$70-$100 A PLATE?! I'M PAYING $25 max!

We spent 9K in the DC area by getting creative (a lot of DIY and a nontraditional venue). This included:

Buffet for 90, including salads, salmon, sliders, crabcakes, etc

Open bar with wine, beer (the venue is known for good beer) and rail drinks

DIY decorations

Ceremony space rental

My gown and accessories

Tux

Invites

..and so forth.

I guess it really depends on location becauseI live in Connecticut and I would say that it's not a super cheap state to live in lol ... the lowest I found at a venue is $58.99/pp that's a buffet, choice of 5 apps, cheese &crostini table, meat carving table, chicken and pasta dishes (3 of them) and open bar- top shelf. That price doesn't include gratuity of %18 AND taxes of %6.35! So techinically it was about $ 74!!! I never thought of that til AFTER! So don't forget the gratuity and taxes ladies!!

I"m in NJ, outside of NYC, and while it's possible to rent a venue and bring in everything separately, that's rarely a cost saver unless its a church hall or vfw and the catering is gourmet deli/delivered food style as opposed to an upscale caterer. In either case, with a full bar, cocktail hour, cake, choice of linens, w/o centerpieces, you're looking at 90-150. per guest. Plust gratuities, but don't get me started on that, lol...

Many places have a $$ minimum as opposed to a guest minimum, and it's usually at least 10,000.00.

Audra, just out of curiosity, does your cost also include someone who works at the country club to do all the set up and take down or do you have to arrange for workers yourself?

I think ours is like $81 pp and that includes the venue rental, tax, gratuity, food, open premium top shelf bar, champagne toast, set-up, clean-up, linens, plates, glassware, chairs, tables, etc. Ours is a buffet, but we have a ton of food.

I have no clue how you're getting all of that for $25 per person, but more power to you :-) Great find!

That includes workers, there's just an extra fee for the ceremony setup.

We have a $2000 ceremony site fee

an $8000 f&B minimum for our reception

plus set up $750

taxes, fees and gratuities are additional

as for per person prices, all i can tell you at the moment (haven't finalized the menu) is that it will range widely dependent upon our selections...

appetizers range from $13 - $20 each

soups are $11 - $16 each

salads range from $12 - $18 each

entrees are $34 - $72

this does not include alcohol (we are having an open bar) or cake / desserts.

so for food only we are going to be anywhere from $70 - $126 per person. this does not include the cocktail hour... that is a whooooole separate tab.

Wow! Some of these prices would make me want to elope!

I'm in Pittsburgh, PA

Country Club rental fee for clubhouse and use of lawn at the mansion $500

Per head for plated starts at $19.99 for fish, chicken, and beef. Steak starts at $22/person. Buffet $29/person. There is no food and drink min. That was very important to me to find a venue that didn't make up spend a min. amount to even have the event there.

We aren't having open bar. We are doing free beer, wine, and two signature drinks.

Everything is included. Linens (my choice of white, cream, black, grey, pink, blush, purple, etc. china, glassware, flatware, etc.) We get a free bridal party refresher room with it's own bar/bartender, 64 inch flat screen TV, heavy appetizers, private bathroom at no additional cost. For cocktail hour outside we get a free tent. We get free valet parking.

First-side dining area of the clubhouse

Second-Front lawn of mansion where we are getting married

Third-back yard where cocktail hour will be

I was looking at prices just for a ballpark since i still have over a year and a half. The prices for me are around $30-$100 per person. and that does include hall rental, tablecloths, cake cutting fee, ect. I have found 1 place that it is $40 per person and that includes a 4 hr open bar.

Our package is similar to the one Nicole B. descirbed. It's $55/per person, but that includes:

*floral centerpieces

*wedding cake

*linens, chair covers and tableware

*cocktail hour with hors d'oeuvres and butler style champagne service

*four course meal with duet selections (filet mignon, salmon, shrimp, chicken)

*open bar

*sweets table

It is a bit pricier than other venues I've seen, but the atmosphere was better (our wedding will be the only even that day) and I LOVE conveniance. With so much included, there weren't many additional vendors I had to worry about. Not to mention fall is a VERY popular time for weddings....but not November. So they actually knocked off the 18% gratuity because November is considered "off peak".

My venue does offer the all inclusive package but i didnt like what they offered so we are just doing ours based off the catering menu, The meal will be about 20-25pp (havent decided on a food yet). And a 4 hours open bar per person is 30$ pp ( sad the open bar is more than the food!) and thats just the cheapest liquior. Plus the venue is 1000 to rent. Venue comes with either black or white linnens but we will probably rent others to match our colors. Than we have the Dj that cost 1000 & the photographer is 2600. And than have to add the 19% service charge and 7% tip.

Oh my gosh. that is so expensive. My friend who got married in may had fried chicken, 2 sides, a roll, tea or lemonade for around $1.50/person. I am going to try and get that same caterer because it was so good. I can imagine spending that much on food!

This sounds so overwhelming! I live in Alaska... many beautiful outdoor places to get married.

I guess I better get hoppin' to figure this part out!

Prices vary a LOT depending on geography. I am getting married in PA and it's 74-84 a person (depends on what food we pick but haven't done that yet). But it includes:

hors d'oeuvre's (both served and stations)

champagne toast

planner to help out on the day

custom flowers for table

Custom wedding cake

linens, chairs, etc

dinner (so much to choose from!!)

Top shelf open bar for 5 hours (plus signature drink)

Bridal suite to get ready in

Gratuities and tax included!

I am planning this from CA so it was important to me to find a great venue that included a much as possible PLUS had a great rep.

Oh, and for the record, we spent just under $10,000 for our wedding. And we had the ceremony and luncheon in the Boston area, and then an at-home reception in DC. Both Boston and DC are high cost areas. We had high expenses due to the wedding having to be far from where we live, including nonmember rates for rabbi and synagogue, having our hair and make-up done in two different places, and a house for two nights for ourselves and all our guests. And of course, we had twice the usual "bridal" expenses.

We ended up spending $2,652.69 for the five-hour at-home reception for 60 people, or about $44 a person. This included heavy hors d'oeuvres, an open bar, music, dancing, and a DIY fauxtobooth. However, getting to that number included a lot of DIY, use of a nontraditional venue, and getting remarkably good deals from a friend on venue and open bar.

Your very lucky to have gotten a price that good. I'm paying $140.00 a plate.

I am in the southwest burbs of Chicago and we paid a food and beverage minimum, which was approximately $75.00 per person:

5 hour reception (1/2 hour ceremony)

planner to help out on the day

ceremony

hors d'oeuvre's

champagne toast

centerpieces (if desired but we didn't go with that)

wedding cake

dinner buffet

dessert buffet

top shelf open bar

linens, chairs, etc

Bridal suite

Gratuities and tax included

Fried chicken at 1.50 a plate? For a wedding? No. Sorry.

The area, and your contacts, can make a huge difference. We paid (for my daughters wedding) $30 per person for a buffet of London Broil, Baked Salmon and Chicken Marsala with salads and vegetables as well as four appetizers during cocktail hour, wine and beer.

Due to my contacts with the hotel, they waived the fees for the ceremony room; bartender fee; corkage fee for wine; as well as discounts on the hotel apartment for the ladies for one night, the newlyweds the second night and the groomsmens suite for one night.