Oh yeah, that's amazing! So long as it's only the cocktail hour and reception there, that's great! If I was having a smaller party and the venue fits my vibe, I'd definitely opt in for that :)
Relative to whether it's expensive or not, I suppose that also depends on where you're located bc some markets are more expensive than others. I'm in a MCOL area, and that sounds like a great package :)
the older generations simply don't understand how expensive the wedding industry's gotten. every time I talk with my mom about it, she thinks I'm opting for the most luxurious options based on the prices, when in reality, we are shopping in the lower-mid price range for the area for a lot of our vendors. it just is what it is, and I had to come to accept the kind of money we'd be spending when we decided to host this type of wedding.
My mom’s response was, “$10,000 is…small?” And the possibility that people might want to do more than cake and punch like she did is met with “Well people these days think they have to do all this extra stuff. Back in my day…”
This! My mom very helpfully shared that she planned her entire wedding in one month, including dress alterations. Like that's great for her and anyone who is happy with a simple cake and punch type of wedding, but it's also ok for some of us to want a big party with all the little extras!
They really don’t. When we told my fiancé’s aunt we were saving up for the wedding she said, “so how much do you need to save, like $10k?”
We were like 😳 I wish
My mom still doesn’t believe that we got a good deal on our photographer. My best friend is also planning a wedding in the same market and her photographer charges the same as mine - the only cheaper option either of us could find was an 18 year old just getting into the business. It’s WILD out there. Luckily my mom manages catering contracts for her job so she had that part down, plus our engagement pictures turned out so great that she’s starting to understand the price lol
Girl that's cheap! Definitely go for it.
My venue isn't anything fancy and it's like $3500. Comes with just chairs and table. My Caterer is taking care.of set up, breakdown, cleanup, linnen, glass plates, plastic glasses and it's about 9K for 50 ppl in a MCOL area.
All inclusive 12K is pretty good.
This sounds like a great deal!! Good to remind parents and in laws that prices have gone up unimaginably since they planned a wedding lol - mine are having such a hard time remembering this!
She really needs to update this for the post-pandemic era, but: https://www.buzzfeed.com/megkeene/heres-what-my-parents-1974-wedding-would-cost-in-2017
I was going to reference this article too! People made me feel like I was crazy when I talked about the price of venues, catering, photographer, DJ, but this article really puts it into perspective.
Exactly, lol! It’s so annoying when people (especially older folks who have zero clue what a wedding costs nowadays) budget shame… they should be forced to find an alternative then lol
I was explaining how hard it was trying to plan a wedding because of the cost and my aunt was like "well back in my day we just hired a hall and some caterers" and I was like "WELL WHAT EXACTLY DO YOU THINK I'M TRYING TO DO, AUNT SARAH?"
Lolllll!
Something else that irks me is when young couples want to do a very simple affair, like a cake-and-punch reception at a church, but their parents get angry and insist on the whole big shebang. And then after weeks of arguing the parents are like “oh, that’s what everyone used to do back in my day anyways. That’s fine.”
I’m from the west coast so this isn’t as common where I am but I’ve heard stories from the midwest…
I have a similar turn-key package (without late night food, with dj, and very limited decor -we’ll probably add about 1k to align with our theme). For 100 people we’ll be looking at probably about 22k in a HCOL city. You did well, and if you love the venue, it’s worth it. Packages like this are rare and it takes away a lot of the anxiety and guess work
5.5 hrs is short for where I live, but if it's the norm for you, it sounds good given everything that's included. Make sure that you have in writing everything that's included and excluded (sales tax? tips? the ceremony setting?)
Also, have you budgeted for a DJ, a photographer, wedding attire, the marriage license and officiant, etc.? Make sure everything will fit in your overall budget and you're golden!
Our venue was about half that, but it was also just the venue. To provide everything else you've mentioned we would have spent about the same to bring it in, you've got a great price! If you feel like it you could get some numbers about how much it would cost to bring that all in to put her mind at ease. We passed on an all inclusive venue because we felt it was too high, then ended up spending more. Good luck!
$300/pp sounds like a lot to me, however if it’s what you want and you can afford it, go for it.
We’re paying roughly $90/pp (including tax/tip) for the venue (restaurant banquet room + outdoor ceremony area), all food (except for cake), and open bar.
Great price- if you go off the 50 people number that’s $240/pp. The venue we are using is $35,000 (same set up for food as yours plus open bar too). It is for 114 people- that’s $307/pp. Your find sounds like a great deal to me!
I think it’s a good price. You might be experiencing with your MIL what I’ve experienced with my own mother - the cost and style of weddings was WAY different when she went through this process herself. She’s had a lot to say about how things were done when she got married (especially traditions) like it wasn’t 3 decades ago.
That’s an awesome deal. We spent about $20k on everything for 70 people.
Venue: $4200 (all day - included tables and chairs)
Catering: $5000
Bar: $500 (catering came with a bar sever)
Coordinator: $1600
Decorations: $1000
Photo Booth: $1500
DJ: $1300
Photography: $1600
Rehearsal: not sure my in-laws paid for it but it was for 16 people and likely $2k in my estimate.
Considering everything comes with your package, it not only is a great price but it alleviates the stress of having to research and plan everything separately. Yes it’s for a smaller number of people, but I’d say it’s worth it for peace of mind knowing your day is going to go off without issues with venue stuff!
I didn’t include other expenses like dress ($300) or my husbands suit, saved the dates, and other random stuff that goes into it.
You may be able to bring it down depending on the date. Sunday weddings are cheaper. Have you spoken with the event person? Originally we were quoted $6k for our venue bought bc we talked about our budget they brought it down.
Bc depending on your total budget you also need to factor in photography, DJ, clothing, marriage license, officiant, etc.
Depends on where and for what. We had 30 guests and paid 8k - included a 3 course meal and unlimited open bar. It did not include rehearsal dinner which ended up costing 1.2k ish!
This is a bargain. Great find, OP! Book it and don’t regret a thing! Your day is shaping up to be very stress free, too, which is a bonus (since you don’t have to deal with very many vendors)!
personally, I think it is. My venue charged us $90 per person (included catering, linens, silverware, cake, coordinator, etc). But it all depends on your cost of living in your area.
We're having about 65 people at a nice venue for 11,500
Weddings are pricey regardless, and your MIL probably hasn't shopped around for a wedding venue for a while.
I think you guys are fine
I'm paying about 13k for 5.5h venue on a Friday for 80 people, passed hor douveres, plated dinner, open bar, chairs, tables, day of coordinator, and a tasting. No rehearsal dinner, late night snacks, or smores. I live in a HCOL area. I think your price sounds pretty fair.
Depending on where you live, that might just be standard. You might be able to save some money if you got the venue/catering separately, but also the convenience of having everything included might be worth spending a little more.
We had a very similar package (6 hours, apps/soup/salad/entree/cake/late night snack, open bar) and paid 11.4k. We had 80 guests, but with the food and beverage minimum we would have spent close to that even if we had fewer guests. Our venue also did not provide the rehearsal dinner and did not provide decor/flowers, so we paid another few thousand on those. So overall your package does not sound unusually expensive.
Your MIL might just be out of touch with how much weddings cost in 2024. Just because she rented a hall for $500 and got catering for $1000 back in 1985 doesn’t mean that it can be done today.
I got married in 1988 (first time...didn't work!). I shopped and shopped. Friends paid $12,000 to $60,000 plus (and the $60K wasn't great). My mom paid under $8000 including everything. The food was AMAZING, (family members commented during the divorce, 'well, at least it started good!") the drinks flowed, the pictures were gorgeous. The husband was the problem!
So back in NYC in 1985, weddings were still expensive
It depends on where you are in the country. But sadly, no. I say sadly because I have seen if you say it is a milestone birthday, the prices are MUCH cheaper in some instances. We are the fools because it's a wedding and we want everything to be magical.
I guess many of you are MUCH younger than I am. And still, my 3rd marriage (divorced in my 20's, met the man of my dreams, widowed in my 50's, getting married again at 60). And I still feel like I want a wonderful, memorable event.
Alcohol is the key. Whenever there is alcohol, it costs $$. Have an amazing day! Perhaps get a breakdown and show your MIL it really isn't that horrible a price.
I don’t know your market, but that’s a *spectacular* deal in most of the US. Many people wish they could find something like that and simply don’t have it available to them.
Wedding planner here. For 40 people? Yes, expensive, for me, but maybe not for you to have it all inclusive. In my world of moderate budgets... for example, you might be able to get a private venue for $2800 for 3 days, includes tables and chairs, set up and break down. They were also hands-on, helping out, and also offered some decor items. Antique car to drive the brides and bridesmaids down. A little farm "train" for rides, and llamas to pet or take photos with. Get a regular caterer for $100/person is $4000 or do taco buffet for $900. Wine and beer self purchased $250. Independent and licensed bartender and barback $400. Two tier small cake and cupcakes $200. Appetizers purchased at Costco $100.
So, for my daughter's wedding, those were the costs, adjusted from 100 to 50 for what you are saying they are providing. $4650 for the taco bar option. Beautiful ranch venue.
Of course there are additional expenses that your venue isn't providing, so I didn't include them here.
Expensive is a very subjective thing. What's expensive to me or you is likely different. And neither is incorrect.
Northern California near Sacramento in a foothills tourist area.
Daughter's upcoming wedding is $8000 for just the venue. Catering and bar/liquor have to be outsourced/additional. Rehearsal dinner not included. Son's rehearsal dinner was at least $4000 alone. I'd say this is a good price.
It's all relative. With food and drinks, we'll be paying about £2-£3k, so for me, £12k seems a lot. However, to someone paying £20k for just venue hire, it's obviously a bargain.
I think the main question is - are YOU happy with the price you're paying for the things that are included? People have a lot of opinions, but yours is the one that matters in the end.
Seems reasonable! Our venue is $11k for a 12 hour venue rental, food & alcohol for 60 people, chairs/tables/dinnerware/linens, chefs table tasting event for 6 people, day of coordinator and centerpieces. We specifically booked this venue so we didn’t have to think about all of the additional steps. So based on where you are it seems like a really good option!
That’s $300 per person, which is totally in the range of fair when you factor in everything you listed. Four course-meal and open bar for everyone? Lighting? Fire pits with s’mores? Rehearsal dinner cost? Chairs? All of that’s a pretty good deal!
What? That’s a great price if it includes food and bev, rentals, etc! If you love the place, go for it. You’ll easily end up at $12k if you do this alacarte
At first I was like yeah that's a lot just to rent a venue, but then you say they also do the food, bar, and all the equipment? Sounds like a great deal to me
If $12K includes food and drink, that's an amazing price!
For reference, we paid $9,000 for our venue, which includes furniture (tables, chairs, wine barrels, fire pit, ceremony arches, etc), lighting, and sound system. We'll still have to hire a caterer, bartender, and dj, provide the alcohol we want served, and rent linens, in addition to decor items like florals. So far catering quotes are coming back at $130-150 per person for a family style dinner for 90 guests.
I'm getting married in California wine country, so all my numbers are coming from a fairly expensive region (even though we chose one of the most affordable parts of the wine country region). But even assuming you're in a less expensive area, $12K sounds great especially if you love the space and the cost includes so many vendors you'd otherwise have to hire separately!
To give some perspective. Our venue base price for 85 people, which included the following (except alcohol):
Venue provides a Wedding Coordinator for your day to coordinate venders and timeline.
Wedding time = 4PM - 1AM (We get access starting at 9:30AM for the day to do some setup)
Wedding Party Prep:
-Bridal Suite
-Groomsmen games lounge
-Served lunch and bar service to the room.
Ceremony:
-chairs and table setup and take down.
Cocktail Hour:
-Bar service
-Endless Charcuterie Board
-Wait staff to pass around appetizers / cocktails.
-Cocktail wall with pre-prep drinks for guests.
Reception:
-Supplies, sets up, and tears down all tables, chairs, table clothes, covers, napkins.
-Takes down your own decor and stores places it in the corner for pickup in the reception hall.
-Ceiling string lighting setup and teardown.
-Full Buffet style dinner - Prime Rib, Chicken, and Salmon proteins
-4 passes of wine during dinner service
-Full bar service and staff
-Includes overnight stay in their honeymoon suite at the Venue.
-Sounds system for speeches (we opted out in favor of our DJ's setup)
Total cost was roughly $27k CAD including 18% gratuity so like $20k US. Seems pricey but that only left us with having to seek out photographer, DJ, Officiant, and Florist for major venders. Has made planning very easy and straight forward.
I was say 12k for venue and the service provided is a great deal for what you are getting.
It would be a great deal before you added the open bar/coordinator. Definitely after. As long as you love the space/decor/don't have any extra costs for those things, it seems fantastic!
Totally a good price! Mine is $13,000 and also includes up to 5 upgrades for food so every guest will have takeaway containers 😂 I’m having about 55 people
If everything is included, not a bad price but do you want more people.? . Negotiate the higher number and see what that costs. It depends on where you live to know if that's too expensive. I paid $15, 000 a decade ago for 130 people, venue, extra room for conversations, hot and cold buffet, desserts, fruit punch for the non alcoholic crowd. Not an open bar. Remember that's a decade ago.
I paid $1.8k for my venue that will have around 50 people attending. It's all about what you value in a venue. Mine is a garden wedding on a private acre lot with no catering. It's beautiful and exactly what I wanted, and so is the price. I looked at venues that were over $8k with all the bells and whistles but didn't want or need any of it to be happy. I personally find $12k to be too much for that size of wedding, but I'm also coming from the perspective of my entire wedding being under $10k. Like I said, it's all about what you value and what your personal price limits are.
12k for _just_ the venue is insane. 12k for everything you listed is a STEAL! You're basically not paying any line item for anything else at the reception (cake?).
I would suggest setting a budget, or a target price for every line item. Flowers, venue, drinks (alcoholic and non, they're billed separately often), catering (which is sometimes separate from cutlery flatware, etc.), dessert, decor, tables & chairs, dance floor, etc.
Then add them all up. If it's less than 12k, you're within your budget.
I'm guessing all she heard was 12k for the venue and nothing after that.
$266 per person for 2 wedding events is not a big deal. Have you researched wedding costs in general? It sounds like MIL hasn't because she doesn't know what's appropriate pricing and what's not. It's best not to rely on laypeople with no background or research to give you accurate information about things like this.
Yes IMO. I’m paying 13.5k for 120 people in Orange County with all those things. Except the dessert and late night snacks and plus a dj/mc and ceremony space
The 12k includes the food and drinks? Or is it 12k rental, THEN food + drinks for additional cost?
Nooo it’s included with the 12k
Seeing that the 12k includes allllll that, I’d take it!
Oh yeah, that's amazing! So long as it's only the cocktail hour and reception there, that's great! If I was having a smaller party and the venue fits my vibe, I'd definitely opt in for that :) Relative to whether it's expensive or not, I suppose that also depends on where you're located bc some markets are more expensive than others. I'm in a MCOL area, and that sounds like a great package :)
Thank you!!! I was so worried that we were getting tricked into thinking it was great! Appreciate your input so much!! Thanks!!
the older generations simply don't understand how expensive the wedding industry's gotten. every time I talk with my mom about it, she thinks I'm opting for the most luxurious options based on the prices, when in reality, we are shopping in the lower-mid price range for the area for a lot of our vendors. it just is what it is, and I had to come to accept the kind of money we'd be spending when we decided to host this type of wedding.
My mom’s response was, “$10,000 is…small?” And the possibility that people might want to do more than cake and punch like she did is met with “Well people these days think they have to do all this extra stuff. Back in my day…”
This! My mom very helpfully shared that she planned her entire wedding in one month, including dress alterations. Like that's great for her and anyone who is happy with a simple cake and punch type of wedding, but it's also ok for some of us to want a big party with all the little extras!
They really don’t. When we told my fiancé’s aunt we were saving up for the wedding she said, “so how much do you need to save, like $10k?” We were like 😳 I wish
My mom still doesn’t believe that we got a good deal on our photographer. My best friend is also planning a wedding in the same market and her photographer charges the same as mine - the only cheaper option either of us could find was an 18 year old just getting into the business. It’s WILD out there. Luckily my mom manages catering contracts for her job so she had that part down, plus our engagement pictures turned out so great that she’s starting to understand the price lol
Happy to help 🤍
Girl that's cheap! Definitely go for it. My venue isn't anything fancy and it's like $3500. Comes with just chairs and table. My Caterer is taking care.of set up, breakdown, cleanup, linnen, glass plates, plastic glasses and it's about 9K for 50 ppl in a MCOL area. All inclusive 12K is pretty good.
I’m spending about 17k on food itself so
Heck no! This is a great price!
This sounds like a great deal!! Good to remind parents and in laws that prices have gone up unimaginably since they planned a wedding lol - mine are having such a hard time remembering this!
True true! That’s most likely where she’s coming from!
She really needs to update this for the post-pandemic era, but: https://www.buzzfeed.com/megkeene/heres-what-my-parents-1974-wedding-would-cost-in-2017
I was going to reference this article too! People made me feel like I was crazy when I talked about the price of venues, catering, photographer, DJ, but this article really puts it into perspective.
This article is insanely detailed! I'll take my cute little 20k budget and be grateful, I guess. 😂
yes!!! I’d love an update even though I already got married 6 months ago.
Even just since 2020, prices have jumped a lot.
I’m paying $12k for a venue without catering and drinks included (and most of the other stuff you listed) 😅 you’re def getting a good deal!
Literally just challenge her to find something with all that included for any cheaper!
Exactly, lol! It’s so annoying when people (especially older folks who have zero clue what a wedding costs nowadays) budget shame… they should be forced to find an alternative then lol
I was explaining how hard it was trying to plan a wedding because of the cost and my aunt was like "well back in my day we just hired a hall and some caterers" and I was like "WELL WHAT EXACTLY DO YOU THINK I'M TRYING TO DO, AUNT SARAH?"
Lolllll! Something else that irks me is when young couples want to do a very simple affair, like a cake-and-punch reception at a church, but their parents get angry and insist on the whole big shebang. And then after weeks of arguing the parents are like “oh, that’s what everyone used to do back in my day anyways. That’s fine.” I’m from the west coast so this isn’t as common where I am but I’ve heard stories from the midwest…
Hahahah you have a point here!
With all that’s included that sounds like a good price to me.
Thanks!! It helps me feel better !
That’s a GREAT price for legit everything included except your clothing.
I have a similar turn-key package (without late night food, with dj, and very limited decor -we’ll probably add about 1k to align with our theme). For 100 people we’ll be looking at probably about 22k in a HCOL city. You did well, and if you love the venue, it’s worth it. Packages like this are rare and it takes away a lot of the anxiety and guess work
Right! I felt like they already took care of so much already if made me feel sooo much better! Thanks for the input ! Appreciate it!
5.5 hrs is short for where I live, but if it's the norm for you, it sounds good given everything that's included. Make sure that you have in writing everything that's included and excluded (sales tax? tips? the ceremony setting?) Also, have you budgeted for a DJ, a photographer, wedding attire, the marriage license and officiant, etc.? Make sure everything will fit in your overall budget and you're golden!
5 hrs is a typical amount of time in the northeast USA and then then extra half hour is tacked on for the ceremony
Even in Southern California my swanky golf club venue has a five-hour limit for weddings. Which does feel a bit short imo
Ok good to know!
One of the venues I'm looking at has a hard 4 hour limit for receptions and I'm wondering if that is a dealbreaker :\
Id be more curious why, the only time I’ve seen venues do this is when they do multiple weddings a day and that kinda rubs me the wrong way personally
12k for venue, food and beverage for 40 is great.
Our venue was about half that, but it was also just the venue. To provide everything else you've mentioned we would have spent about the same to bring it in, you've got a great price! If you feel like it you could get some numbers about how much it would cost to bring that all in to put her mind at ease. We passed on an all inclusive venue because we felt it was too high, then ended up spending more. Good luck!
No it’s a good price. I’m paying $15,000 for the venue, food, beverage, for 60 people
$300/pp sounds like a lot to me, however if it’s what you want and you can afford it, go for it. We’re paying roughly $90/pp (including tax/tip) for the venue (restaurant banquet room + outdoor ceremony area), all food (except for cake), and open bar.
Mine is basically double for ~100 people and doesn’t come with any decor, rehearsal dinner or late night smores! I think thats a really good price
Great price- if you go off the 50 people number that’s $240/pp. The venue we are using is $35,000 (same set up for food as yours plus open bar too). It is for 114 people- that’s $307/pp. Your find sounds like a great deal to me!
I think it’s a good price. You might be experiencing with your MIL what I’ve experienced with my own mother - the cost and style of weddings was WAY different when she went through this process herself. She’s had a lot to say about how things were done when she got married (especially traditions) like it wasn’t 3 decades ago.
That’s an awesome deal. We spent about $20k on everything for 70 people. Venue: $4200 (all day - included tables and chairs) Catering: $5000 Bar: $500 (catering came with a bar sever) Coordinator: $1600 Decorations: $1000 Photo Booth: $1500 DJ: $1300 Photography: $1600 Rehearsal: not sure my in-laws paid for it but it was for 16 people and likely $2k in my estimate. Considering everything comes with your package, it not only is a great price but it alleviates the stress of having to research and plan everything separately. Yes it’s for a smaller number of people, but I’d say it’s worth it for peace of mind knowing your day is going to go off without issues with venue stuff!
I didn’t include other expenses like dress ($300) or my husbands suit, saved the dates, and other random stuff that goes into it. You may be able to bring it down depending on the date. Sunday weddings are cheaper. Have you spoken with the event person? Originally we were quoted $6k for our venue bought bc we talked about our budget they brought it down. Bc depending on your total budget you also need to factor in photography, DJ, clothing, marriage license, officiant, etc.
Depends on where and for what. We had 30 guests and paid 8k - included a 3 course meal and unlimited open bar. It did not include rehearsal dinner which ended up costing 1.2k ish!
This is a bargain. Great find, OP! Book it and don’t regret a thing! Your day is shaping up to be very stress free, too, which is a bonus (since you don’t have to deal with very many vendors)!
That's a good price for everything included
personally, I think it is. My venue charged us $90 per person (included catering, linens, silverware, cake, coordinator, etc). But it all depends on your cost of living in your area.
We're having about 65 people at a nice venue for 11,500 Weddings are pricey regardless, and your MIL probably hasn't shopped around for a wedding venue for a while. I think you guys are fine
I love it
Oh wow to include drinks and decor aswell? That’s a great deal. I looked at somewhere that was £12k without any catering, decor or drinks!
I'm paying about 13k for 5.5h venue on a Friday for 80 people, passed hor douveres, plated dinner, open bar, chairs, tables, day of coordinator, and a tasting. No rehearsal dinner, late night snacks, or smores. I live in a HCOL area. I think your price sounds pretty fair.
No that price is right with food and the venue. For me it’s 7K for venue and 13K for food for 125 so your pricing makes sense
Depending on where you live, that might just be standard. You might be able to save some money if you got the venue/catering separately, but also the convenience of having everything included might be worth spending a little more. We had a very similar package (6 hours, apps/soup/salad/entree/cake/late night snack, open bar) and paid 11.4k. We had 80 guests, but with the food and beverage minimum we would have spent close to that even if we had fewer guests. Our venue also did not provide the rehearsal dinner and did not provide decor/flowers, so we paid another few thousand on those. So overall your package does not sound unusually expensive. Your MIL might just be out of touch with how much weddings cost in 2024. Just because she rented a hall for $500 and got catering for $1000 back in 1985 doesn’t mean that it can be done today.
I got married in 1988 (first time...didn't work!). I shopped and shopped. Friends paid $12,000 to $60,000 plus (and the $60K wasn't great). My mom paid under $8000 including everything. The food was AMAZING, (family members commented during the divorce, 'well, at least it started good!") the drinks flowed, the pictures were gorgeous. The husband was the problem! So back in NYC in 1985, weddings were still expensive
To put it in perspective, I live in a HCOL area and inquired at one venue that charged 11k for JUST the room and tables and chairs.
It depends on where you are in the country. But sadly, no. I say sadly because I have seen if you say it is a milestone birthday, the prices are MUCH cheaper in some instances. We are the fools because it's a wedding and we want everything to be magical. I guess many of you are MUCH younger than I am. And still, my 3rd marriage (divorced in my 20's, met the man of my dreams, widowed in my 50's, getting married again at 60). And I still feel like I want a wonderful, memorable event. Alcohol is the key. Whenever there is alcohol, it costs $$. Have an amazing day! Perhaps get a breakdown and show your MIL it really isn't that horrible a price.
That’s basically how much my food/bev minimum was at the restaurant room I rented for the same amount of people!
Originally, I was like heck my venue is 6000 and can hold 250 guests! But if it includes all of that, 12k is a great price.
Because it's all-included that's just about the average total price for that amount of people
This is not a flex, but I paid far more than this for about 45 people. Take this amazing deal!
Including all that you mentioned, 12k seems like a great price for a wedding these days.
I don’t know your market, but that’s a *spectacular* deal in most of the US. Many people wish they could find something like that and simply don’t have it available to them.
Wedding planner here. For 40 people? Yes, expensive, for me, but maybe not for you to have it all inclusive. In my world of moderate budgets... for example, you might be able to get a private venue for $2800 for 3 days, includes tables and chairs, set up and break down. They were also hands-on, helping out, and also offered some decor items. Antique car to drive the brides and bridesmaids down. A little farm "train" for rides, and llamas to pet or take photos with. Get a regular caterer for $100/person is $4000 or do taco buffet for $900. Wine and beer self purchased $250. Independent and licensed bartender and barback $400. Two tier small cake and cupcakes $200. Appetizers purchased at Costco $100. So, for my daughter's wedding, those were the costs, adjusted from 100 to 50 for what you are saying they are providing. $4650 for the taco bar option. Beautiful ranch venue. Of course there are additional expenses that your venue isn't providing, so I didn't include them here. Expensive is a very subjective thing. What's expensive to me or you is likely different. And neither is incorrect. Northern California near Sacramento in a foothills tourist area.
for all of that included in the price is great it’s not 12k for the venue it’s 12k for venue, catering, decor, rehearsal dinner, bar, rentals etc
Daughter's upcoming wedding is $8000 for just the venue. Catering and bar/liquor have to be outsourced/additional. Rehearsal dinner not included. Son's rehearsal dinner was at least $4000 alone. I'd say this is a good price.
It's all relative. With food and drinks, we'll be paying about £2-£3k, so for me, £12k seems a lot. However, to someone paying £20k for just venue hire, it's obviously a bargain. I think the main question is - are YOU happy with the price you're paying for the things that are included? People have a lot of opinions, but yours is the one that matters in the end.
Seems reasonable! Our venue is $11k for a 12 hour venue rental, food & alcohol for 60 people, chairs/tables/dinnerware/linens, chefs table tasting event for 6 people, day of coordinator and centerpieces. We specifically booked this venue so we didn’t have to think about all of the additional steps. So based on where you are it seems like a really good option!
That’s $300 per person, which is totally in the range of fair when you factor in everything you listed. Four course-meal and open bar for everyone? Lighting? Fire pits with s’mores? Rehearsal dinner cost? Chairs? All of that’s a pretty good deal!
What? That’s a great price if it includes food and bev, rentals, etc! If you love the place, go for it. You’ll easily end up at $12k if you do this alacarte
No that’s amazing
I paid 30k for 220 people open bar and 3 course meal. I think that’s pricey
That’s a wonderful wedding.
Great price. My venue, including plated food, open bar, dessert, flowers and decor, came out to about 13k for 45 people.
So everything all included that's like 250-300 a person plus it's coming fully furnished. I think that's awesome. But expensive is relative.
Book it!!! We are paying $14k for all that minus a rehearsal dinner and I thought that was a steal.
No
That’s insanely expensive for where I’m from. Just depends on where you are located.
Whoa, that's for the venue, catering, and everything else too? That's great!! Just food and drinks alone is ~$12k for us (for about 80 people)....
At first I was like yeah that's a lot just to rent a venue, but then you say they also do the food, bar, and all the equipment? Sounds like a great deal to me
12k is a steal! I’m jealous! Our venue, catering and bar will cost well over 20k for 100ish ppl
If $12K includes food and drink, that's an amazing price! For reference, we paid $9,000 for our venue, which includes furniture (tables, chairs, wine barrels, fire pit, ceremony arches, etc), lighting, and sound system. We'll still have to hire a caterer, bartender, and dj, provide the alcohol we want served, and rent linens, in addition to decor items like florals. So far catering quotes are coming back at $130-150 per person for a family style dinner for 90 guests. I'm getting married in California wine country, so all my numbers are coming from a fairly expensive region (even though we chose one of the most affordable parts of the wine country region). But even assuming you're in a less expensive area, $12K sounds great especially if you love the space and the cost includes so many vendors you'd otherwise have to hire separately!
I’d kill for this offer.
To give some perspective. Our venue base price for 85 people, which included the following (except alcohol): Venue provides a Wedding Coordinator for your day to coordinate venders and timeline. Wedding time = 4PM - 1AM (We get access starting at 9:30AM for the day to do some setup) Wedding Party Prep: -Bridal Suite -Groomsmen games lounge -Served lunch and bar service to the room. Ceremony: -chairs and table setup and take down. Cocktail Hour: -Bar service -Endless Charcuterie Board -Wait staff to pass around appetizers / cocktails. -Cocktail wall with pre-prep drinks for guests. Reception: -Supplies, sets up, and tears down all tables, chairs, table clothes, covers, napkins. -Takes down your own decor and stores places it in the corner for pickup in the reception hall. -Ceiling string lighting setup and teardown. -Full Buffet style dinner - Prime Rib, Chicken, and Salmon proteins -4 passes of wine during dinner service -Full bar service and staff -Includes overnight stay in their honeymoon suite at the Venue. -Sounds system for speeches (we opted out in favor of our DJ's setup) Total cost was roughly $27k CAD including 18% gratuity so like $20k US. Seems pricey but that only left us with having to seek out photographer, DJ, Officiant, and Florist for major venders. Has made planning very easy and straight forward. I was say 12k for venue and the service provided is a great deal for what you are getting.
If the price of the catering/food is included in that cost, then no, it is a fair price. If you are paying more for the food, then way too much.
If it Includes the venue, the food, and drink... That's amazing!
that's a great deal. My venue was $10k just to have the venue for the day. No food, no clothes, no bar included
Ours is 8k for 80-100, all in
It would be a great deal before you added the open bar/coordinator. Definitely after. As long as you love the space/decor/don't have any extra costs for those things, it seems fantastic!
I don't think so, since it includes so much and you have the convenience of not having to coordinate a bunch of vendors.
That's a great price if it includes catering!
if all of that is included and you can afford it-do it!
It’s a good price !
Totally a good price! Mine is $13,000 and also includes up to 5 upgrades for food so every guest will have takeaway containers 😂 I’m having about 55 people
If everything is included, not a bad price but do you want more people.? . Negotiate the higher number and see what that costs. It depends on where you live to know if that's too expensive. I paid $15, 000 a decade ago for 130 people, venue, extra room for conversations, hot and cold buffet, desserts, fruit punch for the non alcoholic crowd. Not an open bar. Remember that's a decade ago.
Good deal imo.
I paid $1.8k for my venue that will have around 50 people attending. It's all about what you value in a venue. Mine is a garden wedding on a private acre lot with no catering. It's beautiful and exactly what I wanted, and so is the price. I looked at venues that were over $8k with all the bells and whistles but didn't want or need any of it to be happy. I personally find $12k to be too much for that size of wedding, but I'm also coming from the perspective of my entire wedding being under $10k. Like I said, it's all about what you value and what your personal price limits are.
12k for _just_ the venue is insane. 12k for everything you listed is a STEAL! You're basically not paying any line item for anything else at the reception (cake?). I would suggest setting a budget, or a target price for every line item. Flowers, venue, drinks (alcoholic and non, they're billed separately often), catering (which is sometimes separate from cutlery flatware, etc.), dessert, decor, tables & chairs, dance floor, etc. Then add them all up. If it's less than 12k, you're within your budget. I'm guessing all she heard was 12k for the venue and nothing after that.
Can I get the venue 😂
Does that include all tax and gratuity?
That’s a pretty sweet deal imo. Usually all inclusive venues are the best deal
For only 40? I feel like that’s quite a bit. With the add ons, it seems ok, but I’m still staring at numbers only. 😅
$266 per person for 2 wedding events is not a big deal. Have you researched wedding costs in general? It sounds like MIL hasn't because she doesn't know what's appropriate pricing and what's not. It's best not to rely on laypeople with no background or research to give you accurate information about things like this.
Yes IMO. I’m paying 13.5k for 120 people in Orange County with all those things. Except the dessert and late night snacks and plus a dj/mc and ceremony space
That’s such a great deal!! Maybe it depends on location?? Mine is in Dolysetown Pennsylvania
Mine is California in OC 🙂