Weddings Online Forums - Wedding Discussion, Wedding Chat

Hello!

Just joined wol - am looking for some advice to point me in the right direction!
Not officially engaged yet, but we're hoping to have our big day next summer. Where do I start with the planning - I know exactly where we want to have it (we're only 6 years taling about it!!) ie: church & hotel. Who do I approach first - the hotel, then the church or vice versa?

I've done a very quick list (so I've definitely fogotten lots of people!!) and have come up with a list of over 260. Having had a look at their website, the package we'd like is €57 per person. Is that very expensive - choice of starter, soup, choice of main, dessert & tea/coffee. Includes sample dinner, chair covers, sashes, centrepieces & accommodation for us for 2 nights - for our parents for 1.
What can I expect to bargain with them on? Has corkage come down in recent years at all? Think they're looking for about €10 a bottle! Sounds extortionate to me - but what would I know?!!

I realise this is a "how long is a piece of string" question, but how much should I expect to pay for a good band & dj, and a good photographer & videographer?

Any advice greatly appreciated!!

Welcome to WOL!
Your lucky in that you know where you want to have the cermony and reception. That will take a lot of stress out of it.
Do you have an exact date in mind? Know the day of the week etc?
Try to narrow that down and then go to the hotel to discuss all the options with them. They may charge more for Sat's or a BH weekend so you need to find out the difference in price before you can really decide.
We are getting more of less what you have in your package plus we have 11 rooms on the night and no corkage on our own toast & reception drinks for E50. Depends on the venue but you might be able to negiote with them. Our package was orginally E59 and we bargained them down and got extras. We're delighted to have a BH weekend aswell.
After you have a few provisonal dates from the Hotel you can contact the Church/Priest to settle it.
After that you need to book a Band, DJ, Photographer & Videograoher if you are having these as they book up fast.
But don't put any deposits down until the Hotel/Church are booked & deposits paid.

Few prices
Photogrpaher - E800 for disc only
Videographer - Cost of flights from Canada to Ireland, friend of ours, expect to pay E800 plus
Band & DJ 2000

Good Luck in your planning and roll on the Engagement!

Hi, Congratulations!!

€57 a head sounds good, We're paying 70 a head for pretty much same package as yours but theres a bit more included, wine is included in ours too so we dont have to worry about corkage. We're also getting canapes on arrival and sparkling wine too, I'd definitely haggle with them though. Originally ours was €80 a head and they dropped it to €70 with barely any haggling at all. The worst they can say is no anyway!

We booked our venue first and then booked the church. I think some people do this the other way round but I dont think it matters too much. Maybe just check with your church that the date is free first. If your getting married in a church outside your parish you may have to get your own priest too which is a hassle which Ive found out over the last few weeks.

We've just booked our photographer and we're paying 2200 for dvd, storybook album and 2 parent albums. He does from brides house until first dance. There are cheaper packages out there like if you go for just dvd but I really wanted this photographer so was happy to pay a bit extra.
Our videographer is €1000 and I got him down from €1250 although he didnt seem to happy about it, again defo haggle!
I've just started looking at bands and really they range from 1800-2500, Ive seen some a lot more expensive but Im aiming for around the 2k mark. Some of them do band and dj for 2k so there seems to be good packages out there.

Hope this helps and happy planning!!