Option #2

[sakon76]

Get married at the Chapman Chapel. $1150 for two hours, including officiant, organist, rehearsal time, and church decoration. Have rehearsal dinner elsewhere. Such as: Orange County Mining Company. Room with overlook view entire restaurant has, $150. Three hor d'oeuvre trays of 100 pieces each, say 450 if we pick the most expensive. Dinne includes three-course meal, domestic cheeses and crackers, vegies and dip, wedding cake (probably by Cakes by Patty), fruit punch and champagne punch, champagne or cider toast, round mirrors and votive candles for centerpieces, complete set up of reception and dance floor. Budgeting for $28 entrees and $2 per person for unlimited soft drinks, around $2700 for reception. Still doesn't include photographer, florist, or DJ. But palatable pricing. Only problem may be making sure everyone has transport to chapel, to restaurant, to hotel again.

Comments

[racerxmachina.livejournal.com]

This is starting to look better. $5400-- ay caramba!

In lieu of a DJ: Eric and I will be going the mix-CD route ourselves-- that way we can guarantee a complete lack of "Play That Funky Music Whiteboy" at the reception.
In lieu of florist: Getting the flowers yourself is cheap. Getting potted flowers might be even cheaper, plus you can give them away as gifts or plant them yourself. Eric's mom might be setting us up with potted orchids for our wedding.
As for transportation, if someone wants to come to your wedding badly enough, they'll figure something out. Provide maps and such. I've been to weddings that involved leaving town entirely to get to the reception, and that went just fine.