The staggering price of weddings in this country.

xpletiv

I have been engaged for 6 months and have been looking around Ireland for a nice venue. The church we are getting married in only does Saturday ceremonies so we have to have it on a Saturday. What I cant believe is the absolute greed of venues; MOST cost about 100 euro a head, for basic enough package of canapes, 3 course and evening food and wine, but they also have insane minimum numbers of 100 people and sometimes more (140 ive found) meaning a wedding costs MINIMUM 10000 euros. Now, call me cynical, but are we in Ireland not still in recession!? Are people actually paying this crazy amounts?! And most importantly, with the lovely new budget that just came out, new house buyers have to have 20% of their mortgage (thanks older generation!) so I would now assume people are going to spend less on their wedding, yet we cant get past the minimum numbers part, and no where seems to be negotiable for price or numbers. Any tips? Also, to vendors out there that may read this, consider that the generation that is currently getting married is being destroyed by tax and costs as it is and now have to save 20% for houses. I really think the minimum numbers thing is a joke. Especially for the prices you are charging!

_Brian

Suppose it depends where you are. Brother is getting married and €85 got them choice of local venues and I think minimum was 75/80.
Still a serious wad of cash though.

blindside88

What part of the country are you in? I got married last year and I didn't price anywhere that was €100 per head. Also would you not consider a different church that way you can have it on a different day? It's not everyone's cup of tea but we got married on a Thursday and it saved us in the region of 3 grand

xpletiv

Dublin region, so anywhere 1 hour outside dublin really. Been to tons of venues. Just cant get over the price of everything... seriously puts a dampener on everything

fits

I agree its insanely expensive, but I didn't encounter any issues with minimum numbers or anything like that. Our meal is 60 euro. I expect it to be of very high standard, and wine, canapes, evening food etc are all on top of that but we can customise what we want. I think you can do much better than that though in terms of price. Kilkenny hotels have very reasonable packages I think.

I asked a friend in Italy and he said average cost would be about 100 euro per head also. Same in UK (even more expensive?)

The price of dresses is my major bugbear at the moment.

fits

we did up a very detailed budget and even with modest budgets for dresses, one bridesmaid, groomsman, no wedding car, only a bouquet for flowers, it easily would add up to 25 grand. Easily. For 85 adult guests. Now it wont come to that much but it probably wont be far off twenty.

xpletiv

Exactly, thats my point, is that it doesnt seem that you can get a venue for less than 10k and then of course theres all the rest of top of it, which we cant seem to get below 25k. And to me it just seems greedy; venues get the bar and accomodation as well so they make over 20k or 30k in a night.

clint_silver

xpletiv wrote: »

I have been engaged for 6 months and have been looking around Ireland for a nice venue. The church we are getting married in only does Saturday ceremonies so we have to have it on a Saturday. What I cant believe is the absolute greed of venues; MOST cost about 100 euro a head, for basic enough package of canapes, 3 course and evening food and wine, but they also have insane minimum numbers of 100 people and sometimes more (140 ive found) meaning a wedding costs MINIMUM 10000 euros. Now, call me cynical, but are we in Ireland not still in recession!? Are people actually paying this crazy amounts?! And most importantly, with the lovely new budget that just came out, new house buyers have to have 20% of their mortgage (thanks older generation!) so I would now assume people are going to spend less on their wedding, yet we cant get past the minimum numbers part, and no where seems to be negotiable for price or numbers. Any tips? Also, to vendors out there that may read this, consider that the generation that is currently getting married is being destroyed by tax and costs as it is and now have to save 20% for houses. I really think the minimum numbers thing is a joke. Especially for the prices you are charging!

Sounds like what youre doing is looking for a car armed with a budget for a mid range saloon but checking out the ferrari and complaining about the price. It doesnt work that way.

Set your budget for everything. Break out the costs so you have everything fixed or very close to it. Then start looking at venues that fit into your budget of which I guarantee you there are, youre just not looking at them.

ballymagarvey/bellinter/tankardstown are near me at 120e-140e a head. theres also 5-6 hotels within 20 minutes of there at 30-50e a head.

It is what it is. someone will pay the big money cos they can afford it, (to the victors go the spoils and all that) someone will pay the small money cos thats all they have in their budget. I work at weddings, the happiness index on any given wedding day is 100% affected by the people there, not the price of the venue.

fits

When are you looking to get married xpletiv?

munchkin_utd

xpletiv wrote: »

<snip> And to me it just seems greedy; venues get the bar and accomodation as well so they make over 20k or 30k in a night.

thats the bit I dont get. They make a clean fortune on the booze, especially when half of it doesnt even get drank (meaning the amount purchased is actually out of kilter with the number of guests)

Dolbert

Are you only looking at very high-end venues OP? Our reception cost less than €2,500 for 80 people, that included a four course meal, wine, finger food and evening food. The food was standard wedding fare but perfectly nice, the hotel were willing to do it for that price as they were a small place with limited rooms, competing with larger country manor style venues nearby. Shop around.

fits

Also check out the Stephouse, Borris house, and Ballybeg house (friend of mine got married there quite cheaply and raved about it). They're all driveable from Dublin and wouldn't be large venues.

Lord Bagenal is very nice also (and on the river) as is the Rivercourt in Kilkenny.

clint_silver

munchkin_utd wrote: »

thats the bit I dont get. They make a clean fortune on the booze, especially when half of it doesnt even get drank (meaning the amount purchased is actually out of kilter with the number of guests)

Can you clarify this please, Are you suggesting the cost of drink at any given venue should be less because someone ordered a drink and didn't finish it? (not really a way for any business to operate)

Or are you talking about the wine where you either
A) get charged for amount of wine bottles opened
you agree beforehand how many are to be opened, pay a fee on that, and get a refund if less
C) you get charged corkage on your own wine and any unopened wine is returned to you.

Sparks43

Have a look at the Woodenbridge in arklow

Got married there last week and it was a brilliant day

Food service drink and hotel were amazing

The view is not bad either

Its also very cheap and only want minnimum numbers of 60

All the guests that attended are still raving about it so it comes highly reccommended

Best of luck

fits

Sounds lovely Sparks!

Dolbert

Off the top of my head the following have reasonable wedding packages, all an hour from Dublin:

The Lucan Spa Hotel
Springfield Hotel Leixlip
Glenroyal Hotel Maynooth
Station House Kilmessan

wexie

xpletiv wrote: »

What I cant believe is the absolute greed of venues; MOST cost about 100 euro a head, for basic enough package of canapes, 3 course and evening food and wine, but they also have insane minimum numbers of 100 people and sometimes more (140 ive found) meaning a wedding costs MINIMUM 10000 euros. Now, call me cynical, but are we in Ireland not still in recession!? Are people actually paying this crazy amounts?!

Yes, people are, which is why the venues are charging it, if there was nobody paying that kind of money and bringing the required minimum amount of guests then the venues would quickly change their pricing structure.

It's absolutely nothing to do with greed, it's running a business. Believe it or not hotels aren't in the business of making happy memories on people's wedding days, they're in the business of making money.

clint_silver

Dolbert wrote: »

Off the top of my head the following have reasonable wedding packages, all an hour from Dublin:

The Lucan Spa Hotel
Springfield Hotel Leixlip
Glenroyal Hotel Maynooth
Station House Kilmessan

yep, all fine places & to add to that off top of my head for reasonable venues....
riverside donabate
city north
pillo ashbourne
darver castle p in ardee (think they start at 60, fantastic spot, take a look if you can)
navan has 2 or 3
citywest
bracken court
red cow
green isle
louis fitz
finnstown
westgrove clane
and on and on...
....
....

Gmol

Wooden Bridge Arklow
Amber Springs Gorey
Ashdown Gorey

All the above should be under that, I think one of them was doing a package for 5K for 100 people there recently

wexie

Sparks43 wrote: »

Have a look at the Woodenbridge in arklow

Got married there last week and it was a brilliant day

Food service drink and hotel were amazing

The view is not bad either

Its also very cheap and only want minnimum numbers of 60

All the guests that attended are still raving about it so it comes highly reccommended

Best of luck

Also helps that the bar opening hours tend to be somewhat holistic there.

Sparks43

We had 60 at the woodenbridge and it worked out less then 3k

That included our stay for 3 nights
Parents room
Cerimony room
4 course meal with choice of main
Half bottle wine for meal

Sparkling toast
Drinks reception on arrival
Evening food

And more that I can't remember right now

mrsbyrne

I think part of it is that most Irish couples having the "full monty" expect to be paying in excess of €15000 for their wedding so the vendors charge accordingly.
B&G have either saved or borrowed between €15000 and €20000 and hotel/florist/photographer/baker/band/DJ/car hire are pretty determined to part them from that cash.
But then the B&G also have a genuine expectation that each person invited to their wedding will be making them a gift of at least €75, more likely to be €100 for a single guest and at least €150 for a couple or family.
So, its an Irish thing.
Its still perfectly acceptable in the UK to have a wedding and serve your guests buffet followed by a DJ in the local sports hall. But then that B&G consider an envelope with a card and £30 inside generous so its all relative really.

An Bhanríon

People go mental when it comes to weddings. They spend money they don't have / parents chip in / the couple hope they will get cash gifts to make up the cost of the wedding. Such is the way of the world and that is why these places / services are so expensive.

I would love to have my wedding in one of those lovely country house places. But I didn't even go view one of them because I knew I could not afford them. We are having ours in a hotel, €55 per head for the usual arrivals reception, five-course meal, afters food, a bit of wine. The food will not be amazing but it will be okay. The location will not be amazing but it will be okay. What I know will be amazing, though, is the party. Everyone is so looking forward to my wedding and so excited I know it will be a great day. We have also found a lovely country church to have our wedding mass in.

Our budget is €15,000 and we will manage to keep within this. This includes a short (and very simple!) honeymoon. We will not be having a lot of the 'normal' stuff people have at weddings, e.g. special car, bridesmaids, pew ends in the church, extra decorations at the hotel, cake, photographer. But we know it will be brilliant as we are having 130 of our nearest and dearest all in the one place at the one time.

Back to your original question....!!!!.... have a look at Leixlip Manor, Step House, Thomas Prior Hall, Angler's Rest (a bit more expensive), Tulfarris, Kippure Estate (may not be your thing but interesting venue and have heard good things about it), Station House. These were all within our budget. We visited nearly all of them and have heard good things about those we didn't visit. They all have a bit of character and are not soulless hotels. All seemed professionally run.

You will probably have to compromise a bit from your original plans. But remember, it's the people at the wedding that count. That's what will make your day! (Sorry I'm getting all over excited here because my own wedding is only 6 weeks away!!!)

Best of luck with the wedding planning. It will all come together. And most importantly, enjoy!

munchkin_utd

clint_silver wrote: »

Can you clarify this please, Are you suggesting the cost of drink at any given venue should be less because someone ordered a drink and didn't finish it? (not really a way for any business to operate)

<snip>

nope, I'm simply saying that the money a venue makes on drink is massive. The wastage just means they are making an even tidier profit from drink sales.

But the point in general is that sales of drink are so lucrative in the first place that theres little excuse to ride you on the food cost on top of it.

If there was no culture of drinking loads, and/or drink was cheap, then you'd understand the crazy cost of the food.
But the venues want to make insane cash on the food AND the drink.
Mad stuff.

Anyhow, despite the pair of us being irish and having a wedding in Ireland could be considered an option, we got married abroad.
There was a number of factors, but the cost for a reception in Ireland with fairly mediocre food was definitely one of the main reasons.

Liam McPoyle

Myself and herself had manys an argument over venue and prices but we settled on Rathsallagh @ €85 pp for a Friday in July.

There was a lot of haggling done and you can reduce costs by changing some things. For example, we decided that as it's a July wedding it will hopefully be hot so we removed soup from the menu and saved nearly €5 pp.

To some I'm sure €85 pp seems a lot (don't get me wrong, it is) but before the usual suspects chip in with their "people are stupid paying that kind of money blah blah blah" speil, we can

A) Afford it with some belt tightening before the day

We adore the venue (anyone that's been I'm sure will agree)

and

C) We wanted exclusivity ie it will be the wedding and only the wedding there on the day so there are no restrictions on noise or when it has to wrap up.

Ultimately it's about supply and demand and the price of anything is dictated by the number of people willing to pay it.

We are happy with our choice and it works for us which is ultimately the most important thing.

pwurple

munchkin_utd wrote: »

If there was no culture of drinking loads, and/or drink was cheap, then you'd understand the crazy cost of the food.
But the venues want to make insane cash on the food AND the drink.
Mad stuff.

Crikey, you're nearly persuading me into going into the wedding business! Sounds like loads of easy money to be had.

Are you doing it yourself?

jimmii

We had a micro wedding in August (20 people!) you are right its hard to find somewhere that will hold such a small group! Total venue cost ended up being about €1200 but we did have the ceremony there which was handy to be able to do. As soon as we mentioned we only wanted 20 people places were just like sorry not interested even if I suggested we pay the 60 person minimum they still didn't want it for some reason!

reeta

xpletiv wrote: »

I have been engaged for 6 months and have been looking around Ireland for a nice venue. The church we are getting married in only does Saturday ceremonies so we have to have it on a Saturday. What I cant believe is the absolute greed of venues; MOST cost about 100 euro a head, for basic enough package of canapes, 3 course and evening food and wine, but they also have insane minimum numbers of 100 people and sometimes more (140 ive found) meaning a wedding costs MINIMUM 10000 euros. Now, call me cynical, but are we in Ireland not still in recession!? Are people actually paying this crazy amounts?! And most importantly, with the lovely new budget that just came out, new house buyers have to have 20% of their mortgage (thanks older generation!) so I would now assume people are going to spend less on their wedding, yet we cant get past the minimum numbers part, and no where seems to be negotiable for price or numbers. Any tips? Also, to vendors out there that may read this, consider that the generation that is currently getting married is being destroyed by tax and costs as it is and now have to save 20% for houses. I really think the minimum numbers thing is a joke. Especially for the prices you are charging!

Please explain that comment.,..

Sunny Dayz

Seriously what places are you looking at that charge €100 per head for a basic wedding package?? Ours was about €35 per head for standard package not including corkage or chair covers which were extra.


Haggle haggle haggle!!!

wexie

jimmii wrote: »

We had a micro wedding in August (20 people!) you are right its hard to find somewhere that will hold such a small group! Total venue cost ended up being about €1200 but we did have the ceremony there which was handy to be able to do. As soon as we mentioned we only wanted 20 people places were just like sorry not interested even if I suggested we pay the 60 person minimum they still didn't want it for some reason!

it's because they would rather have a wedding that pays for 60 people, with 60 people in attendance spending for 60 people

marialouise

xpletiv wrote: »

I have been engaged for 6 months and have been looking around Ireland for a nice venue.

Also, to vendors out there that may read this, consider that the generation that is currently getting married is being destroyed by tax and costs as it is and now have to save 20% for houses.

1. If you want a nice venue, it comes with a price tag. There are lots of other options other than hotels with minumum numbers, you'll find some great suggestions here. Saturdays in November or January might be cheaper, but it's €220 for the marriage plus a bit for the priest and whatever ye decide to wear to the church, everything else is optional.

2. Also, many vendors (ie not hotels) are sole traders who are also trying to make a living, and I am one of them who is also in the generation being destroyed by tax and I too need 20% of a house for a mortgage, so this works both ways, the prices we are charging are what we need to make our ends meet.
If a certain vendor seems too expensive, shop around, haggle, get extras thrown in, whatever. There are ways to do it cheaply but unfortunately the average cost of a wedding in Ireland is something like €21,000. There's some lovely helpful people on this forum and weddingsonline and Mrs2B who should hopefully be able to give you some great advice!

clint_silver

munchkin_utd wrote: »

nope, I'm simply saying that the money a venue makes on drink is massive. The wastage just means they are making an even tidier profit from drink sales.

But the point in general is that sales of drink are so lucrative in the first place that theres little excuse to ride you on the food cost on top of it.

If there was no culture of drinking loads, and/or drink was cheap, then you'd understand the crazy cost of the food.
But the venues want to make insane cash on the food AND the drink.
Mad stuff.

Anyhow, despite the pair of us being irish and having a wedding in Ireland could be considered an option, we got married abroad.
There was a number of factors, but the cost for a reception in Ireland with fairly mediocre food was definitely one of the main reasons.

what wastage? If someone doesnt finish their drink are you suggesting that the venue makes even more profit? That doesn't make sense.

If venues make so much insane money, why are so many hotels in the country in receivership/nama/for sale?

wexie

clint_silver wrote: »

what wastage? If someone doesnt finish their drink are you suggesting that the venue makes even more profit? That doesn't make sense.

[SARCASM] But don't they collect all the leftovers and save them for the punch for the next wedding? [/SARCASM]

munchkin_utd

clint_silver wrote: »

what wastage? If someone doesnt finish their drink are you suggesting that the venue makes even more profit? That doesn't make sense.

If venues make so much insane money, why are so many hotels in the country in receivership/nama/for sale?

Nama is a property related issue. Many hotels were drawn into it thanks to bigger residental and commercial property issues that the hotel owners were dragged down by.
Maldron is now running many of the Nama hotels and is doing a great job, and from personal experience with some hotels they are now a MUCH better place to stay in than at the height of the boom.

regarding wastage, that point is very simple - but maybe you arent a pint drinker so its an alien concept.
If I have a half pint in front of me, then being a wedding and knowing half the people there someone buys me another, and before I move another person lands yet another pint in front of me, then I suddenly have 2 1/2 pints in front of me in various levels of coldness and freshness - which later in the evening when youre drinking slowly I'd never drink it before it goes flat or warm - so the first 1/2 pint, if not most of the second one, will not be drank.
So for 3 pints bought, I'll drink 1 or 1 1/2 and dump the rest (and get a fresh one in an hour)
So now the hotel has cash and profit for 3 pints, when I've only really wanted or needed the one

Neyite

wexie wrote: »

But don't they collect all the leftovers and save them for the punch for the next wedding?

I would imagine the Food Safety Authority would have them closed down pretty sharpish for practices like that.

Ah whoops, scarcasm lol.

Pistachios & cream

munchkin_utd wrote: »

So for 3 pints bought, I'll drink 1 or 1 1/2 and dump the rest (and get a fresh one in an hour)
So now the hotel has cash and profit for 3 pints, when I've only really wanted or needed the one

But this isn't the hotel's fault. Instead if someone wants to buy you a pint say no as you have one already. This is what i do if i don't want a drink at that moment i say no thanks. The hotel still has to pay the drink suppliers for the wasted drinks

wexie

munchkin_utd wrote: »

regarding wastage, that point is very simple - but maybe you arent a pint drinker so its an alien concept. If I have a half pint in front of me, then being a wedding and knowing half the people there someone buys me another, and before I move another person lands yet another pint in front of me, then I suddenly have 2 1/2 pints in front of me in various levels of coldness and freshness - which later in the evening when youre drinking slowly I'd never drink it before it goes flat or warm - so the first 1/2 pint, if not most of the second one, will not be drank. So for 3 pints bought, I'll drink 1 or 1 1/2 and dump the rest (and get a fresh one in an hour)So now the hotel has cash and profit for 3 pints, when I've only really wanted or needed the one

1) that's in no way unique to either weddings or hotels
2) the hotel isn't wasting the drink it's the patrons wasting it
3) the hotel make no more money whether you drink it once it's sold or not.

Neyite

The prices will come down Op, if people stop paying.

But, most people are like you - they will grumble, but still go for or be guilted into by family, the standard format of wedding and all that it entails and cough up the money for it. And vendors know this. They know people want the vintage car, the three bridesmaids, church music, DJ and all the trimmings.

I know someone who had their wedding - outfits, sit down 3-course meal for 60 and a honeymoon all for €2,000. They didnt bother with a lot of trimmings and it was one of the nicest weddings I attended. Food was sublime.

You dont have to follow the standard format and can do something really beautiful and unique for a lot less money.

munchkin_utd

ahayes84 wrote: »

But this isn't the hotel's fault. Instead if someone wants to buy you a pint say no as you have one already. This is what i do if i don't want a drink at that moment i say no thanks. The hotel still has to pay the drink suppliers for the wasted drinks

a lot of folks missing the point here.
What I'm simply pointing out is that they are doing well on having a room full of thirsty customers PLUS they have an added bonus that they then sell more drink than is needed or wanted due to the happy form of round buying uncles and the likes.

So, essentially the drink side of the business at a wedding venue is a nice money spinner which means that they dont need to ride you on the cost of the actual meal.
But still they do.

clint_silver

munchkin_utd wrote: »

Nama is a property related issue. Many hotels were drawn into it thanks to bigger residental and commercial property issues that the hotel owners were dragged down by.
Maldron is now running many of the Nama hotels and is doing a great job, and from personal experience with some hotels they are now a MUCH better place to stay in than at the height of the boom.

regarding wastage, that point is very simple - but maybe you arent a pint drinker so its an alien concept.
If I have a half pint in front of me, then being a wedding and knowing half the people there someone buys me another, and before I move another person lands yet another pint in front of me, then I suddenly have 2 1/2 pints in front of me in various levels of coldness and freshness - which later in the evening when youre drinking slowly I'd never drink it before it goes flat or warm - so the first 1/2 pint, if not most of the second one, will not be drank.
So for 3 pints bought, I'll drink 1 or 1 1/2 and dump the rest (and get a fresh one in an hour)
So now the hotel has cash and profit for 3 pints, when I've only really wanted or needed the one

I drink pints.
Bars closing, d'ya want another pint?
no.
if someone doesnt understand that, the hotel is welcome to the tenner profit theyve made on the round of drinks he just bought.

Neyite

munchkin_utd wrote: »

a lot of folks missing the point here.
What I'm simply pointing out is that they are doing well on having a room full of thirsty customers PLUS they have an added bonus that they then sell more drink than is needed or wanted due to the happy form of round buying uncles and the likes.

So, essentially the drink side of the business at a wedding venue is a nice money spinner which means that they dont need to ride you on the cost of the actual meal.
But still they do.

What is the profit margin on an average bar drink?

barneyrubble46

church weddings are a total con and a total waste of time. Just go to a register office cheaper and the end result is the same. Then go have a big party somewhere totally cool. I did and I have been married over 27 years, my total budget was €450 and I had the time of my life.

sweetie

wexie wrote: »

[SARCASM] But don't they collect all the leftovers and save them for the punch for the next wedding? [/SARCASM]

i've heard they can put them back in the keg and send back to the brewery as a spoiled keg? When I worked in a bar many moons ago the owner would as us to keep the dead/abandoned pints for some reason and not tip them down the drain.

Neyite

sweetie wrote: »

i've heard they can put them back in the keg and send back to the brewery as a spoiled keg? When I worked in a bar many moons ago the owner would as us to keep the dead/abandoned pints for some reason and not tip them down the drain.

I know that a pub I worked in kept a track of what was in drip trays, but for stock taking purposes, but abandoned drinks got chucked down the sink.

Milly33

No I don't think they put them back in the keg. It is more to track waste from what I know anywho, to see how much of the keg went down the drain..

The biggest burn I think is the whole wedding band. Heard someone mention they spent €3,000 again I just do not see why. Chatting to a few musicians at the weekend and they are all the same saying tis crazy what they are charging

pwurple

barneyrubble46 wrote: »

church weddings are a total con and a total waste of time. Just go to a register office cheaper and the end result is the same. Then go have a big party somewhere totally cool. I did and I have been married over 27 years, my total budget was €450 and I had the time of my life.

The church REALLY isn't the expensive part of weddings. It's the 3k dress, the 5k honeymoon cruise, the 100 euro per person dinners, the rock of a ring, the 4 bridesmaids and groomsmen, and fleet of flowergirls/pageboys, the 2k wedding band that push it up into stupidland.

We didn't spend a fortune either, we had a bbq with our friends and family in a nice house we had rented for the weekend. People seemed to have liked it, as four of the attendees did the exact same thing in the same venue over the following years.

I love hotel weddings too though, it's so handy to be able to stay right there! Good hotels have it down to an art they run it so smoothly.

I've been to a badly organised wedding (the place was new to the business and had lured couple in with special offer). It was like watching a car crash in action. The fire alarm was going on and off all night because of the candles on the tables, guests were evacuated into the rainy carpark 3 times. The bar pumps stopped working, they ran out of beer. It was a total and complete disaster.

I wouldn't run down a place that can turn around a good wedding at all. They are big undertakings.

NeVeR

I was at a wedding in the Springfield hotel in lucan,

Very nice place ( I thought )

Here is it's package.

http://www.springfieldhotel.ie/cmsFiles/all_inclusive.pdf

Here's it's site http://www.springfieldhotel.ie/wedding-packages.htm

clint_silver

Milly33 wrote: »

No I don't think they put them back in the keg. It is more to track waste from what I know anywho, to see how much of the keg went down the drain..

The biggest burn I think is the whole wedding band. Heard someone mention they spent €3,000 again I just do not see why. Chatting to a few musicians at the weekend and they are all the same saying tis crazy what they are charging

Did the couple say whether the 3k included any combination of church/pre-drinks/band/DJ?
Was the 3k for a 3 piece band or a 10 piece with brass?
was there travel involved?
Was there agents fees involved?
Are they an in-demand band where they have priced themselves accordingly with how much in-demand they are?
Was it a high season date?

If you seen an average band and seen a good band, you'd know the difference as to why 1 band charges more than the other.

Effects

xpletiv wrote: »

The church we are getting married in only does Saturday ceremonies so we have to have it on a Saturday.

Pick a different church or else don't get married in a church. You probably aren't a proper Christian so the church is just for show.

What I cant believe is the absolute greed of venues meaning a wedding costs MINIMUM 10000 euros.

Make a choice to not have that kind of wedding if you can't afford it.

Now, call me cynical, but are we in Ireland not still in recession!?

No. The recession is over

And most importantly, with the lovely new budget that just came out, new house buyers have to have 20% of their mortgage (thanks older generation!)

Don't spend money on one day, spend it on your house deposit instead.

Neyite

pwurple wrote: »

I wouldn't run down a place that can turn around a good wedding at all. They are big undertakings.

Absolutely. I've worked them behind the scenes, as well as attending more than I can shake a stick at, and the venue that can do a quality wedding with their eyes closed is often worth the money. So much goes on behind the scenes that the experienced venues sort out without guests being any the wiser, where an inexperienced venue may be unprepared for a failed delivery of something or other.

Having said that, new management/ changes is one thing to watch out for. I know two weddings, a year apart in the same venue had massive differences in service and quality. The first, the food was amazing. piping hot, lots of it, perfect service. Following year, the same venue, and our table, which was a family table, got served lukewarm meat, they forgot the veg, and gravy, offered potato to those who were still waiting for their plates, and didnt return. So obviously they changed some format and I'd say the top table were the only ones that got a decent hot meal. And both packages cost the same.

Toots

Effects wrote: »

Pick a different church or else don't get married in a church. You probably aren't a proper Christian so the church is just for show.

Please don't make assumptions like this about the OP. You have no idea how religious or non religious they are.