Ingenuity Goes Long Way in Holding Down Costs
$150,000? For a wedding? This is the kind of money that we don’t even have for a house. And, to be honest, even if I could pay the bills, I’d have trouble keeping a straight face. The same goes for my mom.
OK. What now?
“The first thing I ask is ‘What is your budget?’ and the first words I hear are usually ‘I haven’t got a clue,’ ” says Rick McElderry, owner of San Marino Caterers in Glendale, a time-tested establishment that has been catering weddings since it opened in 1940.
“Most couples don’t know where to begin, there are so many variables.”
It might be worth noting at this point that the total tab for an average wedding for 150 guests is $20,000 to $30,000.
Still too rich for my blood. You don’t necessarily want to cut back on food or beverages, McElderry says. But there are ways to save money.
Start with location: More and more weddings that San Marino handles are in homes and backyards. And even if a client doesn’t have a suitable home/backyard available, there are many desirable public sites where rental fees are under $1,000.
In Glendale, McElderry advises checking out the Casa Adobe de San Rafael. The Japanese Garden in Van Nuys is a location recommended by a number of caterers and planners. Then there is the slightly more expensive Lake Malibu near Agoura Hills. One thing to remember, however, is that most public locations come with some restrictions, such as limits on the number of hours, the serving of hard liquor, the use of amplified music and decorations.
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Timing is another element to consider when trying to cut costs. Wedding coordinator Tobey Dodge of the Wedding Connection says that since most weddings take place from April through October, many couples can find better prices “off season.”
A lot of people also forget about Sundays, when sites and servers often discount their rates. And several experts said that daytime weddings can run cheaper in many places--lunch is generally less expensive than dinner, and the consensus is that people tend to drink less during the day, especially on Sundays.
Regarding all the other details it takes to pull off a wedding, many caterers say they will work within a couple’s budget, doing as much or as little as the client is willing to afford. Even Dodge, who has an elite clientele, offers a variety of packages as well as an A La Carte Menu, listing the services she’ll provide.
Just looking at this list is rather mind-boggling, a cruel reminder of just how much there is to deal with. “Whether you go high road or the low road, take one hour in the initial stages,” she recommends. She’ll share her expertise, pass on resources and assist in drafting a budget and setting priorities. “No matter how much money is involved, everyone has certain priorities,” she continues.
Bare-bones prices for a catered wedding for 150 guests with all the trimmings? $12,000 to $15,000.
Recently, I was a bit surprised when a girlfriend (who I know is as broke as I am) got married at the Embassy Suites Mandalay Beach Resort in Oxnard. I was even more surprised when I learned that, like many hotels, the ocean-front Mandalay offers a range of wedding packages, some of which can be extremely cost effective.
“Lots of time people think they’re saving money doing it at home, but the costs add up in a hurry and it can be very expensive,” says Toby Kay Applebay, Wedding Consultant for Capistrano’s Restaurant & Catering, located within the hotel.
For an average-size indoor reception (150 people)and a lovely courtyard ceremony--complete with deluxe suites at the hotel the night of and before, with careful planning you can get out of there for under $6,000, wedding cake and all.
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The packages don’t include flowers, decorations, favors, a photographer/video operator, etc. But packages can be upgraded. Applebay, also an independent wedding coordinator with her own Five-Star Consulting, can add these and other services, or has a referrals list for brides who want to handle them on their own.
Whichever way a client goes, these amenities do bump up the budget. Applebay has this bit of budget advice for couples: “Cut back on the guest list rather than skimping. We love doing weddings here, we’re known for doing weddings, so I’m not going to put out cheese and crackers and call it a wedding.”
Yeah, I guess if I wanted cheese and crackers, I could do it myself.
There’s an idea. I’m an industrious girl, why don’t I cut corners by doing just that? Have a fabulous, glamorous wedding for less by eliminating the middle person altogether.
Location? I convince a dear friend that it will be a blast to have a wedding at his lovely Craftsman house. My cost? Several trips to Home Depot for plants and trellises totaling $300 or so. Then it is a call to Abbey Rents in Burbank, which, according to events director Rhonda Couchigian, specializes in “cost-conscious weddings.” Although it’s been around since 1924, the company underwent a change in ownership and has warehouses filled with beautiful, new, quality stock.
“We’re in a growth mode,” says Couchigian, “and as an incentive to attract new customers, we’re 15% below retail.” Plus they provide free on-site supervision and equipment coordinators, and deliver and set it all up for a nominal fee. Chairs, tables, linens, china, a coffee maker, etc. cost $700.
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Next, I go into one of our favorite restaurants and ask if they will cater. Not only does Alexis’ Greek Restaurant in Northridge cater, but Fatima, wife of the aforementioned Alexis, is a master pastry chef and would love to make us a wedding cake. How does tiramisu sound?
Service, equipment and an amazing amount of food come in at under $3,000.
On the advice of a friend, I call Wine Expo in Santa Monica and talk to owner Ali Biglar, who estimates that in five years of business he has handled more than 3,000 weddings, over half of which were in the Valley and Ventura County. Specializing in Italian wines and French champagnes, he tells me he will match the prices of Trader Joe’s, with better wines and he delivers. I get great wine and champagne for $500; kegs of beer for $300.
At Roberto’s Flowers in Granada Hills, a division of Wholesale Wedding Flowers, they pride themselves on being able to provide quality flowers in any price range.
“You tell me what you have to spend and I’ll show you what I can give you,” says owner Ivan Minarik. “Plus, I’ll show you samples of everything so that there are no surprises the day of the wedding.” Total spent on flowers: $800.
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Since I’m fortunate enough to have talented friends, I convince a designer friend to create our wedding invitations. Nu Print, located in Studio City, did the job quickly, beautifully and for around $100; I brought in my own paper and envelopes, another $70, and postage tacks on $75. A friend of a friend is a bartender, available for hire and brings his own portable bar. $150 plus tips.
Another friend, a knockout actress with a terrific sense of humor, jumped at the chance to become a mail-order minister through the Universal Life Church (although she prefers the title “priestess.”) $95 to get her ordained, and $67 for the license.
Later, I convince a photographer pal to bring his camera to the wedding, a practice highly discouraged by wedding coordinators. “Unless they’re professionals,” says Applebay, “I steer people away from using family and friends at a wedding--it doesn’t usually work out.”
I decide to take my chances, since I only will have to pay for the film, processing and prints, somewhere under $500.
About now, I’m losing hair--but unfortunately not weight--as I keep remembering things and forgetting things and deciding there are things we’re just going to have to live without. I wistfully recall another wedding, where friends of mine drove up to Ventura, met at Fancy Things Boutique, opted for the “Complete Wedding Package #1,” tied the knot with flowers and everything for $395, went to City Hall and got the license that afternoon, and had wedding cake left over for the ride home.
Back to my own list: I take a trip to Costco for soft drinks, disposable cameras and candles; Vine American Party Store for napkins and decorations; Michaels for craft supplies, after a friend promises to help me decorate flower-girl baskets and make party favors; the Glendale Galleria for lingerie, shoes, a guest book, and an outfit for my soon-to-be stepdaughter; and Cost Plus World Market to buy gifts for the multitudes who have helped to pull it all together. Another $1,000.
Oh, and the dress. Before I see what shape my mother’s dress is in, I check out Wedding Dreams in Woodland Hills, a full-service bridal shop, which has a helpful staff and over 600 styles of wedding gowns, as well as anything else I might need if I’m really going to take this bridal thing seriously. But I’m in luck, because not only is my mom’s 40 year-old wedding dress in prime condition, it even fits. But it costs nearly $300 to have it cleaned and hemmed.
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Rather than renting a tux, we spend $400 for a suit for my lovely fiancee, one he’ll wear again. On the music front, not quite convinced that my intended will follow through on his promise to “take care of it,” I contact D.J. Steve Gauthier, who presses his own vast collection of CDs from vinyl favorites, and has been doing weddings for over five years.
My own fellow comes through big time, however, and we hire a friend with a fantastic blues band for the same price, $500 plus tips.
So how much did does it end up costing? I think we came in around $9,000. Did I save money? Maybe, maybe not. Was everything wonderful? Definitely. Did I drive myself bonkers? Absolutely and then some. No wonder my husband sang the blues at his own wedding. But he sounded great. Even my mom thought so.