How much of your wedding budget did you spend on your venue? I have just been given a quote for the perfect place but it would swallow 2/3 of my budget (and that doesn't include catering). Is this too much?
31/12/2017 A New Year, A New Life, A New Husband and Wife
CommentAuthorCoralLeigh2016
Our reception venue was around £6500 but that's without food/drinks (must use recommended outside caterer and our menus will be about £4-5000 ish!). With our reception venue the price includes the disco, bar, decoration, flowers, large car park, two barns (one for after ceremony drinks on arrival pre-photos and main barn for reception/evening do). I would say look at what you are actually paying for and getting for the amount of money and decide if its worth the huge chunk of budget :) xxx
CommentAuthorMrsEmmaP
edited
I would say about half of our budget is our venue, the venue is coming to around £1500 and everything else will probably be just under. If it is worth that much of your budget and you are paying for quite a decent amount then it is fine, it all depends on your budget and if you can afford it :) x
Got together on 14th March 2010
Got engaged on 25th December 2013
Became Mrs P on 14th May 2016 - best day ever!
CommentAuthorMrs D2B
For that I get b&b for up to 16 people for 2 nights (I could charge for this and make some money back but as it will be my bridal party my h2b his groomsmen and my dad, who is paying for half the wedding as it is, I would have to think long and hard about that idea) cream tea on arrival exclusive use of the whole venue for the 2 days (day before to decorate and the day of the wedding) staff to set up the ceremony, the wedding breakfast and the reception area, staff to serve the wedding breakfast and pour the wine and staffed bar with a licence until 1am and use of decorations they have there already (i.e fairy lights and they have already said they have plenty of Ivy holly and branches I could help myself to) and car parking for all my guests. Put like that it actually sounds like a really good deal I'm just concerned I won't be leaving myself enough of the budget for everything else.
31/12/2017 A New Year, A New Life, A New Husband and Wife
CommentAuthorCoralLeigh2016
I'd double check on how much decoration they are already using for the day, our venue have their own wedding planner on site with hundreds of decorations/flowers etc to use for weddings they hold so I have no worries about having to source extra - apart from the unusual bits and bobs we want :)
To be honest it sounds like a fabulous deal so I wouldn't fret too much about it.....plus it says your wedding is in 34 months which leaves plenty of time to save towards extras you will need for the wedding :) xxx
Our total venue bill will probably end up being around £6k. This is half of our overall budget x
Happily married
18th June 2016
xx
CommentAuthorMrs D2B
This comes in at about £8k which would leave me £4k for everything else (maybe £6k with a lot of stress over the next 3 years) but I'm aware that the catering could be anything up to £3k which leaves next to nothing for everything else :(
31/12/2017 A New Year, A New Life, A New Husband and Wife
CommentAuthorFlossie
The catering is what makes up most of our venue bill.. so the venue AND catering will come in at half the total budget x
Happily married
18th June 2016
xx
CommentAuthorEmily17
Ours is similar to Flossie. About 6k inc food and drink and disco which is about half (a little less than)
Met in 2009
He proposed Jan 2014
Will become Mrs P 7th October 2017
CommentAuthorGlitterfairy
Ours was about £3700 for food, drink and room
Our wedding day - 6 October 2012
CommentAuthorMrs D2B
I'm going to have to have a serious think once the caterer gets back to me. I already have a lot of cost cutting plans but I really don't want to leave myself in a position where I feel like everything feels cheap because I've had to do it on a very tight budget.
31/12/2017 A New Year, A New Life, A New Husband and Wife
CommentAuthorleasa
Ours sounds really expensive in comparison to the rest of you, at more than half our budget!
The venue is just over £9000 for 80 people, and we expect this to rise to about £10,500 once total numbers are in. As we think it's going to be closer to 95/98 people.
For that we get exclusive use of the venue between 15:00 and midnight, arrival drink, 3 course sit down meal and an evening buffet later. Champagne for the toasts, chair covers and sashes, room decoration such as coloured up lighters, centre pieces and top table arrangements, bridal suite for 2 nights (night before and night of wedding). 2 family rooms (4 people per room) the night of the wedding and an anniversary dinner a year later.
We have to sort out our own dj and table wine, and there's a bar where guests can buy anything else they'd prefer to drink.
Met 30th May 2005
Proposed in Monte Carlo August 25th 2013
Became Mrs K on 30th May 2015
Married my Gorgeous Greek God
CommentAuthorMrs D2B
Leasa I hope you don't mind me asking but how much are you left with after your venue to get everything else you need that isn't already included ie dress transport flowers photographer cake etc. If you'd rather not say I completely understand as I am being rude in asking I'm just curious x
31/12/2017 A New Year, A New Life, A New Husband and Wife
CommentAuthorGlitterfairy
Forgot to say, our price was for 90 people.
Our wedding day - 6 October 2012
CommentAuthorMrs D2B
That's really good Glitterfairy!! The lowest quote I've had so far is for £6695 which includes 2 night stay for 12 people 2 course sit down meal for 65 people evening buffet for 100 people reception drinks table wine and the venue from 4pm the day before the wedding until 11am the day after (with the bar open for guests from after the ceremony at 3pm until 1am). Thing is because of the date I want to get married I have known to expect inflated prices, plus where I live things are more expensive anyway :(
31/12/2017 A New Year, A New Life, A New Husband and Wife
CommentAuthorGlitterfairy
We did only have the one meal as we has a late wedding, so that was for a three course wedding breakfast, two bottles of wine per table (10) and coffee and tea, glass of bubbly each for toast. Actually it was probs not the room as well as think I paid that in the deposit.
Our wedding day - 6 October 2012
CommentAuthorleasa
edited
Our running total comes in at just under £17,000
But my dad has given us a generous amount towards it, and he helped us choose the venue. It was an unexpected surprise but we wouldn't have chosen the venue if he hadn't helped out. I do think we needed to restrict our numbers a bit more than we did, but we haven't had all the rsvps yet.
Met 30th May 2005
Proposed in Monte Carlo August 25th 2013
Became Mrs K on 30th May 2015
Married my Gorgeous Greek God
CommentAuthorMrs D2B
Ah you have slightly more to spend than us. We are also blessed that my dad is part funding the wedding, he has set the limit at £7000 and we can also put in £7000 but If possible I'd like to only use £5000 of the money he is offering. This is why I'm a bit concerned that I might be committing to something that we can't afford if I book this venue.
31/12/2017 A New Year, A New Life, A New Husband and Wife
CommentAuthorMrsRobson2Be
Our venue has ended up using 1/5 of our budget, so not to bad really.
CommentAuthorDonnaH39
I think our venue (including food ect.) is going to end up being about a third of our budget (but that's our budget including honeymoon) if we just look at how much the day itself is costing it's more like half of the cost... maybe a little less
CommentAuthorEmily17
It depends what you want from your day. Would you rather a big fancy venue and cut back on the details or are the details really important to you.
Met in 2009
He proposed Jan 2014
Will become Mrs P 7th October 2017
CommentAuthorprincesspixie
our venue cost £3500 for venue only so caterers and everything else has to go on top but we can use any other suppliers we like not just the ones the recommend so trying to cut back in those places xx
Officially married my best friend 2/5/2015 (secretly)
Big wedding 18/06/2016
CommentAuthorMrs D2B
I want both haha. I would be willing to compromise on some things in order to have the perfect venue. I already plan to DIY a lot of things in order to keep costs down and I would be willing to buy my dress and the bridesmaids dresses online (although I am concerned after hearing some of the horror stories) I also have a few other cost saving ideas. I can't help but think I'm making the whole process of choosing a venue harder than it should be lol it's my first step on my wedding planning journey and I keep hitting walls. Trust me to have expensive taste!
31/12/2017 A New Year, A New Life, A New Husband and Wife
CommentAuthorbride2b90
Our venue is 6500 inc: catering and drinks for day and evening, chair covers, fairytale backdrop, room for bride and groom (inc upgrade to the best room available) resident dj, centre pieces, table plan, wedding co-ordinator, and red carpet on arrival. We have got a brilliant deal for our money x
I met my soul mate in school, after chasing him for 18months
We got together 15th September 06,
We celebrated our son Jacob 29th October 10,
He proposed 15th June 14, We marry 09th July 16
CommentAuthorMrs D2B
The catering quote has come in at £4986 meaning the total cost of venue and catering is £13481 :( staring to feel like I should just give up, think I'm going to have to settle for something that isn't "perfect" just so we can afford it.
31/12/2017 A New Year, A New Life, A New Husband and Wife
CommentAuthorInDreamland
Ours included all food and drink. It was £14.5k and was about 60% of our total wedding spend excluding honeymoon. We paid for decorations separately.
Married the love of my life on Saturday 11th May 2013 xxx
Had our dream perfect honeymoon in Hawaii!
CommentAuthorInDreamland
You will find the perfect place within budget.
Married the love of my life on Saturday 11th May 2013 xxx
Had our dream perfect honeymoon in Hawaii!
CommentAuthorInDreamland
Our cost was for 105 people included welcome drinks(2 per person) substantial canapes, 3 course wedding breakfast with half a bottle of wine per person and water, then evening buffet (hog roast and tonnes of sides).
Married the love of my life on Saturday 11th May 2013 xxx
Had our dream perfect honeymoon in Hawaii!
CommentAuthorleasa
We really struggled to find a cheaper venue that we loved. We had to raise our budget considerably or start looking elsewhere. We had our hearts set on a london location that meant something to us.
We started out with a £12,000 budget but haven't had much luck in the way of bargains. We tried haggling cheaper rates or extras but have been met with resounding "NO" at any attempt. I'm horrified that we've nearly got to the £17,000 mark and still counting. But I think it's the location more than anything (Camden).
Met 30th May 2005
Proposed in Monte Carlo August 25th 2013
Became Mrs K on 30th May 2015
Married my Gorgeous Greek God
CommentAuthorAprilS61
I must say, I'm glad we dont live in London!
Our wedding is coming in at around £12,000 and our venue is about £5000 including the extras (our package was £3100), so you could almost say half.
We don't have a honeymoon yet either so we're expecting it to be around £15,000 by the time everything is added totally.
Mr & Mrs Swan 04/04/15
CommentAuthorMrs D2B
I'm in a similar situation, being in Cornwall many venues have inflated prices as they know many couples are willing to travel down here to be married in the countryside (and many who live up country consider these prices to be cheap compared to what they would be paying nearer to home). I have just sent the venue an email to ask if they would consider letting us use a different catering company in order to bring down costs and possibly making the whole thing affordable. It's worth a try I hope.
31/12/2017 A New Year, A New Life, A New Husband and Wife
CommentAuthorAprilS61
The worst they can say is no, no harm in asking!
Mr & Mrs Swan 04/04/15
CommentAuthorJennK
edited
I think two thirds of your budget on venue is quite a lot to be honest.
Just double checked and our overall budget is around 16k including honeymoon. The venue including wedding breakfast, drinks and evening buffet, overnight rooms for family member and bridal suite comes to just under 6k.
Our perfect day - 08.08.15 <3
CommentAuthorEmmilou82
In total our venue is £14,145... That's exclusive use of the mansion from 7.30am for the day for 100 people and a 3 course wedding breakfast, evening buffet for 200, drinks package, post wedding pool party and breakfast for up to 20 guests plus the wedding planner
We have a budget of £21,000 and we are paying for everything. Thank god we've got 18 months left lol.....
Marrying 'The One' on 30th July 2016
I am now Mrs Emma Stokoe xx
CommentAuthorMrs D2B
Emmilou that sounds like a lot of money but your actually getting loads for that!!! And I'm jealous I want a pool.... not sure a pool party works in the middle of winter tho lol. Plus giving yourself £7k for everything else gives you plenty to play with! I've had a think and by putting aside another £100 a month (so £50 each) we would have another £3k to play with but it would mean really cutting back on spending over the next 3 years (she says after just ordering £30 of take away ooops). Saying that h2b has just thrown a massive spanner in the works as he just told me (all of 20 mins ago) he wants to look at the possibility of getting married abroad..... not sure how I feel about that :S
31/12/2017 A New Year, A New Life, A New Husband and Wife
CommentAuthorMrsLJDeaton
My venue and reception comes too £5,400 without food n drink on top It's £25 a head and drinks corkage fees etc but not going for wine going for cyder instead dunnoe how much everything will be till I get my bill Xxx
Started going out 23.10.2010 met at Barnet college <3 X
Engaged 23.08.2012 In Turkey Our 1st Holiday Together <3 X
To be Mrs Lana Jocelyn Deaton on 23.10.2015 5 years the day
Jamiroquai Arthur Gordon Deaton Born 29/05/2015 My Son Jammy
CommentAuthorEmmilou82
Ha..... It is a lot of money lol!!
We have got a lot for it to be fair but it's still a lot!!
Hey, I'm only doing it once so why not xx
Marrying 'The One' on 30th July 2016
I am now Mrs Emma Stokoe xx
CommentAuthorEmily17
Well the idea of abroad is a massive change! Do you like the idea?
Met in 2009
He proposed Jan 2014
Will become Mrs P 7th October 2017
CommentAuthorMrs D2B
I don't blame you Emmilou if I had a bigger budget I wouldn't think twice about paying more for my perfect day because like you say were only doing this once. It's funny Emily I have always imagined getting married on a beach, it's so me, but since I starting considering my NYE wedding the idea has become my baby in a way and I couldn't imagine doing it any other way. I have everything planned in my head right down to the center pieces I just need to find the venue to bring everything together. I don't want to shoot my h2b down too quickly tho, 1 because this is his day too and of course I want him to be happy and 2 because this is the first time he has mentioned anything about the wedding without me initiating the conversation!!! he'd be happy getting married in the local regastry office and having a few drinks at home after to celebrate :(
31/12/2017 A New Year, A New Life, A New Husband and Wife
CommentAuthorEmily17
Well if it was your first dream then would consider it. Maybe he doesn't feel comfortable with the big day and would prefer something more private and intimate.
Met in 2009
He proposed Jan 2014
Will become Mrs P 7th October 2017
CommentAuthorEmily17
Perhaps both worlds. A wedding abroad and then a big nye party
Met in 2009
He proposed Jan 2014
Will become Mrs P 7th October 2017
CommentAuthorMrs D2B
so initial looks into a wedding abroad, for 30 of our closest friends and family to spend a week with us in Turkey to including cost of a wedding (everything included) flights and accommodation it would be about £10k all we would need to pay for on top of that would be suits and dresses etc. I know h2b is concerned about having to stand up infront of a large group of people but we both have large families so if we were to get married here we would be looking at 65 people at the ceremony. well it certainly makes for a lot of thinking
31/12/2017 A New Year, A New Life, A New Husband and Wife
CommentAuthorEmily17
That puts a lot of perspective into why he suggested abroad. And I don't know your budget but that's a good price!!
If you did want it here then could ditch the speeches and just have a more informal do to make him feel more comfortable. Don't what your groom on edge on your wedding day
Met in 2009
He proposed Jan 2014
Will become Mrs P 7th October 2017
CommentAuthorthefuture:Mrs_Hurren
Our venue is costing £2750.00 that is for our wedding service,3 course wedding breakfast and 4 glasses of wine/champagne for 40, 100 evening guests and buffet, dj/disco, twin/double room night before wedding and honeymoon suite on night. Our total spend Is looking at £6000-£7000 including honeymoon and we have our perfect venue.
We viewed so many as we needed accommodation and everything at one location, prices ranged from £1500-£15000 and tbh the venue that was £15000 wasn't as nice as most of the cheaper ones.
CommentAuthorMrs D2B
I'd never make him do a speech anyway he really wouldn't be comfortable with that. The package is really good and really affordable. But when you think about all the hidden expense, a week of lost earnings (h2b is self employed) spending money, fines to take 7 children out of school for a week (if that ridiculous system is still in place, it's even more stupid considering I have a retired headmistress and 2 teachers in the party!!) it suddenly becomes a lot more expensive. I think my biggest issue with abroad is the control. I'm not comfortable with situations where I don't feel I have control over what is happening so I think I would panic not being able to see the venue until a few days before and having to trust people I have never met to produce the day I have pictured in my head. Plus there would be a lot of upset from the people we wouldn't be able to pay to take with us. I think we're going to go back to see both UK venues together (dependent on whether the more expensive venue is willing to consider a different caterer) and make a decision from there as I am now at a complete loss as to what to do.
31/12/2017 A New Year, A New Life, A New Husband and Wife
CommentAuthorleasa
Visit as many wedding fairs as you can, you'll find venues and caterers who might put special deals on, and you can discuss different abroad options.
I found my flower lady for bouquets and we got a great deal. About the only reasonable priced thing we found for our london wedding as she's in berkhampstead, and was willing to travel at no extra cost!
I've been to 2 weddings abroad recently and it's really expensive for the guests. Both cost us over £1000 to attend. So keep that in mind as some people can't afford to attend. We looked at getting married in Greece, but I'd have to have paid for my sister and her kids to come. Which worked out more than the option we chose.
Met 30th May 2005
Proposed in Monte Carlo August 25th 2013
Became Mrs K on 30th May 2015
Married my Gorgeous Greek God
CommentAuthorAngieM64
edited
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