Which wedding do you think would be more expensive?

EJSD2006 Posted: Apr 11, 2007 11:37 AM

Which wedding do you think would be more expensive?

A -close family and friends in tuscany

B- the average long island wedding

DrWho Posted: Apr 11, 2007 11:39 AM

Re: Which wedding do you think would be more expensive?

It is nearly impossible to do the 'average' LI wedding for less than $20k. Your best is probably about $18k. That's a lot of people at an Italian villa at a group rate. Plus, you shouldn't have to pay for everyone who is going.

Kara and Todd Posted: Apr 11, 2007 11:43 AM

Re: Which wedding do you think would be more expensive?

It really depends.

E.g. - Do you want to use a local photographer? Or do you plan to use an Italian photographer? If you use local, you'll have to pay for them to travel + additional costs.

How much will an event planner in Italy cost? You wouldn't be able to plan it from here without someone over there helping you.

Will you want to travel there to pick the site, hotel, etc. beforehand? That's an expensive trip.

You could make either one more expensive. Would you have a honeymoon either way? That adds to the cost of both then.

If you plan to pay for your guests' airfare and hotel, then you'll get over $20k pretty quickly.

It's very easy to spent upwards of $50,000 on a Long Island wedding when you factor in ALL of the costs. Then again, it's also doable for about $20,000 to have a very nice wedding. I think it's also pretty easy to get to $20,000 for a destination wedding as well.

I think the important question to ask yourself is - what do you want more? Which is more appealing to both you and your FH. You also have to ask yourself if asking your friends and family to travel to Italy for your wedding isn't too much (especially if they are paying for everything themselves - coach class airfare is at best around $1,000 per person round trip!)

AMGBride2008 Posted: Apr 11, 2007 11:52 AM

Re: Which wedding do you think would be more expensive?

I said A... you'd really only be paying for your airfare and hotel and not everyone elses... and then things over there are probably a little less expensive....

Kara and Todd Posted: Apr 11, 2007 11:55 AM

Re: Which wedding do you think would be more expensive?

Posted by AMGBride2008

I said A... you'd really only be paying for your airfare and hotel and not everyone elses... and then things over there are probably a little less expensive....

Most of Italy is actually pretty expensive, so I wouldn't count on things being cheaper.

I think you really need to talk to a wedding planner in Italy to get an idea on the cost.

KickinDandelions Posted: Apr 11, 2007 11:56 AM

Re: Which wedding do you think would be more expensive?

I'd also factor in the stress that goes into planning a wedding so far away and the trips you'd have to take back and forth (if any) to meet with vendors and scope out places. Plus, I'm not sure if you'd be able to find a forum like LIWeddings over there where you can ask local people their opinions on which vendors are shady etc...

bonniejd Posted: Apr 11, 2007 11:58 AM

Re: Which wedding do you think would be more expensive?

keep in mind it is roughly 1.4 Dollars to the Euro, so that definitely increases your costs!

EJSD2006 Posted: Apr 11, 2007 12:16 PM

Re: Which wedding do you think would be more expensive?

thanks girls, its not me (obviously cause i'm married already...lol). i dont think SIL is thinking this through. planning a LI wedding is enough of a headache, let alone planning one 3000 miles away.

and to ask guests to pay $3000+ per person to travel is alot. we'll see what happens.

acsm Posted: Apr 11, 2007 12:17 PM

Re: Which wedding do you think would be more expensive?

FH and I went thru the same issue.. we both have family over there(aunts, uncles, cousins)

Amalfi coast wedding vs LI wedding.. we were in sorrento and priced around our options for approx 80 guests

excluding the fact that we would most likely have two receptions in the end.. but we did price around..

photography in italy ran about 3 to 5 euros

piano bar (most places do not allow dancing - italian weddings are sit down dinners no dancing) 300 to 500 euros

per plate at hotels was an average 120 euro per person.. at a restaurant prob run you less

then you have to book hotel the night before and after for yourselves.. airfare.. hire a DOC because there is paperwork involved(1,500 euros)

favors.. flowers for the most part at the hotel were included.. if you want your own bouquet and such i dont know..

the exchange rate is not in your favor... it adds up!

then we thought how could we have all these people come over and not to something the night before and so on..

then my family (sister and brothers) it would have been a burden for them..

so the stress wasnt worth it.. but we decided we will go back to renew our vows!!

price around and see what your options are before you decide... and approx how many people will attend.

hth

erdbeere Posted: Apr 11, 2007 12:36 PM

Re: Which wedding do you think would be more expensive?

Depends...if you plan on having 200+ guests in LI that will prolly be more expensive.

We're getting married in Austria and things here (we live in Germany) are aloooot more expensive than in the US...especially since the dollar is so weak right now. And its alot harder to plan because I have ideas of an 'american' wedding and everyone here looks at my like I have 2 heads even though in the US its absolutely normal.

It will also be pretty difficult planning from LI...and also difficult unless you speak fluent Italian. I understand most German but I don't speak it so I make FH do it, but he just doesn't seem to get the message across.

And another problem is that alot of the people I am inviting from the US can't afford to come over, so we're going to end up having a 2nd reception in NJ.

Sooo... the easiest choice would definitely be LI...but if your only going to have a simple, small wedding in Italy..then that may be the cheaper option.

AS Posted: Apr 11, 2007 12:37 PM

Re: Which wedding do you think would be more expensive?

Its def cheaper in Europe. I wanted a Greece wedding but decided against it because many of my fam and friends would not make it there. A LI wedding is def more expensive because of the hall, the add-ons, church, dress, etc etc etc

Kara and Todd Posted: Apr 11, 2007 12:40 PM

Re: Which wedding do you think would be more expensive?

Greece is far less expensive overall than Italy. It's difficult to compare the two.

I think either way you could wind up with a minimum cost of $20,000.

You also have to take into consideration your guests. Asking people to spend upwards of $3,000 just to attend your wedding is a LOT. Many people may not be willing to pay that.

erdbeere Posted: Apr 11, 2007 01:15 PM

Re: Which wedding do you think would be more expensive?

Posted by Kara and Todd

I think either way you could wind up with a minimum cost of $20,000.

You also have to take into consideration your guests. Asking people to spend upwards of $3,000 just to attend your wedding is a LOT. Many people may not be willing to pay that.

Staying under $20,000 is definitely hard even with a small wedding... we're having less than 50 people and will come out around $20,000. It just depends on what you want...if you get married in Italy and skip all the extras you could probably do it.

And you really have to take the guests into consideration...there may be people you really want to be there that just can't afford it... then again, if you get married in LI alot of your relatives in Italy might not be able to come. Tough situation...we only chose Austria because I knew FHs family wouldn't fly over the the US.

MJDoc12 Posted: Apr 11, 2007 01:17 PM

Re: Which wedding do you think would be more expensive?

do you plan on covering your guests airline & hotel expenses to italy? if so, then i'd say the italy one would wind up being more costly...cause it's not like italy is a cheap place!