SO DISSAPOINTED!!

Snuggles Posted: Jun 25, 2006 05:41 PM

SO DISSAPOINTED!!

FH and I drove to Raphael Winery today and thought it was the most beautiful place we have seen so far...they couldn't speak with us because there was a wedding starting in a couple of hours so we left. They just returned my phone call and told us that the site fee for Sept. 08 was 15,000......I though it would be 5 or maybe 8,000. With it also being 125-175pp I just feel like I could never ask my parents to pay for something like that and I could never afforfd it. Now I wish I never even saw the place :(

i102bcute Posted: Jun 25, 2006 05:42 PM

Re: SO DISSAPOINTED!!

I'm sorry

irishsweetheart Posted: Jun 25, 2006 05:56 PM

Re: SO DISSAPOINTED!!

That didn't include any of the catering? Maybe you and your parents could each contribute?

sr081906 Posted: Jun 25, 2006 05:59 PM

Re: SO DISSAPOINTED!!

I am so sorry! Maybe you can find another vineyard not 'as expensive'.

ahall04 Posted: Jun 25, 2006 06:00 PM

Re: SO DISSAPOINTED!!

Isn't it amazing that things can be so expensive?!?!?! I am amazed every day! Weddings are not cheap! I am sure if you don't have it there, you will find someplace you LOVE!!!

ewickens Posted: Jun 25, 2006 06:13 PM

Re: SO DISSAPOINTED!!

You could try negotiating with them!

Or

There are other veineyards to look at!

maybride03 Posted: Jun 25, 2006 06:23 PM

Re: SO DISSAPOINTED!!

I sent you an FM!

ETA: Wineries (not just Raphael) charged the highest site fee for September because it's the time of year where the vines are in full bloom, so it's the most beautiful time at the wineries. They charge less for the other months of the year.

patticakes Posted: Jun 25, 2006 06:46 PM

Re: SO DISSAPOINTED!!

I'm so sorry but there are tons of other vineyards out there that are just as beautiful especially during that time of year!!! Don't give up on them!

oOMarshmallowOo Posted: Jun 25, 2006 08:26 PM

Re: SO DISSAPOINTED!!

Maybe you could change the month or the day of the wedding? Or maybe you could ask the parents to pay for half and you and FH pay for the other half?
I know it's really hard!! FH and I are paying for our wedding as well. I'm sorry to hear about the dissapointment. Good luck with finding THE place!!!!

camerakrazie Posted: Jun 25, 2006 08:41 PM

Re: SO DISSAPOINTED!!

so sorry to hear that but sept is a peak month for wineries...what if you changed it to October or Nov...maybe the price goes down

SeptBride70 Posted: Jun 25, 2006 08:44 PM

Re: SO DISSAPOINTED!!

hmm, i think you posted that you were also going to look at carlyle and carltun-- how did that go? i mean, raphael is beautiful but i don't know if i would pay that much for it-- i mean, that site fee is more than oheka castle's fee! that's crazy... but if you LOVE it, then try as hard as you can to make it work-- the good news is that you have a lot of time to save. my FH and I are in the middle of a two-year long engagement and we would have never been able to afford FF without that amount of time--- and trust me, it's gone SO fast already!

HTH, i'm sorry that it was so pricey!

NY031978 Posted: Jun 25, 2006 10:49 PM

Re: SO DISSAPOINTED!!

my friend told me about there so i looked at it and loved it but wasnt there something up w/ like no bathrooms? u need to rent out houses or something very odd like that! that was just something i refuse to do at my wedding!

but if you love it.....maybe do it at a diff time a yr?!

ginny26 Posted: Jun 25, 2006 11:09 PM

Re: SO DISSAPOINTED!!

We had to pay $15000 for the day (Saturday in July) for just the site. Expensive, yes, but we splurged on the site, knowing we'd have less than 100 people.

maybride03 Posted: Jun 25, 2006 11:58 PM

Re: SO DISSAPOINTED!!

Posted by NY031978

my friend told me about there so i looked at it and loved it but wasnt there something up w/ like no bathrooms? u need to rent out houses or something very odd like that! that was just something i refuse to do at my wedding!

but if you love it.....maybe do it at a diff time a yr?!

Hm, that's odd. There are definitely bathrooms at Raphael and you don't need to rent anything else. Some of the other wineries, though, do require you to rent tents, portable bathrooms, the house if you want to get ready there, etc.

snydl40 Posted: Jun 26, 2006 12:08 AM

Re: SO DISSAPOINTED!!

I'm so sorry. I truly know how disappointed you are-we are in the same boat. We have the $, but I don't feel a wedding should cost you an arm and a leg and your soul. That's what some of these places are asking. $15,000???!!!!!!! That's ridiculous! You will find your place-Good luck!

AlmostMrsKelly Posted: Jun 26, 2006 08:41 AM

Re: SO DISSAPOINTED!!

i'm sorry to hear that... i know what it's like to fall in love with a place and have your heart set on it. but have you checked out the other wineries? they are all so beautiful. we are using vineyard caterers in october and there's no site fee. just pp. FM me if you need any details. good luck!!

DandS Posted: Jun 26, 2006 08:48 AM

Re: SO DISSAPOINTED!!

I'm sorry!

shelby34 Posted: Jun 26, 2006 09:37 AM

Re: SO DISSAPOINTED!!

I know how you feel. I always wanted to get married there also. Once we saw the site fees (which were 10,000 for october at the time) plus the cost of catering, we just couldn't do it.
The good news is that we found a place that we totally love and fit our budget.... You will too!

Mooshyboo Posted: Jun 26, 2006 09:39 AM

Re: SO DISSAPOINTED!!

awww I am sorry to hear this

MattandTricia07 Posted: Jun 26, 2006 10:33 AM

Re: SO DISSAPOINTED!!

I'm so sorry, that really stinks. Perhaps it's so high because it's right in the middle of winery season??? What if you changed your date? Maybe ask them if there are different prices? Just a thought.