Is this venue too expensive for my budget?

First of all, DATE TWIN! I think that Barn Rental price is too expensive for your budget. That is a lot of money only to be able to be on property. Keep looking elsewhere. My venue is $900 to use the room.

I don't understand the question.

You can afford it- or you cannot.

And what you can afford is up to you- this is not a question we can really help you with all things considered.

You need to use the budget tool on WW to see if you can work the other stuff around that. My gut says no.

Unless it includes food it's too much

I second JennV's suggestion to use the budget tool. There will be some expenses that pop up that you may not expect. I wouldn't lock down that venue until looking at the list and expenses of everything you want.

Usually the answer is

"if you have to ask...."

then no. But really. no one can answer this but you.

That's a decent portion of your budget. Food and alcohol typically take up quite a bit of of the budget too (or at least they should!)

Plus photographer, DJ, officiant, etc. It all adds up. Have you priced out any of these other vendors?

It does seem like a high % of your budget for the venue but take into account other vendors (food, alcohol, dress, cake, photographer, dj, officiant, flowers, transportation, etc.) to see if you can swing it.

The location plus food, according to the internets, winds up being half of your budget. so do the math on adding a tent and if this doesn't also provide catering, you might be tight. However, plenty of weddings have had budgets that skew in other directions. check out apracticalwedding.com for budget info.

ETA: I keep forgetting the plus sign doesn't show on these forums..

It seems like too high a percentage of your budget if that is JUST the venue.

My venue - which included: Tables/linnens, all the lighting, decor and centerpieces, the arch outside, chairs and bar equipment (not the booze or the servers just a bar) was about 20% of my budget, and it was on the high end. 40% seems way too much for anything other than food/booze

JoRocka - seriously? This is a legit question. And people CAN give her opinions because they are familiar with budget breakdowns for weddings. She knows her total budget. She is wondering if the venue rental fee is reasonable for her budget. This is not an unreasonable or unusual question.

OP - $4500 is a very large chunk of a $12k budget. Without food / alcohol and other rentals you may need in the barn (tables, chairs, silverware, dishes, linens, etc.), you are leaving yourself very tight. Not to mention other line items such as photographer, DJ, officiant, attire, etc.

I would price out catering and rentals before making a decision on the barn. The small guest list is good, but I would not cheap out on food in favor of an expensive venue, so keep that in mind.

Typically the reception takes up 50% of the total budget (this is the venue fee plus food, drink, rentals, etc). Based on that percentage - you are only leaving yourself $1500 for food/bar/rentals. That is not going to work.

I agree that WW budget tool is a good place to start.

I personally think it's a bit high based on your budget and I personally would not choose venue over food and making sure my guests were comfortable.

We declined a venue because the cost alone would be $10k for venue rental and labour and I did not feel right serving my guests less food just so I could have my venue.

That's my opinion. But even if food isn't a huge concern, I still it's quite high.

I think that's a pretty big chunk of the budget, without even a carrot stick.

I'd honestly look for something less expensive.

I see that you're in LI....are you considering NJ or Orange County?

Seems high just for a venue. I agree with the others to look somewhere else. Is getting a second job or OT an option to increase your budget and get the cash for the dream wedding?

It's a good price for the venue (without seeing it in person) however it is a large portion of your budget. Buuut..it all depends on what things you dont mind going without, or going "less" than what you're hoping for. But, considering your guest count is small, I bet you could find a simpler, less expensive place. If you are ABSOLUTELY set on that then you need to go over all other aspects that will go in your budget.

IMO I think its too much. I am doing a barn wedding as well and it only has the barn and the land around it, with some lighting, and tables only, no chairs. That is about 2800.

It seems high to me too consdering how much it eats into your total budget. I agree you should price out catering/rental options/alcohol and figure in all the other costs you will have added to that to see if you can swing it.

I think it is too much because there are a lot of little expenses that come up. I highly recommend pricing out everything else such as catering and rentals prior to making a final decision. Use the budget tool to get an estimate of expected cost.

My budget is about the same, and that's too much unless it includes other things...food, decor, booze, etc.

Only you can really determine if it's too much, if you can cut back elsewhere, DIY isn't necessarily cheap! However, I'll say I spent $2750 on my venue. It includes tables and chairs, a really nice audio system, and a day-of coordinator.

It may be your dream but, IMHO, look elsewhere.

According to my wedding planner & organizer...

Ceremony should account for 5% of your Budget, and include:

-site fee

-Officiants fee

-Officiants gratuity

-guest book & pen

-Ring Bearer pillow

-Flower Girl basket

If you're using it for both Ceremony and Reception....

Reception should account for 35% of your budget and include:

-site fee

-Hors d'Oeuvres

-Main Meal/Caterer

-Liquor/Beverages

-Bartending & set-up fee

-Corkage fees, if any

-Any fees to pour cofee

-Service providers meals

-Gratuities

-Favors

-Rose petals, rice, etc...

-any Parking fee/valet services

Now, my numbers didn't met all that, but since you are struggling to figure it out I thought this might help. If you are using it fr BOTH ceremony and reception, that means it's reasonable for it to account for 40% of your budget... BUT should include ALL of that. Based on your numbers, that would run about $4800, BUT it *would* include FOOD too, as well as a lot of other things according to that schedule.