I thought most venues came with an in house co-ordinator?
Our wedding is costing us £3500. We are getting married in gorgeous old library, with a big fireplace and beautiful views to the gardens outside. A 2 course meal for 35 guests, table wine, toasting wine, buffet for 80 people, DJ, bridal suite, inclusive of their fee for holding the ceremony there. £1350. Its not cheaply done and its not tacky, just smart. I want our wedding day to be about us. No part of a castle or a stately home comes into our personality. I work in sales and he works in surveying/construction. You look at me and my face screams Brian Adams summer of 69 not Lady of the manor 1839 same as my family and friends. lmao
I think even if I won the lottery I would still have the same thing. Just with a few more guests, a luxury honeymoon and a spot of liposuction before the day. lol. ;)
We chose to get married because we love each other, to be a solid unit to start our own family on. Personally if I had your budget I would be putting the extra towards a car and for the deposit of our family house so we were ready to do what we dreamed of doing in the first place. Being husband, wife, daddy and mummy. BUT everyone is different at the end of the day, your dreams arn't my dreams, same as our lives. Its up to you how you spend your cash and if your dream is that place - then go for it. Could you not cut other less important things out? I'm guessing if the venue costs that much then the chairs can't be that horrible underneath do you need chair covers? could you not make them or hire them elsewhere ect? I would also ask the venue if you can hire a DJ outside of their package, say its a family member ect. They will need their own equiptment more than likely but you can 100% save yourself a massive wad of cash shopping around hun - I'v got loads of them in my family and they would be horrified if they saw those prices. xxx
CommentAuthorHoxxyhula
Hi
I too was desperate for that sort of wedding and castle Heddingham would have been my first choice of venue if money was not object. We came to the decision that we would rather spend the money on other things, but each to their own. If you are happy with something else, perhaps talking through the costs with your H2B and suggesting what else you could do with the money (and the sacrifices you will need to make to save) might change his mind?
But if you do decide for the more expensive option, then save hard and once you have made the decision go with it and enjoy every second. It's your money and you can spend it how you like xx
CommentAuthorginge23
I think its way to much to pay even if we had it I dont think we would have paid that. I would rather put it towards a house. x
CommentAuthorKerrylou
Random crazy idea just jumped into my mind
So you and H2B have got your heart set on getting married in a castle................hire a bouncy castle and get married on that. Stranger weddings have happened ;) xxx
It's right what they say
"The course of true love never runs smoothly"
But if it had been easy then we wouldn't love each other as
much as we do right now - 1 week to go :D
CommentAuthorx~Hails~x
lmao kerry lou i like it hehehe :-)
UKBride moderator both on here and on facebook
For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart
It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul.
Ok Claire I have copied your list to put some perspective on things! This is what we are getting! I'll have the wedding and reception there, I have a wedding co-ordinator at the hotel to is helping with all planning from now to the day. She has been fantastic and has responded to all emails within minutes! These prices are based on 50 guests for the day and 100 guests for the evening! ** 6 course meal of my choice from 6 choices per course (apart from the cheeseboard) ** Welcome drink - Strawberry Champagne & Canapes ** House wines with meal - 2 glasses per guest ** Champagne for the toast ** Evening Buffet 100 guests at prices ** Dj through til midnight *** 4 poster suite for the night & Champagne and strawberries & breakfast! *** Souvenir cake knife ***Posy bowls on all the table & Candelabras *** Changing room for the guests *** 1st year anniversary dinner in the restaurant *** 2 months free membership for the leisure club *** red carpet arrival Total - £3100 + Venue Charging £100 for civil ceremony room hire! No other extras. Our wedding is in a top hotel beside the sea with loads of places for photos! OK it isn't a castle - but why not get some photos taken at a castle instead of having it as the venue - there are a lot of people that stop somewhere for photos - this would also give you some time with your H2B! The prices above are for the weekend - we will also be getting 10% off as we are getting married on a friday - have you thought about this? Whilst your venue looks amazing - there will be somewhere that will be better value for money. They have also done us a deal on the rooms as we have a lot of people staying as they are travelling! Best of luck
CommentAuthorMrsEminson2B
edited
Hi Claire,
Here' a break down of my costs for you to see if it helps hope it does:-
bridal suite night before wedding for me £249. Bridal brunch for me and my bridesmaids £12 per head and i have me, 3 bridesmaids and my mum and MIL = £72 Wedding ceremony under the pagoda £495. Wedding breakfast £36.95 per head for 80 adult guests = £2,956 Wedding breakfast £13.95 for 15 children = £209.25 Champagne on arrival £4.95 for 80 adult guests = £396. Strawberries dipped in chocolate to serve with the champagne £2.50 per head for all 95 guests = £237.50 Drinks package £11.95 for 80 adult guests = £956 (thats one glass of pimms, one glass of wine and one glass of sparkling wine for toast.) Chair covers £4.95 per chair 95 for wedding breakfast £470.25 then 250 for evening reception so an extra £767.25 for evening reception. Releasing doves £250 D.J £225 Hire of venue for evening reception £395. Evening buffet for 250 guests at £14.95 per head = £3737.50 Bridal suite free on night of wedding with free champagne breakfast One extra night in the bridal suite for the sun night £249
Grand total of £11,665 + 5% inflation costs each year so add 10% on as these prices are 2011 prices so by 2013 it will cost £12,831.50.
Hope this helps when looking at venue's im getting married in a hotel of my dreams and this is what it is costing us. xx
Met Matt at 10 years old
Marrying him at 27 years old
I can't wait to be Mrs Eminson on the 8th June 2013
CommentAuthorMrsEminson2B
edited
oh and i get a wedding co-ordinator and a cocktail menu is being made up for us too x
Met Matt at 10 years old
Marrying him at 27 years old
I can't wait to be Mrs Eminson on the 8th June 2013
CommentAuthorMrsEverton2b
wow 30k is a lot of money! try looking round a little more, but i do share your worries, I haven't even booked the date yet! I know the date i want, but whether I can get it, I need £350 for the deposit, and tho that doesn't seem much, its a lot when you have little left at the end of the month.
We're getting married abroad, because its what we want and its technically cheaper minus the fares and hotel, but its going to be beautiful!
CommentAuthorlala "mod" bunni
Bli mey 30k ........8k for the food , i hope they are eating the fineat organic stuff flowen in from somewhere exotic ......
the price of your wine is way over the top for house wine you would do better to go to tesco buy there then pay the corkage......
I am doing my 2 weddings on no more than 6.5k and that includes flights to vegas !!!!!!!!!
I have just been to a wedding that cost approx 27k .....and although it was beautiful ......the chicken was still chicken !!!!
lalabunni, where are you getting your flights from, that is a cracking good budget, and its been hard looking at flights?
CommentAuthorGoff
£30k?? You gotta be kidding me.
You could buy a fekkin flat round here for that amount of money.
Its entirely up to folk how much they spend on their wedding without a dount... but it makes me wonder how much of it is about show rather than about the commitment to each other.
I know I... and many other ladies on here are having our dream days for a hell of a lot less than £30k.... just cos we aint spending much dont mean it will be shite.
I know Tiggs' wedding was one of the best we've been to... and believe me ive been to some REALLY expensive ones including my brother's who got married in a very swish country house in Hampshire and had a Lynx helicopter.... but Tiggs' was a fabulous day and we had just as much fun at her wedding as we did at my bro's.
UKB Mad Scientist
Ride it like ya stole it.....
I'm a flippin ORTHOTIST
CommentAuthorlala "mod" bunni
kira we go with virgin mostly ...although last time we flew with delta....virgin have a january sale and this is when we book the flights they have really good deals
Hey. I wanted to get married at a castle, but when I actually looked into it, it was really expensive and when I went to view Hedingham Castle, I thought it was AWFUL. The stairs to get to the actual ceremony room are so dangerous and then you have to go across a muddy path to get to the marquee which is through the house. There are loads of lovely venues in the South East; we are in Essex but marrying in Kent. You can spend however much you want, £100 or £100,000, so take your time and find the place that ticks ALL your boxes, including budget :o)
07.04.12 - the best day of my life!
Living happily ever after as Mrs Nottage x
CommentAuthorTinsel
Just had a look at your venue - we looked at that too, but I didn't like the ceremony room. My friend went to a wedding there and said the food wasn't that great (she's a vegetarian) and I know the people who got married spent a lot on the food.
Keep looking as my H2B found our venue by chance on the internet :o)
07.04.12 - the best day of my life!
Living happily ever after as Mrs Nottage x
CommentAuthorButterflyDreamer
30K is an awful lot of money, i've been panicking how im going to manage with £1-£2K if that. I agree with alot of the previous posts... Keep looking something you like will turn up :0)
CommentAuthormrs pinkalice
just read the list of things your getting for that price, every venue i looked at came with a wedding co-ordinator who were willing to help with any aspect of the planning you needed so you could definitely get that somewhere else, and loads of places offer exclusive use. It just depends if you can afford to spend that much money and have nothing better to spend it on. If i had 30k i would be putting it towards a house deposit as it would be our only chance of getting a mortgage, but if you already have that or thats not a priority for you then why not spend it on the wedding? you only do it once after all xx
CommentAuthoreebeegeebee
Wow, just had a look at the breakdown of what you are paying for Claire and I have to say it sounds like a complete rip-off. I'm getting the same type of stuff for 40 people and we're paying £3000 in total to the venue. I have planned my dream wedding and have no regrets about the place, it's in a beautiful setting and a stunning property. Ok, it's not a castle, but they're kidding themselves if they think people can afford those rates! I don't mean to be rude but I think you'd be mad to get yourself into financial difficulties to get married. What a lot of people seem to forget is that it's the marriage that's important, not the wedding. You won't be happy newlyweds if you're struggling to make ends meet. Put things into perspective and go look at some more reasonable venues. I hope you find something that excites you as much as this place.
CommentAuthorMrsC.Wade2B
Well girls it looks like back to the drawing board for me, after yesterday evening leez priory emailing me saying i'd need to spend a further aprox 1k for use of all 15 bedrooms and the lakeside cottage for night before wedding that was the last straw! As much as its our dream i agree with you all i'd be mental payin that kind of money which could be spent on more important things like towards our own place or a nice car or put some away towards our daughter's future! And luckily h2b agree's, so now i need to look for somewhere else but thank you all so very much for helping me see sence your all great women xxxxx
Tomorrow is never promised to anyone, So Dance until your
feet ache, Laugh until your side hurts,
Say I Love You to those you love
For tomorrow may never come x
CommentAuthorHoxxyhula
Ah, good news that the H2B has come round and now you can focus on finding somewhere that you love and suits the budget! xx
CommentAuthorEriksfjord
I am really glad that you have made that decision - I think you will be glad too once you have found somewhere else. It will also mean that you don't have to worry about the money so much - you may even be able to bring your date forward!! xxx
CommentAuthorMrsC.Wade2B
Eriksfjord dont mean to seem nosey but where is your venue? And if anyone can give me good venue suggestions for essex thanks xx
Tomorrow is never promised to anyone, So Dance until your
feet ache, Laugh until your side hurts,
Say I Love You to those you love
For tomorrow may never come x
CommentAuthorEriksfjord
Hi, My venue is in Southport - but that is a bit of a long way for you! It is a privately owned hotel and I think this has been beneficial as they were able to negotiate and have been very flexible! I have a friend whose daughter got married in essex and they had the reception on a boat! She said it was really good - I can ask for some info if you want. xx
CommentAuthorlala "mod" bunni
you know hun you dont have to apy for *exculsive use* our venue only does one wedding a day ....yes there might me some other people staying ther but that doesnt bother me
i am glad you have got things back on track, you will soon find a venue and get things sorted, good luck :)x
I have know my soulmate for 27 years and on the 6th August
I married him and became Mrs Garnham.
It was most definitely the happiest day of my life.
I love married life !!!!
