Am i missing something about how to calculate the reception costs... are they negotiable at all? all i did was select the beverage package and the food package and worked out the p/h and total cost...

am i doing this wrong?

We are fine with paying up to $130 - $135 per head, but i really really really want value for money and im not sure im getting this..

i would imagine for $12,000 - $13,000 i would get

a great modern venue
5 hr + function
great views (marina, river, city, vinyard etc) - REAL VIEWS not photoshopped tweaked views
great selection of food, 2 entrees, 2 mains (seafood and steak inc), 2 desserts
a decent beverage package - 5 hrs
basic spirits package - 5 hrs
hot/cold canapes for at least 1/2 hr before the dinner (10 pieces per head)
exclusive use of the venue
tea, coffee, pettifours
dance floor
SOME table decorations (candles maybe or something)
nice crisp CLEAN linens and nice silverware/glasswear
1 waiter per 1-2 tables + bar staff etc
cakage
nice wedding co ordinator
staff to help set up


is that too much to ask?

Hi

not quite sure but I checked out the Melbourne area for April 2007
we are paying $90/pp for food
and $60pp for beer, wine and soft drink

This price also includes
a great re-decorated venue and great gardens
6 hr + function
great views (ocean bay and vineyard )
great selection of food, 2 entrees, 2 mains (seafood and steak inc), 2 desserts
a decent beverage package - 6 hrs
basic spirits avail at bar for guests to pay for
hot/cold canapes for at least 1/2 hr before the dinner (10 pieces per head) plus drinks at this time
exclusive use of the venue (for recepetion and ceremony)
tea, coffee,
dance floor
SOME table decorations (candles)
nice crisp CLEAN linens and nice silverware/glasswear
1 waiter per 1-2 tables + bar staff etc
cakage is additional to bag ie $2.50 pp or free to serve and eat
nice wedding co ordinator
staff to help set up

hope this helps

You can definitely negotiate! But if you're getting married in a peak time it can be harder.

What you have on your list is definitely not too much to ask for that price.

If you're having it on any day OTHER than saturday you will (or you should) get a discount of some sort. We saved a packet by having it on a Sunday. This is also good as other suppliers are more than likely to be booked out on a Saturday as well.

If you're having it in the winter months you can save as well.

If you have lunch instead of dinner..

If you have cocktail instead of sit down..

etc etc..

but if u are wanting between sept-may, saturday night, sit down dinner i dont think they would negotiate much as if it's a popular place, someone else will snap up the spot sooner or later.

Hi Saraih,
We are getting married in winter (august nxt yr) so we were able to negotiate $$ off pp and also got the room hire fee waived. For $88 pp we are getting -

- Chef's selection of hot and cold canapes
- Our choice of a three course menu,
- tea, coffee and mints
- Cheese platter with lavosh shards per table
- Six hours of beverages incorporating 30 minutes of pre dinner drinks which includes champagne, wines, beer, soft drinks and juices
- 2 x 5 arm candelabras with white candles at either end of bridal table
- Chaircovers for all chairs with bows
- Main floral arrangement for the bridal table
- Individual floral arrangements per guest table or 5 arm candelabras with candles
- 2 personalised menus per guest table
- DJ for five hour duration
- Stylish wedding cake
- Lectern and microphone for speeches and dance floor
- Deluxe accommodation with breakfast in their restaurant or through room service with bottle of champagne
- An invitation to celebrate a romantic dinner and champagne for two on our First wedding Anniversary

This is at a beach front hotel on the south coast.

What you are looking for is not reasonable - but it would pay to look around and ask. From memory, it is cheaper on Friday and Sunday nights. Also if the venue had a cancelled date and is trying to get it rehired they may negotiate as well.
Hope this helps

I don't think you are asking too much at all. Places I've been looking range from $50-80 pp and include pretty much everything (decorations, DJ, ceremony, buffet dinner, etc). Though I'm not sure about places including drinks in their packages. Most don't as far as I've seen. That is normally an extra cost.

Teagreen, no offence, but I hope your wedding venue is a 7 star place because you seem to be paying alot! $6500 for room hire??? Wow, there is no way I would pay that much for a room. But then again, that would pretty much be all of our budget taken up so...

I thought of the city thing after I'd posted. I'm in Brissy so I guess it would be a little cheaper up here and we'll probably get married in the burbs or down the Gold Coast so it brings the price down a little.

I suppose it depends where about exactly you are looking. I know in the sydney burbs that would be reasonable with a nights accomodation thrown in.
In the city's you'd prolly pay more, especially with a spirits package.

One I have looked into is about $92p/h for four hours - everything you mentioned except spirits inc. a nights accomodation. no views but nice venue. and if you have over 40ppl you get a dj as well. under 40 (which we have) then dj is $600.

I know some places have a minimum saturday night spend for some it's $10k for other's it's $20K.

To compare get a tone of quotes from venues you probably wouldn't consider but it still might give you an idea of what is the going rate.

OMG Teagreen, that quote sounds pricey, $5 for softdrinks?? $100 for a bottle of champagne. Are you paying for drinks as it's consumed or is there a price per head? My venue is in the city in Melbourne, on the yarra. We're paying $100 per head for 3 course meal and drinks and venue hire is included in that.

Teagreen, I can't believe you're spending so much! That seems way too excessive - no matter what/where the place is!

Saraih, we're in Canberra and getting married in November (so peak season) - we're having a cruise for our ceremony, and our 2 course meal package is $35/head, and the drinks package is an extra $19/head. We get to cruise for 3 hrs for $350/hour and we then get the boat until midnight (cruise will finish at 8pm) for an extra $110. Our Wedding cake is the dessert, and its $3/head cakeage for them to cut and serve with cream and berri coulis.

I know that Canberra is a lot cheaper than other Cities though - due to the lower population. But I have friends in Sydney and Melbourne that have gotten really good deals by just chatting with the venue and working out what they want and tailoring the package to your needs. They may also give you discounts for more people. We only have 54 people (inc bridal party), but if we were over 100 then we'd get it even cheaper (like $3-$5/head cheaper).

So, no, I don't think you're asking too much at all! See what you can negotiate with them, and if not, you might like to look at other venues and see how they compare? (Not neccessaily to swap venues, but to get an idea of if your price is in the correct range).

Good luck - and don't let it stress you out! If you have a budget, be sure to stick to it!

Mel_Mck, I think it is to each their own. While we could never afford to have a reception at that price, obviously teagreen has the budget to do it, otherwise she wouldn't be considering it. I think it is her personal choice and we shouldn't really make statements like "it is way too excessive" for a wedding.

It is an absolutely amazing restaurant, it was restaurant of the year in sydney I think and if teagreen is a real foodie and wants to splash out on her guests, she should be allowed!

They usually have two seatings in there, one pre opera one and one normal one. so they turn over ALOT of money per night. That is why you have to pay through the nose for exclusive use of it.

Hi Sairah - everything is negotiable. I saved myself $10 per head plus then managed to save a whopping 40% when new caterers came in with higher prices.

I think many of the items are standard and to be expected with any package such as:

"exclusive use of the venue
tea, coffee, pettifours
dance floor
SOME table decorations (candles maybe or something)
nice crisp CLEAN linens and nice silverware/glasswear
1 waiter per 1-2 tables + bar staff etc
cakage
nice wedding co ordinator
staff to help set up"

I'd look at the menu, the quality of alcohol and then negotiate $5 - 10 off per head or try for better quality wine at the same price.

There are many venues out there offering wedding solutions so don't be afraid to haggle with them.

Thanks guys!

We are really in love with Riva St Kilda, we are going in soon for the full tour.

teagreen: we have looked at a few reception designated places (and no offence to anyone) but the majority of them have a tackyness about them.. its strange But ill definately try and negotiate a few dollars off..

but it is: Melbourne, St Kilda MARINA, peak season and a saturday night.. what a leathal combo right

hehe