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Message: [QUOTE="Husky25, post: 2069740, member: 2839"] My wedding was a cash drain on the outset, but cash gifts offset the cost quite a bit. When all was said and done, my wife and I ended up spending about 1/3 of our budget wedding budget (Our honeymoon was another matter). Pragmatism is always a plus, so either at the outset or soon thereafter (I'd advise visiting a few reception venues first), sit down with your fiance' and set out at series of priorities. Then go see a number of vendors for each service. What must you absolutely have? What can you do without? She bought her own dress so I didn't pay much mind one way or the other, but she was far more focused on the Honeymoon than the ceremony and reception. That said, the NYC boutique was a non-starter to begin with. On the other hand, we could afford it, so Filene's Basement was as well. I knew the owner of a tux shop so I could get $200 rentals for $119 and get-ups for the ring bearer for free. DJ's seemed to be a dime a dozen. They all seemed to have the same music and policy on DNP lists. It's basically chemistry at that point. A big selling point for us is that he threw in the ceremony for no charge (Really. How hard is it to push play on [I]Canon in D[/I]?). It was going on 8 years ago but check out Anthony's Oceanview in New Haven. They charged us $100/head for a cocktail hour of great food, 4 course meal, open bar, cake, our own concierge (personal waitress for the bride and groom. I had a bottomless tumbler of Johnny Walker Black), and a tremendous view from the attached garden. Some places are cheeper, but you have to weigh what you get. For $124/head we knocked off venue, catering, booze, cake, tax & tip, compared to what another venue named in this thread would give for venue and catering, excluding T&T. Plus Anthony's staff was not H311-bent on my guests remaining seated for dinner (a big one for me). They served the placing not the person, so people were allowed to mingle. We got married on the beach right outside the venue by a JP (former priest. We were able to have a 20 minute "Catholic" service) for a fraction of the money and time of what a church would cost, plus we didn't have to pay for limo service (Though I did arrange for a luxury motorcoach to bring my guests to and from the hotel.). Get married on a Friday evening in lieu of Saturday. Make your own party favors. Make your own center pieces (or at least provide the vases). White gold wedding bands, instead of platinum or titanium. Forego the videographer (one of my guests set up a tripod. I've never watched the DVD. Don't even know where it is.). Last but not least, Shop around. EVERYTHING IS NEGOTIABLE!! [/QUOTE]

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