I too am in the same boat!!! MY fiance and I come from very large families: 174 invited - of which 160 are immediate family!!! Our budget is very low, especially by Miami standards....and especially for 174 people. But I have stuck to my budget and found something much, much lower than $100 per person.
The only reason I am able to finally have a wedding is because I shopped around for 3 years! Thats right, I've been engaged for 3 years! Our wedding is set for January 9, 2010.
Finally, I found a great Catering Company with a package at a great price that was right for my budget...I suggest the following:
Please, please consider Elegant Party Production/ Key Biscayne Reception. They do onsite catering at their Key Biscayne location - or if your prefer they can cater to a location of your choice. Their packages are VERY reasonable. Most packages include 5 hours of service (includes the cocktail hour, alcoholic beverages, linens (color choices available, not just plain white), simple center pieces (which were perfect for me), all dinnerware, full sit down dinner, basic chair covers, cake & DJ. All for a fraction of the price you have been quoted.
They have a variety of menu selections: based on our taste test, everything was good. And most importantly this is a family run business and everyone has been exceptionally accommodating!!!
If this company or location is not what you are looking for continue shopping around. For the most part banquet halls tend to be the cheapest because they offer packages that include all your basics - saving you a load of money & time.
Remember that if you choose to have your wedding catered at a park you will need to ask them to include dinnerware, tables, chairs, and tents (if necessary) into your quote. Sometimes those items are forgotten and can really send things over the top.
That being said - narrow down every detail of the kind of wedding ceremony and reception that you want and express this to the caterer....Most are willing to create a custom package to bring costs down and give you just what you need. Note: most packages are based on 100 people - make sure that all additional people are at teh same rate as the first 100!!!
Most of all be patient and hopefull...for me it was certainly an adventure to find an elegant place that was also affordable - along they way I found what my priorities were for my wedding and I eliminated things that were not, such as favors - or doing my own invites with an invitation kit from Target or Michael's - both will save a couple hundred dollars. I also am not having my wedding at a church 0 the churches in Miami were far beyond our budget - so we are having ours on the beach...after the cost of rental chairs and the ordained officiant ($300-$500!!) we are still spending much less than a church wedding. Wherever you choose for your ceremony - don't spend a load decorating!!! You will only be there for 1 hour tops.
Hope this novel was helpful!!
Written on May. 24, 2009
