As a vendor for about 60 weddings a year, I can tell you it's one of the worst locations to have a wedding. It looks cool but is a nightmare to work at. It's gotten to the point where if I get asked to do a wedding there I say no.
The wedding industrial complex is insane. My friend is planning her wedding, and she just wants a nice, quiet ceremony with family and really close friends - not at a fancy venue, not with a lot of glitz or fuss - and everyone keeps telling her there's no way she'll spend less than $10,000.
There are no nice quiet ceremonies without glitz or fuss...women are bombarded from birth that they must have the "perfect "fairy tale" "princess" wedding, and many fall for this malarkey. That goes for the proposals too. Subtly and private romance are out the window. Now it has to be on an electronic billboard in Times Square, or in skywriting, or at the top of an ancient pyramid in Peru.
is high-pressure pitches from vendors who are taking advantage of the fact that most people have no experience planning a wedding and are a little insecure about being a good host. They'll be snobby and haughty to you, telling you that you'll never find anything in time, that your price range is unrealistic, that no one does what you're trying to do and you're violating etiquette, and that whatever you're looking to buy is impossible.
"Oh, well EVERYONE'S ____cost _____ each, you just won't find anything cheaper, it's not possible. You have to buy ___ today or you won't have one in time for your wedding. There's nothing on the market in that price range, you can keep looking but everything's already booked. Well, most weddings have ____, it's just part of having a wedding. No one offers that service, you just won't find it, you have to be realistic about what is available. No one sells that style, especially in your tiny size, you're asking for too much."
I had to "fire" my mom from helping out: three hours of high pressure sales pitches from bridal consultants cracked her into an anxious, panicked wreck. You have to have nerves of steel to deal with wedding vendors and their manipulative sales tactics.
I told my friend to tell vendors/caterers/etc. that she's planning a purity ball or something. As soon as people hear the word "wedding," the cost skyrockets.
I'm trying to plan a wedding -- courthouse ceremony, nice dinner for 40-50 family/friends afterwards, sundress, no glitz and everything else people blame brides for when wedding prices come up -- and am really struggling to get it under 6-7k. This city is awful for pricing, and all the usual conventional wisdom - have a backyard party, do a family potluck - doesn't help when you're a transplant with a 40 sq foot parking pad.
Does $50K include catering? Either way that's an astounding figure. But then supposedly a significant percentage of couples are still paying off their wedding when the divorce comes through.
I thought it was kind of interesting seeing a normally public space closed off for a private ceremony. And, OK, I liked the fountain turning on at just the right moment.
My earlier post was more of a response to the general issue of wedding costs; I certainly am happy for this couple and wholeheartedly endorse their choice of both location and donut supplier.
Do you really think it goes towards supporting the things you like about the BPL? That place is so horribly mis-managed that the fees are probably pissed away.
may not support the things I like at the BPL, but I'm sure they would not offer event rentals unless there was some monetary benefit that helps defray some of their operating costs.
location for an event. I haven't attended a wedding but I've attended an event/reception in the Courtyard and it was terrific--great food and space. Most events happen when the library is closed, and there are strict rules on what you can and cannot do. It's pretty pricey for a large event so I don't know a lot of people who use it.
Comments
is this a wedding video or a
is this a wedding video or a TLC special
BPL
As a vendor for about 60 weddings a year, I can tell you it's one of the worst locations to have a wedding. It looks cool but is a nightmare to work at. It's gotten to the point where if I get asked to do a wedding there I say no.
Must be nice
The BPL was our dream venue until we saw the price. The average wedding there starts at $50k.
oy gevalt
The wedding industrial complex is insane. My friend is planning her wedding, and she just wants a nice, quiet ceremony with family and really close friends - not at a fancy venue, not with a lot of glitz or fuss - and everyone keeps telling her there's no way she'll spend less than $10,000.
It's all part of the new normal...
There are no nice quiet ceremonies without glitz or fuss...women are bombarded from birth that they must have the "perfect "fairy tale" "princess" wedding, and many fall for this malarkey. That goes for the proposals too. Subtly and private romance are out the window. Now it has to be on an electronic billboard in Times Square, or in skywriting, or at the top of an ancient pyramid in Peru.
A huge part of the wedding process
is high-pressure pitches from vendors who are taking advantage of the fact that most people have no experience planning a wedding and are a little insecure about being a good host. They'll be snobby and haughty to you, telling you that you'll never find anything in time, that your price range is unrealistic, that no one does what you're trying to do and you're violating etiquette, and that whatever you're looking to buy is impossible.
"Oh, well EVERYONE'S ____cost _____ each, you just won't find anything cheaper, it's not possible. You have to buy ___ today or you won't have one in time for your wedding. There's nothing on the market in that price range, you can keep looking but everything's already booked. Well, most weddings have ____, it's just part of having a wedding. No one offers that service, you just won't find it, you have to be realistic about what is available. No one sells that style, especially in your tiny size, you're asking for too much."
I had to "fire" my mom from helping out: three hours of high pressure sales pitches from bridal consultants cracked her into an anxious, panicked wreck. You have to have nerves of steel to deal with wedding vendors and their manipulative sales tactics.
definitely
I told my friend to tell vendors/caterers/etc. that she's planning a purity ball or something. As soon as people hear the word "wedding," the cost skyrockets.
I'm trying to plan a wedding
I'm trying to plan a wedding -- courthouse ceremony, nice dinner for 40-50 family/friends afterwards, sundress, no glitz and everything else people blame brides for when wedding prices come up -- and am really struggling to get it under 6-7k. This city is awful for pricing, and all the usual conventional wisdom - have a backyard party, do a family potluck - doesn't help when you're a transplant with a 40 sq foot parking pad.
oof
That's rough - especially since it sounds a lot like what I'd do myself. Guess I'd better start saving now!
Wow
Does $50K include catering? Either way that's an astounding figure. But then supposedly a significant percentage of couples are still paying off their wedding when the divorce comes through.
TMI!
Oh, please. Why post this self-promoting, maudlin crap?
The juxtapostion or something
I thought it was kind of interesting seeing a normally public space closed off for a private ceremony. And, OK, I liked the fountain turning on at just the right moment.
I liked the fountain too
And the donut bar. It looks like a lovely, fun wedding.
(I love going to/seeing/reading about weddings, unlike apparently every other commenter here.)
Well, I agree
My earlier post was more of a response to the general issue of wedding costs; I certainly am happy for this couple and wholeheartedly endorse their choice of both location and donut supplier.
I'm glad the
big rental fees go towards supporting the BPL.
Do you really think it goes
Do you really think it goes towards supporting the things you like about the BPL? That place is so horribly mis-managed that the fees are probably pissed away.
Speaking of piss....
....what did they do with all the BPL resident bums during the wedding?
It may or
may not support the things I like at the BPL, but I'm sure they would not offer event rentals unless there was some monetary benefit that helps defray some of their operating costs.
Hmmmmm....it's very unusual..
and it looks like it was lots of fun, to boot, but I'm not so sure that the BPL was the most appropriate place for
a wedding.
It's a lovely
location for an event. I haven't attended a wedding but I've attended an event/reception in the Courtyard and it was terrific--great food and space. Most events happen when the library is closed, and there are strict rules on what you can and cannot do. It's pretty pricey for a large event so I don't know a lot of people who use it.