I got a good laugh out of this one

[Kacie_bride]

I just checked my e-mail and a country club had sent me a message. I already have my site booked, but I went into their website out of curiousity. I thought to myself, you sent this to the WRONG person. I didn't read how much it was just to book the place, but the first thing I saw was the minimum food and beverage charge. It was $10,000! That's insane to me.

[CindySue]

Wow....Kacie!
Are they going to make someone really spend that much?

[LaceyinPgh]

Most places I talked to had at least a food and beverage minimum. I know that our venue did. I forget how much exactly but trust me, you will probably cover it. You might as well because you'll get charged for it anyway.

[brewsells]

I agree with that, but 10K!! That is alot of money!

[CindySue]

I agree with that, but 10K!! That is alot of money!
I agree......most people are trying to plan an ENTIRE wedding on less than that!

[brewsells]

I KNOW I am .

[Kacie_bride]

Wow....Kacie!
Are they going to make someone really spend that much?

Oh yes they are going to make someone pay that much just for food. Our venue is costing $500 and our food is $13.00/person. That is way under $10,000! It just astounded me that they could have a minimum of $10,000. I can understand some places having a minimum, but $10,000 is an insane amount for a minimum.

[AngelinLove]

Our venue's minimum for food and beverage is 100 people at $70-$74 a plate, so that is over $7,000.00 right there!!! I thought that thsi was insane myself, but $10,000 just takes the cake!!! No pun intended..lol!!!

[MOB Karen]

I was watching the Real Housewives of Orange County or whatever it's called on Bravo. Anyway, this one couple is getting married and he put her on a budget of $125,000 for her wedding to start, and she was mad about it! I was like, "OMG, we could have such a fantastic wedding for that much money." He wasn't even really going to put her on any budget but he told her that to be funny. She said she couldn't possibly have her wedding with only that much money. GEEZ!! That is just so annoying!!

[AngelinLove]

I hate stuff like that Karen. It makes me sooo mad. I just want to reach through teh TV and grab thise women by the shoulders and shake them. It's like you CANNOT be serious. Do they not even realize how much $125,000 is!!!

[MOB Karen]

I hate stuff like that Karen. It makes me sooo mad. I just want to reach through teh TV and grab thise women by the shoulders and shake them. It's like you CANNOT be serious. Do they not even realize how much $125,000 is!!!



I hate that couple now! I have to turn the TV when they are on. ARGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

[Kacie_bride]

I hate stuff like that Karen. It makes me sooo mad. I just want to reach through teh TV and grab thise women by the shoulders and shake them. It's like you CANNOT be serious. Do they not even realize how much $125,000 is!!!

Yeah most people don't even make $125,00 in a year! Something is wrong with people who spend that much on a wedding. I can't even imagine finding $125,00 worth of stuff to spend my money on for the wedding. I'm sure I could do it, but I would have to really work hard at it.

[LaceyinPgh]

You have to take into account the cost of living in areas. In Orange County, $125,000 for a large formal event is about standard. I read somewhere when I first started to plan my wedding that the average American wedding is about $20,000. That is averaging in the cost of weddings in lower cost area (Mid-west, deep south, rural, ect.) along with the cost of weddings in places like LA, NYC, Chicago. Costal areas and the MidAtlantic region tend to be less cost effective than other areas.

I know that I talked to several venues that had a food and beverage minimum of more than $10,000.

[MOB Karen]

You have to take into account the cost of living in areas. In Orange County, $125,000 for a large formal event is about standard. I read somewhere when I first started to plan my wedding that the average American wedding is about $20,000. That is averaging in the cost of weddings in lower cost area (Mid-west, deep south, rural, ect.) along with the cost of weddings in places like LA, NYC, Chicago. Costal areas and the MidAtlantic region tend to be less cost effective than other areas.

I know that I talked to several venues that had a food and beverage minimum of more than $10,000.

That and the fact that we are paying $375 for our venue and they are probably paying $50,000 for theirs.

[cowboysbride]

Eric never said anything to me about the cost...he told me I deserved to have the wedding of my dreams but I'm very aware of what we can and can't afford right now I think that we're at about

900.00 for photograhpher
965.00 for reception venue and caterer
400.00 for band
4800.00 covers my dress, decor, gifts, honeymoon LODGING only and all the other little ****
My cake was FREE!!!!!!!!! My sister makes wedding cakes!
His Tux FREE GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR LOL
So right now we're around 7,000.00

All I can say is thank God for BEEF CATTLE (the farm income will pay most of this off)!

[Kacie_bride]

That is just beyond me. People think we are crazy because our food is going to cost near $4000. Then I'm sure the alcohol will run us another $500 or so. Nobody I know would pay that much for food.

I understand the cost of living is different in certain areas. I just don't know how that particular country club can make it like that in this area. The average salary of people around here is under $30,00 a year. If you only make $30,000 a year how would you be able to spend 1/3 of your salary on food for a wedding?

[Kacie_bride]

Eric never said anything to me about the cost...he told me I deserved to have the wedding of my dreams but I'm very aware of what we can and can't afford right now I think that we're at about

900.00 for photograhpher
965.00 for reception venue and caterer
400.00 for band
4800.00 covers my dress, decor, gifts, honeymoon LODGING only and all the other little ****
My cake was FREE!!!!!!!!! My sister makes wedding cakes!
His Tux FREE GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR LOL
So right now we're around 7,000.00

All I can say is thank God for BEEF CATTLE (the farm income will pay most of this off)!

We are estimating at coming in somewhere between $10,000-15,000. That cost is divided up though. The majority of it is my parents and some of it is Justin's.

[LaceyinPgh]

That is just beyond me. People think we are crazy because our food is going to cost near $4000. Then I'm sure the alcohol will run us another $500 or so. Nobody I know would pay that much for food.

I understand the cost of living is different in certain areas. I just don't know how that particular country club can make it like that in this area. The average salary of people around here is under $30,00 a year. If you only make $30,000 a year how would you be able to spend 1/3 of your salary on food for a wedding?

Probably because they don't get the bulk of their money from weddings. Call and ask how many a year that they do. Then ask how many of those are for local families. You will probably see smaller numbers. Most of their money probably comes from events, and club fees. The golf course if there is one probably pays for itself through greens fees and the such.

[Kacie_bride]

Probably. They are located in a more upscale area too. I'm sure they get some corporate events there as well that help out.

[darkangel090260]

to me that sounds like a lot . but i probley have the lowest buget on the site so anything seam like a lot.

[WhiskeyGirl]

If you break down the $10,000 when having two hundred guests it works out to be about $50 a person. I payed about $70 a plate with two bottles of wine per table and 125 guests. That was about $9000. When looking at the number, it's hard to take but when you break it down to cost per guest, it's a little easier to swallow. It's not hard to get to that amount depending on what kind of meal and drinks you will serve your guests. And I have to say that you can get just as good a meal and sometimes better for much cheaper if you really shop around! I've had wonderful meals at a buffet style meal that cost about $15 a plate then I've had at a sit down wedding with food costing over $50 a plate. It's funny how fast those coins can add up. :wink:

[rainbowtreat]

I for one evem if I had the money would not want that kind of wedding. The moeny would go to other parts of the wedding. I am so much of a layed back easy going person that to sit and have a 3 course meal would be crazy. My food was free and the hall cost me $100. And I would not have changed a thing. The cost of my wedding I am not sure. I would say with EVERYTHING that I paid for it was close to about $5000. If you added in every thing else every one did for us it would be over $10,000 easy. It doesnt seem like much but things add up fast.

[Kacie_bride]

I have been to some nice weddings (at least I think they were nice) and I have never been to a wedding that had food that was served to you. It has always been buffet style. But I was watching this thing on tv about weddings at Disney World. They said that usually Southern brides pick buffet style food even when money was not even worried about. I guess Southerners just like a good buffet more than other people! All you can eat baby!

[MOB Karen]

The buffet was just as expensive as the sit down meal at our country club. We thought about having one but consciously chose not to. The reason that we chose the, as they called it, "elegant sit down meal," was because Amber & I have never liked the all you can eat restaurants. That's the only reason. Everyone is getting the same exact thing on their plate (mixed grill platter), and we are paying $67 for each one. The buffet was $65 per person. Since there is such a variety on each plate, we thought most people will get what they want, and they could always mix and match with their loved ones. Each plate consists of a little piece of grilled filet mignon, a little piece of grilled salmon, and a little piece of grilled chicken breast. Plus a blend of baby carrots and asparagus, roasted red potatoes, and caesar salad.

[LaceyinPgh]

My venue didn't even offer a buffet for weddings. We gave guests a choice between a grilled filet of beef, truffle scented chicken Marsala, grilled salmon, and a vegetarian option. Everything was served with an American field green salad, chive infused mashed potatoes, and mixed spring vegetables, along with the wedding cake and hors d'oeuvres.They ranged in price with everything included to be between $76 and $99 a person. On top of that we tacted on the extras like wine service, maritin bar, ect.

[Kacie_bride]

Most places we checked out around her didn't even offer a sit down style meal! It's funny how things are from place to place!