We are deciding on either getting married late december '03, jan '03 or april '04. I don't want to go over $25,000, is that possible?
I am looking to have about 90-100 people.
I figure I can't to spend more than $115 per person on a reception, including tax & grats. I live in Brooklyn and my fiance lives in Staten Island, I guess we could travel like 30-40 min for reception. I was looking online at The Liberty House in NJ and the Water's Edge in LI City and Loft Eleven do you think those would be in my price range? I would be willing to do a Sat afternoon..
Any other money saving tips,ideas, vendors would be appreciated
MarcellaBella
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Re: Wedding in NYC for around $25,000
is that 25,000 for EVERYTHING.. or just the hall?
eroxgirl
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Re: Wedding in NYC for around $25,000
If you want to do $25000 for everything (my original budget btw....blown to smithereens ) you need to lower your cost per head to below $100 before tax and gratuity. It can be done but it will take a lot of research on your part. Good luck!
Sassyz75
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Re: Wedding in NYC for around $25,000
Water's Edge is expensive.. maybe if you had the wedding off-season- & on a Friday or Sunday you could have it there and stay within your budget.
My friend's are getting married at the Liberty House- I am not sure how much $ it is, but they aren't rich... so it shouldn't be that bad.
MrsTC
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Re: Wedding in NYC for around $25,000
Hi Daisy,
I am having my wedding for less than $25k and everything that I am having is nice. You meant total price right, like the hall plus flowers, etc? Mine will be on a Saturday afternoon, I wanted Sat night but the afternoon was $15/pp cheaper.
FM me for more info and I will let you in on some of my secrets! We have to keep our budget in this range bc we are paying for it ourselves.
Sassyz75
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Re: Wedding in NYC for around $25,000
I got married in January of this year- and I SAVED a lot... I was able to have it at really great place (Carlyle) for an amazing price ($100 per person).... but I also had it on a Friday... and booked 7 months ahead of time.
The BEST way to get a great price is to walk into a hall and say, 'what do you have open in the next 6 or 7 months..' That is what I did and my friend did this with the Westbury Manor and got the hall for $50 per person! It's a great secret & will save you tons of money. The downside is that you need to plan quick! But I did it all in 7 months, her in 6 and we both had NO problems.
julybride444
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Re: Wedding in NYC for around $25,000
Loft Eleven is probably not in your price range. It starts at around $125++, that's for lunch.
You could rent a space like the Prospect Park Picnic House, then hire a caterer. You could have a light meal and maybe have just wine and beer to cut costs.
Or, try the Montauk Club in Park Slope. They have weddings that are lovely. www.montaukclub.com/
Another option is just to try restaurants. If you are getting married in a church that might be a great idea.
There's also the Alger House in the Village www.mansionscatering.com
and Moran's in Chelsea www.moransny.com (that's great for a winter wedding).
What type of place are you looking for? I can think of several others. One place to start is www.locationsmagazine.com You can FM me if you want.
But, don't go by the price listing there. Call the place, tell them your budget, a lot of places will 'bargain' if you're nice-and flexible!
Sage10.03
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Re: Wedding in NYC for around $25,000
x sorry x
didn't mean to post twice
Sage10.03
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Re: Wedding in NYC for around $25,000
Liberty House in Jersey City starts at $165.pp...My best friend is getting married there in 2 weeks...so I know the prices....
$25,000.00 for the reception I think you could pull off...but for the whole thing, I think it would be tight!
julybride444
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Re: Wedding in NYC for around $25,000
One more thing, I have a great photographer from Brooklyn who is a photojournalist. He will do your wedding within a low budget and won't force you to pick big 'packages'. He's an excellent photographer as well. FM me if you want his info.
Sonicstef
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Re: Wedding in NYC for around $25,000
The MONTAUK CLUB is a nightmare...dont go there. (Long story)
Loft Eleven is definitely out of your price range.
Maybe the Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture? Not sure what it is now but thier site fee was incredibly low before. If you did a light meal/cocktail reception, you could stay under budget.
I think 100 people at the PP Picnic House is going to be too few unless you filled it with palms, etc.. (read: $$) plus their site fee might blow your budget.
julybride444
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Re: Wedding in NYC for around $25,000
Stef, Montauk Club was a nightmare? Why?
I went to a wedding there recently and it was lovely, but I wasn't the bride so I don't know what she went through!!! Maybe you're experience was an isolated case?
I'm glad I didn't book there! As for the picnic house, we planned to do it with 100 people, and it would have been fine. Your florist can bring in some large potted plants. The site fee was $2500.
July: Long story short - I absolutely fell in love with the Montauk Club. It was exactly what I was looking for in terms of style and location. I booked with them in July 2001. In Jan of 2002, I accidently found out (MC didnt even have the decency to call me) that the local laws had changed and they were no longer allowed to have music in the main room. When I called to find out if the rumor was true I was told 'no big deal, you can have your band play downstairs'. Well, my party was not going to be downstairs, it was going to be upstairs! I didnt think it was too feasible that my guests would have to go into the lobby to dance and then back upstairs to the ballroom to eat, etc..
I had to scramble for a new location, fight with them about getting my deposit back and the mangament there was god aweful. Everyone from the catering manager to the president of the club just didnt care at all. When i asked why hadnt anyone called me to tell me what had happened they all just blamed each other and never apologized.
The worst part is that the way I found out about this issue was from another bride. She had gotten to her own reception to find out that her band was not allowed to set up. Can you imagine how upset that must have made her? The club said something like 'she got over it'. Aweful.
Ok, that wasnt so short. But I just wanted to warn everyone.
Sassyz75
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Re: Wedding in NYC for around $25,000
I think you should just call up all the places and see what they will give you for Friday night, Saturday afternoon and Sunday afternoon prices in January. Since January is only 7 months away, they will probably give you a great price. This is because your wedding would be 'found' business. Most brides book one year, two years in advance.. your money they were not counting on- they'll take the business, maybe make a little less of a profit.. so call ALL of the places you are interested in... you never know what they will offer you .. as I said earlier- that is how I got my reception hall for $100 pp...
janatlantica
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Re: Wedding in NYC for around $25,000
I had my wedding in January in the Hamptons(atlantica) and my entire wedding cost $25,000. You def. can save a LOT in January so I would advise you to do it then because your reception place will be all the nicer that way! Also, some friends had a small wedding at 'the Chase House' in NJ. It had city views across the river and I heard it was quite elegant AND reasonable, so maybe you can check that out too, because I KNOW this couple definitely did not spend $25,000!
SomedayBride
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Re: Wedding in NYC for around $25,000
It can be done, especially since you're looking for January. Just don't go overboard with favors and invites and stuff.
cluelessbride
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Re: Wedding in NYC for around $25,000
You might want to try asking catering halls if they will do a 3 hour cocktail party and not a full dinner. Long Island catering halls are going to be less expensive overall than renting out a building or site in the city, even the Picnic House.
The Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture is about $2,000 for 4 hours, the Picnic House $2,500 or $3,000, and you can bring in a caterer for about $70 pp for a lunch buffet, add about $10 pp for an open bar.
For photography, you can hire someone for 1/2 a day.
A band would bring the cost up, but you could get a good dj.
Keep flowers to what is in season.
Sonicstef
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Re: Wedding in NYC for around $25,000
Wow - BSEC is charging $2K now? I think they were charging half that just a few years ago!
prncssrachel
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Re: Wedding in NYC for around $25,000
I say forgo the sit down dinner and do a coctail reception. It's cheaper, and you can have your wedding in a really nice place. But there's also so many other places out there that are nice that I really think you can make your budget on. GOOD LUCK!
