Marriage Costs

Spendless

Gloomendoom wrote: »

One where no food, apart from a piece of wedding cake, was provided at all. Not really a problem if forewarned, but a bit annoying if you have just been invited to the evening do and driven 200 miles to get there.

Oh good grief, I've never been to one with no food (ones where the food has run out - yes!). We went to one last year, travelled 150 miles, service was at 4pm, got to venue only canapes on. Later there was an evening disco and a huge hot and cold buffet, with food left over. I just wish someone had thought to suggest to the couple to put something a bit more substantial on than canapes after the service- a sandwich each would have done! They could have reduced the evening food a bit to pay for it or got rid of the 'favours' on the table.

Gavin83

Gloomendoom wrote: »

I did it to illustrate that prioritising what is most important to you and ditching the unimportant stuff is a way to reduce costs. In our case we placed a free bar way above chair covers, table favours, hired suits/frocks, limousines, sweet trolleys, professional hair and makeup etc.

I agree, people will have different priorities. We're skipping some of the stuff above and cutting down on others. We're considering favours, but it'll be something people can keep rather than food based and will spend around £2 per guest. We're pretty lucky on the makeup as a professional make up person is doing it as a wedding present and her hair is getting done really cheaply too. I normally spend £12.50 on my haircut at the local barbers so I'll probably just go there a few days beforehand.

Never really seen the point of chair covers, limos, sweet trolleys, photobooths, etc. Each to their own though.

Gloomendoom wrote: »

Not really a problem if forewarned, but a bit annoying if you have just been invited to the evening do and driven 200 miles to get there.

I'm surprised you bothered. We've just declined an evening only invite to a wedding which was on the other side of the country for a couple we don't really know all that well. Primary reason was cost, was working out hundreds which considering our loose link to the couple we didn't feel was worth it.

Instead of coming up with a lie and telling them we're busy we were honest and just said we couldn't afford it. Their reaction wasn't great!

John-K_3

Pollycat wrote: »

Seriously?

It's a wedding between the OP and his bride-to-be.
Shouldn't he have any say in the planning?

Doesn't bode well for their future together (imho).

No, not seriously, you need to read between the lines.

To spell it out, I was suggesting that it was actually very unlikely to be her savings, and so he really should have a say.

Pollycat

John-K wrote: »

No, not seriously, you need to read between the lines.

To spell it out, I was suggesting that it was actually very unlikely to be her savings, and so he really should have a say.

Then perhaps you should consider using smilies to show your comments aren't serious. :whistle:

seven-day-weekend

Turtle wrote: »

I've only ever been to one wedding with a free bar. I would always expect to pay for drinks at a wedding. I've been to quite a few weddings with a range of budgets, I'd say the free bar was a mid range wedding.

I have never been to one with a free bar. All my friends must be cheapskates!

FBaby

I have since been to several more weddings since where the venue was taking the p!ss with the bar prices

This was one of the consideration when we picked our venue. Our priority was a local venue so easy for most people attending, quality of the food, friendliness, and reasonable prices, but for the day and the drinks in the evening.

I've been to a number of weddings in posh places where it's all about the scenery, nice building, perfect setting for perfect pictures, but where the food has frankly been shocking. No choice, soup in beautiful massive plate, but that tasted like it'd come out of Heinz tin, bland piece of chicken with over/under cook boring vegetables, tiny portions but assembled in a way to make it look like it came out of a top restaurant, and cheap boring dessert, meringue with a few defrosted pieces of fruit.
All this at double the cost of a more modest venue but where you pay for what you get in terms of food and drinks.

onlyroz

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

I have never been to one with a free bar. All my friends must be cheapskates!

Am now feeling bad for not having a free bar at my wedding. Have all my friends been secretly seething all these years at what a tight-wad I am?

Pollycat

FBaby wrote: »

I've been to a number of weddings in posh places where it's all about the scenery, nice building, perfect setting for perfect pictures, but where the food has frankly been shocking. No choice, soup in beautiful massive plate, but that tasted like it'd come out of Heinz tin, bland piece of chicken with over/under cook boring vegetables, tiny portions but assembled in a way to make it look like it came out of a top restaurant, and cheap boring dessert, meringue with a few defrosted pieces of fruit.
All this at double the cost of a more modest venue but where you pay for what you get in terms of food and drinks.

SingleSue wrote: »

Recent wedding experience (not mine), registry office wedding, back to my parent's house for the reception (really quite surprising how many people will fit into a 3 bed semi, the stairs were utilised as chairs!), home cooked buffet, home decorated wedding cake, charity shop dress, old suit out of storage, supermarket flowers made into a bouquet and table displays and the old a bring a bottle or 3 ..all in it cost a lot less than £500 and a whole lot of fun was had by all with many sore heads on Christmas morning (they got married Christmas Eve!)

I know which wedding I'd enjoy more.

onlyroz

FBaby wrote: »

This was one of the consideration when we picked our venue. Our priority was a local venue so easy for most people attending, quality of the food, friendliness, and reasonable prices, but for the day and the drinks in the evening.

I've been to a number of weddings in posh places where it's all about the scenery, nice building, perfect setting for perfect pictures, but where the food has frankly been shocking. No choice, soup in beautiful massive plate, but that tasted like it'd come out of Heinz tin, bland piece of chicken with over/under cook boring vegetables, tiny portions but assembled in a way to make it look like it came out of a top restaurant, and cheap boring dessert, meringue with a few defrosted pieces of fruit.
All this at double the cost of a more modest venue but where you pay for what you get in terms of food and drinks.

Wedding food is always boring because you have to cater for the fussy eaters. Virtually every wedding or corporate event I’ve been to involved some sort of bland chicken dish because too many of the guests wouldn’t be able to cope with anything more interesting.

tho_2

I've never attended a wedding with a free bar, but I've worked behind one. Without having the most moralistic guests you inevitably end up with a group who decide that instead of just a pint, they want a "oh go on, might as well make it a triple!" shot and mixer, probably still have the pint, and get a chaser for good measure. Several times. When the average persons drink cost per time changes from £3.50 to about £15, (those wedding bar prices still apply, just coming out the generous bride and grooms pocket) it quickly spirals out of control.

Food is the key, don't let people get hungry. Drink they'll sort themselves.