscape and main ballroom are beautiful and the staff is extremely nice.

HTH

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Omg, Rich is the best!!! We are getting married there next week! Definitely worth it to check out Smithtown Landing!

Try

Smithtown Landing Country Club

West Sayville Country Club

Also when looking be flexible on the day/time you get married.

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Posted by Jmrosa1

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Posted by adelz

My biggest suggestion would be to cut down your list dramatically. We only had about 50-55 people at our wedding, and it was perfect, and allowed us to be within our budget. It really adds up once you start having a lot more people at your wedding.

Can you do maybe a brunch type of wedding instead of a night time? Or if not, maybe on a night like Thursday or Friday, or Sunday afternoon? not sure if you were thinking a Sat night.

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Yea think about day weddings...that cuts down the price and off season like nov to march cuts down the price as well. Try the swan club you could def get cheaper than 85pp.

My mom got married at the coral house...and it was beautiful and the food was great. No weird smell.

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I am getting married at coral house! ALOT less than $88 pp!!

I think we were quoted $65 for a Sat night in Jan/Feb at Fox Hollow --- if you move it to Friday I think its cheaper.

IMO, I know its sentimental, but if you want to have everyone there, I think its better to move it and pay less. Otherwise i'd only invite to bare minimum.

I did my wedding under 10K. My RH was in Queens and I had a Saturday afternoon buffet for $42 an person. Look for package deals- some RH's have packages that include photo, video etc. Like the other girls said- cut down your guest list. Also cut down your Bridal Party, the less people the less gifts and flowers and you will need less limo's. Make your own CP's. you dont need huge floral CP's you can use candles it will have that elegant romantic look. Check out Davids Bridal for your dress. I had a really nice experience at the one in Long Island City. Thats all I can think of right now.

If you have any questions please FM me.

Definately try West Sayville Country Club & Smithtown Landing. Keep pricing around to places & if your also flexible with your date will help A LOT!!

When we priced around different halls & different times of the year. September & October are peak months & are the most expensive months to have a wedding so if you don't have your heart set on a certain month that could drop your price drastically!!

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Posted by Jmrosa1

yea sat and sunday day is cheaper than a fri and sat night option.

It was $5pp cheaper to do it saturday day than it was a friday night for me.

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Originally I had my heart set on a Saturday evening wedding but when we went to look at RHs Saturday day was much cheaper per person so we booked ours from 1-6 PM.