Bare Bones �
The location rental cost itself can have a wide range, anywhere from $500.00 to $6,000.00 (or more) depending on the type of location and your guest count. It could also be a bit cheaper depending on the time of year, state in which you are getting married and type of location you are renting. A city park/garden could be $1,000.00 in California but only $300.00 in Kansas. Location! Location! Location! It really can make a huge difference in what you spend. The average wedding in Los Angeles County is about $25,000.00. I did mine for $12,000.00. See, a great wedding can be done on a budget even in a high priced area as long as you shop around for the best deals.
Now that you have your location you have to start renting everything you will need to pull off your big day. Chair prices can be anywhere from $1.20 for plastic, $2.00 for wood, and up to $10.00 (or more) for the really fancy chairs. Table prices depend on the size and type of table (round or banquet) and can range from $6.00 to $15.00 each. Heaters tend to range from $50.00 to $85.00 each depending on size. Arches can be from $30.00 for the basic hard plastic to the $140.00 for Iron. China prices depend on if you want plain white or something with a pattern and each piece can range from $0.50 to $0.85 (or more). Don�t forget you need a salad plate, dinner plate, bread plate, cake plate, coffee cup, cream and sugar holders, salt & pepper shakers. The accessories such as the shakers, creamers and sugar holders can range in price from $1.00 to $2.00 each.
Linens, again the price is based on the quality, and from the basic white at around $5.00 each to the fancy at $20.00 each. Napkins also range from $0.50 to $2.00 each. Glasses, this includes your water glass, champagne glass, and any other barware like tumblers or highballs. The prices can range from $0.50 to $2.00 each. This may not seem like much but remember that you will have to pay for breakage. And glasses are common casualties at weddings.
Bar rentals usually are for the bar table itself and can range from $10.00 to $20.00 but it�s the added cost of the glasses, liquor and bartender that can make this item�s price skyrocket. When choosing a bartender make sure they are bonded and insured, this is to protect you as much as them. Dance Floors are usually rented out by the square, but some places rent them in total size such as a 12 x 12 dance floor. The prices can range from $8.00 per square to $150.00 for 12 x12. As you saw above I paid $280.00 for my dance floor so the price range can be even higher and you have to leave room in your budget for the delivery and set up charge.
Now that you have a basic range of rental prices you can start guesstimating the costs for the bare bones location with all the rentals. Once you have a total divide that by the number of guests and you will have a rough price per person.
Don�t forget, you still haven�t added food into the equation yet. With the price of food comes a service charge, usually 18% or so and also cutting fees for the cake which can range from $2.00 to $8.00 a piece. On top of the bar costs is also a corkage fee and that can be anywhere from $6.00 to $16.00 per bottle depending on the size of the champagne bottle. If you buy Magnums the corkage cost could be double (as it was in my case, but hey it was worth it).
Some locations allow people to supply their own Alcohol (BYO), this can be a great option. Not only can you control what alcohol is at your wedding but you have the ability to control the cost. Buying your own alcohol at a bulk supply store can be a big savings and some places will even allow returns of unopened bottles.
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