Wedding Tips start here...

callansdad

Sorry i had to put my chip in..... OH and i are marrying in June. We have laid on a bus to take all the guests to the wedding venue, then off to the meal, then back to the dance at night (all together about a 30 mile trip). On top of this we are supplying a 5 course meal which works out at £29.50 per head, there will be about 36 adults 15 teens/kids and 5 infants. We wondered about drink as well. Would love to pay for an open bar at the meal but instead we are paying for 10 bottles of white and 5 of red and soft drinks for the kids. The venue which we have picked for the evening was only picked as the drink is so cheap. We would rather that the drink was flowing and that the guests had a good time rather than them sneaking in a half bottle in their hand bag because of extortionate prices. We are paying about a grand for a really great act to entertain the guests (which is still less than the food alone). All in all we are spending more than what we originally intended but at the end of the day it is still a cheaper than what we expected.

Now forget me if i am wrong, am i being tight because i am not paying for all the drinks all day and night? As far as i am concerned if you are paying for your guests to eat regardless of the cost it wouldn't be deemed tight if the drinks weren't payed for as well. It looks like to me that Mr X only accepts invitations to weddings where he doesn't have to dive his hand into his pocket to buy himself a beer, slightly selfish i think considering that even the most strictly budgeted of weddings are still quite costly in real terms.

You expect them to look tidy and sometimes travel from a long way, some may need hotels to stay overnight, some may need babysitters, taxis and not fogetting the gift that they will buy you. All expense that they are paying in order to share in your big day. For all of this effort I have no problem buying them drinks/food all day/night. You know who the liberty takers are, so don't invite them . The trouble is so many people put on these big fancy weddings that cost a fortune and then become miserly over the drinks. (And from what I've experienced the showiest weddings of all have never lasted.)

My guests can wear whatever they like and as far as i am concerned i would rather have them sharing our special day than forking out for gifts. If the guests have a problem with paying for babysitters and overnight accom or transport then i would fully understand them not wanting to come and would rather that they didn't come if they grudged making the effort. People drink at different paces, there is no way of knowing how many will be legless by the end of the night. I have never heard of/been to a wedding with a FREE bar at night (and would be scared to drink anything if i was at one as you know how much weddings cost as it is). I think that the only people who would be liberty takers are the ones who moan about having to pay to quench their own thirst.

If i was the op i wouldn't pay for drinks for the night, it is a nice gesture but you are already shelling out and although most people will accept a glass of wine they will probably prefer their regular drink at night and you cannot cater for everyones tastes unless you want to spend an absolute fortune and as i said there is no way in knowing how much people will drink themselves.

If you really do want to buy drinks for the evening then i would say 10/15 drinks a head which works out at 2/3 for each hour, some people may not drink all of these whilst others may drink more.

Rachie_B

MrX wrote:

Rachie_B wrote:

so a "proper" wedding = free booze all day n night


That's right Rachie B.

Imagine if you had two equally good friends that were getting married on the same day. Everything about them and their wedding was identical but one had the free bar all day and night. You can only go to one as they are too far apart to attend both...which one would you go to?

Imagine if you had the same weddings but this time a week apart with the same set of guests going to the same venue etc but one of the receptions was free. Which one do you think the guests would most enjoy?

All I am saying is that I would like my guests to have a great time, good food and drink to help me celebrate my big day. Unfortunately I had the misfortune to be invited to a wedding where no free drinks were provided, and I've never been to such a depressing affair. Most people were tactically drinking to avoid getting the big round of drinks. It's not what I am used to at all. I suppose that's the key. It's what I am used to. All my good friends and family are very generous and so we are happy to give and receive in equal measures.

I've got two wedding this year. And guess what, oh yes, it's free food and booze all day.

Anyway, enough of that as it's not helping answer the original question.

doesnt every couple getting married want this ?!!

and i dont think its anything to do with how "generous" the couple are either !!

yes im sure there probably are couples out there who are "money grabbing" only in it for the "party" and presents etc but none ive ever been to and certainly not my own wedding day !!

which FWIW had 5 "free" drinks ,5 course wedding breakfast ,coach provided for guests journey,huge evening buffet - hot and cold plus desserts,but hey im like soooooooooo gutted that apparently in your "culture" it wasnt a "proper" wedding

remind me when i do it again :rotfl: to make sure im not "tight" and give the guests free drink and food ALL day and night

silly silly me :rolleyes: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

oh and i think that if you need free flowing alcohol to "enjoy it the most" then thats very sad !! weddings dont = getting pi55ed on free booze all day "in my culture"

Rachie_B

anyhoooooo back to the OP Q - i think callansdad suggestion is a good one,maybe provide a set number of drinks per person rather than unlimited as then you can calculate easier as to how much you need to purchase

cookiemonster25

have been looking around for a reasonably priced chocolate fountain to hire for my wedding later this year
the prices i have been quoted by some were daylight robbery up to £850 :eek:
I found this local firm who are really reasonable , they are loacal to me but do travel country wide apparently
worth getting a quote if you are thinking of getting one of these
https://www.deeplydippychocolate.co.uk
HTH

Emms

cookiemonster25 wrote:

have been looking around for a reasonably priced chocolate fountain to hire for my wedding later this year
the prices i have been quoted by some were daylight robbery up to £850 :eek:
I found this local firm who are really reasonable , they are loacal to me but do travel country wide apparently
worth getting a quote if you are thinking of getting one of these
https://www.deeplydippychocolate.co.uk
HTH

What kinda quotes did you get from them. I couldnt see any prices on the website. We are using these guys for chocolate fountain hire for our wedding

http://www.buzzentertainments.com/chocolate.cfm

They quoted us £325 for package 1 and £375 for package 2.

Emma

cookiemonster25

our quote was £340 for 10 dips attendant and a glow light table, i saw them at my friends wedding and the set up looks fab!!!

Emms

cookiemonster25 wrote:

our quote was £340 for 10 dips attendant and a glow light table, i saw them at my friends wedding and the set up looks fab!!!

Thats a really good price. Were only getting 4 dips (might try and sneak my own stuff in too) and no glowing table but its the best price I could find in Scotland. Had a wee taster of one at the Home show last weekend. There soooooooooooooooo good

Emma

MrX

callansdad - You contradict yourself. You say that you would rather the drink was flowing but can't afford to supply it. Save the money from the act and put it behind the bar. After all 36 Adults at your wedding is not going to cost a fortune especially as you say the venue is cheap. Rough calculation 1000 divided by 3 quid a pint divided by 36 adult equals 9 pints a person. As I say it's just a rough calulation but I bet you'll all have a better time. When it runs out then everyone buys there own and I bet you wont have to buy anymore yourself.

Emms - So I'm new to the site. I was looking for cheap car insurance and stumbled across the forums. This was the only thread that struck me as people being tight rathing than trying to save money day to day.

Rachie B - I don't know what to say to you. Maybe, get out more, get some friends and learn what it's like to give as well as receive.
550+ posts since Mar 2006. Says it all really.

Agutka. Sounds like at least someone is of the same opinion as me.

All of you? Why didn't you answer my hypothetcial questions?

Shirlyn. You are asking the wrong question to these forum members.

And finally, I do not EXPECT free booze all day and all night. When a couple generally cannot afford it then that is fine with me.
I'm not the tight one, I do not make a pig of myself, and I am not trying to sound flash by saying I always lay on an all inclusive do for my family parties (including my wedding) But when I see people booking the flashiest do, £2000 wedding dresses, sending out invites that include a gift list etc and then do not even provide a few drinks for their guests it makes me MAD!!!

alison6692

I spotted these at the Pier last night

Cool as centrepieces I think - Plus you could sell them on.

http://www.pier.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=92&products_id=7168

HTH

Still can't find a pier code to get more money off though - Oh well.

falady

Wow! I'm new to MSE and reading about weddings has definitely been giving me ideas - I didn't know it was so complicated though! The idea of favours sounds nice and there's some great ideas on the board. I especially like the idea of big vases or bowls of sweets - a nice but cheap idea and a good way to get people talking to each other...