Forgotten Venues

I've been reading the wedding blogs and conferring with wedding planners and it seems that a person can't host a wedding in California for under $20,000.  Consider the Napa wine country and you might want to push that to $40,000.  We're not talking about celebrity weddings or weddings of the rich and famous. These are weddings for the average person hosting a wedding between 85 and 150 guests. 

A huge part of the variable is the cost of the venue.  There are so many gorgeous, lush vineyards with mansions, castles, circus tents, etc. to choose from.  There's even a cave blasted into a mountain-side that makes for the perfect candle-lit dinner.  Then there are the public buildings-museums, historical buildings, former military posts-all of which are drop-dead impressive and equally drop-dead expensive.  The idea seems to be that weddings can happen anywhere you can pitch a tent, install porta-potties and drive in a party rental company truck filled with furniture and tableware.  Don't even worry about a kitchen. As I've been told on more than one occasion-caterers love to stage their own kitchens out in the middle of no-where.

With all that said and with no criticism of the trend, what about the brides and grooms out there who don't have that 20,000-40,000 budget? 

I've read in the blogs that you should just elope.  You can get an "elopement package" and have the time of your lives by yourselves.  Who needs Grandma at the wedding anyway?  She only remembered your birthday since you were born and babysat and bought your school fundraising products and watched your games...

If eloping doesn't make it in your family then figure out your budget and keep your venue search as close to home as possible.  Look for places with reasonable prices that already have 90% of what you need for your reception-look at your local restaurants and event centers.  Restaurants and event centers have a roof, a kitchen, bathrooms, tables and chairs, parking, staff, and a huge amount of experience in helping with all types of celebrations and receptions.  Be upfront about your budget and let the in-house event planner or owner-manager explain what they can do for you within that budget.   

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"Hidden Charges"

If I had a dollar for every time a bride and groom asked me about "hidden charges" I would be in a higher tax bracket.  I can't hide charges-the estimate is clearly written and my services described in detail.  What I find most brides and grooms are referring to are service fees such as a "cake cutting charge" or "corkage charge."  I personally do not charge separately to cut a wedding cake, as my wedding "package plan" includes it.  Some caterers may "a la carte" each part of the reception, especially if they do not own their own equipment and rent all of the tableware and serving pieces. Rentals can be costly so they must pass the cost on to the customer.  

Corkage fees for the service of alcoholic beverages are necessary and generally accepted.  If a caterer is asked to serve someone else's alcoholic beverages and provide the necessary glassware, ice, bar accessories and personnel a corkage fee is definitely necessary.  Those glasses aren't free and someone will have to bus them up, wash them and put them away.  Ice, chilling tubs and bar accessories must be provided.  Hourly pay, workman's compensation and liability insurance also come into play -- bartending  is costly and a liability for both  the caterer and bartender.  A bartender is legally bound to follow state law regarding the minimum drinking age and can also be held liable if an obviously drunk guest continues to be served.  At times bartenders must contend with hostility when they ask for an I.D. or confiscate an alcoholic beverage which was given to an adult guest who then passed it on to a minor.  It is surprising how many people believe the law does not apply to private events or who simply protest "But this is a wedding!" 

If a cake-cutting charge or corkage charge is being applied perhaps you could avoid the charge if you purchased the cake and bar beverages from the caterer.  Compare the caterers selling price to the bakery and liquor store, add the service charge and go with the best over-all price.  Nothing on your final bill should be a surprise.  Before you sign a contract think of everything you will need and see if it's included.  Here are some items and services you may need to check on:
Insurance
Security Guard
Event Supervisor
Parking Attendant/Parking Fee
Extra Space/Overtime Charges
Dance Floor
Public Address System
Equipment and Tableware
Linens
Tables and Chairs
Set-Up Fees

Know what is included before you sign a contract so you will not later feel like a victim of "hidden charges."

Visit Weddings in Marin for wedding service providers who are located in Marin and know Marin.

Where’s the cake?

As I write this there are people camped out all over the country protesting the state of the American economy.  Unemployment is high, foreclosures continue and life for the 99% does not seem as comfortable as it was for the previous generation of  Americans.

Amidst all of this you are ready to get married.  It’s your turn to take the next step and face the future.  Marriage is the ultimate challenge, even in good economic times, but adversity never stops people in love.  If you are ready to start a new life together you’re going to do it.  How you do it will reflect your creativity and ingenuity.  Look back three and four generations and see how your great-grandparents and grandparents were married.   What’s been traditional for your family?

As an event planner I help with every kind of milestone family celebration—events which often need a venue, a caterer, music, photography, specialty cake, etc.  I’ve helped plan 50^th anniversaries for couples who never had a formal reception on their wedding day for reasons varying from the economy, to wartime, to spontaneity.  These couples raised families and enjoyed and now miss the struggles, challenges, and little victories they experienced in half a century of married life.  They don’t really regret missing out on the fairy-tale wedding because they have been living, for the most part, the “happily ever after” part of the tale.

So get the Kardashian wedding out of your head.  You can’t top Kim’s wedding budget but you can definitely top the longevity of her marriage.  If there is a lesson to be learned from this example of a 1%-ers wedding it’s simply this—find the right person for you and then don’t let the wedding plans and budget get out of hand. 


Visit Weddings in Marin for wedding service providers who are located in Marin and know Marin.