EDR - Dessert Buffet option? Concerned about Money!

[BandE2008]

Hey!

 

So I am starting to really stress about money.

 

We were doing a private reception, but I am now thinking of having the dinner with my free 40 person dinner and having a get together after - as this I believe will lower the cost/guest.

 

OR

 

I could do a cocktail with appies get together following the wedding, THEN the free dinner for 40 at El Coctal....

 

 

My question - does anyone have the info on the dessert buffet option? Im my 30 + page package, I do not have any info on this option.

Does it come with the 2 hour international bar deal?

 

 

What are your thoughts on what to do to save money?

 

All this said, we are getting close to 40 guests, and if we have more, I dont think the free dinner is an option anymore so I might be screwed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

HELP PLEASE!

[Mandy]

We did the dessert buffet. The food was amazing, and the 2 hour bar was included. We also used this time to play our ipod/speakers. This followed the "free" dinner.

 

That being said, we didn't eat hardly ANY of it, because everyone was so stuffed. But it was still nice to have. We took a few of the treats back to the room with us, but most of it went to waste.

 

I'll see if I can find the prices on another thread.

[Mandy]

Found it! It was in this thread: http://bestdestinationwedding.com/forum/t11538-5 Post #50

 

We were just told the dessert buffet was now $20 per person and included:

 

 

DESSERT BUFFET FOR MINIMUM OF 20 PEOPLE - $ 20 USD p/p

 

MEDIUM SIZE CAKES

LEMON TART 18 SERVINGS

SEVEN FRUIT TART 18 SERVINGS

OPERA CAKE 18 SERVINGS

 

LARGE CAKES

LARGE CHOCOLATE CAKE 1 PIECE LARGE APPLE PIE 1 PIECE

PASSION FRUIT CAKE 1 PIECE

RASPBERRY CHEESE CAKE 1 PIECE

 

FRUIT CAKE 1 PIECE

CHOCOLATE CAKE 1 PIECE

MACAROON (3 TYPES) SERVINGS

[Mandy]

Here's the best pic I can find:

 

We had to e-mail the wedding coordinator to find out about this.

 

I can't speak to the cocktail hour, so someone else will have to answer that!

 

Just remember that everyone will be stuffed no matter what you do!

[BandE2008]

Thanks Mandy

 

Is that what you would suggest doing to save money?

 

Anyone know what happens if you have over 40 guests, is it a mandatory private reception OR can you pay per guest extra?

 

MANDY- did you have speeches?

[Mandy]

We did not do speeches, but you sure could have. I know a lot of people do their speeches at their after-dinner party. We alternated between dancing and visiting with all those who didn't want to dance (and occ eating!).

 

I know someone did another option where they paid to reserve a reception location and the bar, but had no additional food. I'll see if I still have that e-mail and can find out how much it was.

 

I would ask your wedding coordinator about the >40 guest problem.

[Mandy]

Jennifer (jfwolfe72) sent me the info: it's going to cost $8.00/person and we're also going to serve our cake at that reception. We'll rent a sound system so we can play a CD of music that we're going to prepare for dancing. I don't think that information was anywhere on Lomas' or Karisma's websites. Monica suggested that option for us.

 

Search for her and PM her if you have other questions about this. I don't know if this is what they ended up doing or not.

[shannon]

We didn't have as many guests as you- only 22 total- so we were able to have the private white glove cocktail party right after the ceremony at the Sky Palapa- which I loved. The guests went there directly after the ceremony and cooled down and got to eat and drink while Vince and I took our "romantics" pictures.

They set up a completely full bar there, and had waiters in white gloves walk around and serve 6 different apps- the apps were so so so so good.

I believe it was $21/person for everything....This was after the ceremony and before the "free dinner" at Fuentes...

You can click on our link from our photographer-- if you go to page 45- that is the beg of the pictures from the cocktail party-- from page 45-48-- those are pictures from the cocktail party....

Vince & Shannon

 

After our "free dinner" at Fuentes we did the reception at Tucanes. We had the chocolate fountain party- with fresh fruit and pastries and a choc fountain. It was $14/person, but then we had to pay another $8/person for a 2 hour bar-- so it was really $22/person.

If you go to our link and go to page 57

Vince & Shannon

From page 57 to end of pictures- those are the ones at Tucanes- there are pictures of the fountain and food.....

I totally agree with Mandy-- everyone was so full- I think people picked at the food, but it looked barely touched at the end! - we also did like Mandy and paid the $250 for speaker/iPOD setup. The speaker system was great-- no problems there...

[Mandy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by shannon I totally agree with Mandy-- everyone was so full- I think people picked at the food, but it looked barely touched at the end! - we also did like Mandy and paid the $250 for speaker/iPOD setup. The speaker system was great-- no problems there...

Well, technically we brought our ipod/speakers from home and didn't spend the extra $$. We figured we could spend just a little more and have them for good. We went with the Bose speaker for around $300-400, and used it all week. In fact, we're planning on taking it on our next trip with us!

[Mandy]

Have you looked at other places you could cut back? Do you need our help with your budget? We'd be happy to look it over and give you our thoughts!