Weddingbee boards

I've been trying to get estimates before I book anything... For a summer wedding with about 130 guests, I'd budgeted out $10,000-11,000 but have found that I can't have the wedding I've always wanted for less than $18,000. And I don't even have extravagant taste. This doesn't even include the honeymoon.

I've never liked living in Boston, but now I have a new reason to dislike living here. It makes me SICK. Nauseatingly, vomitously, angrily SICK. It's SUCH A RACKET and it makes me want to elope, just as a screw-you to the wedding industry.

Has anyone had a classy- and this is important- OUTDOOR summer wedding for under $10,000 within a 20 minutes of Boston? We're getting married at a church (a church that has traditional, sentimental ties to the groom's side of the family) in Boston and we don't want our guests to have to drive longer than 20 minutes to the reception site.

Another important factor is that we don't want the reception in tthe city and we don't want to subject our non-Bostonian guests to the Boston traffic, which is just awful.

WHY? WHY must everyhting COST SO MUCH just because we're close to the city? FI and I are so sick and tired of this place.

We are firmly set on the church we want, so all ideas need to be strictly within 20 minutes of Boston.

I've gotten quotes from nearly every mansion, estate house, museum, university, you name it in the Bsotn area. Just like Boston-area apartments, they're all majorly expensive and extremely sub-par for the price.

Sorry, I just had to vent. Anyone in a similar situation?

*Faint* THUD

We're getting out of here as soon as we can, believe me.

We're having the wedding here because A) We live here for our jobs,  B) because of the church's sentimental ties to the family and C) our whole family is in MA and CT. So it's not like we can have it somewhere pretty, less rude, and cheap, like Maine or Arizona or Wyoming. Yes, I am a fan of blanket statements.

We don't want to amke our family drive around all day, especially in this city, and I can bet that even SoonToBeMrsA would agree that driving into Boston would be a nightmare for the unassuming out-of-towner.

Well Soontobe, I'm sorry if I offended you, but I've I called exactly 23 venues, 36 caterers, and 12 rental companies, so I have a pretty good idea of what's out there. Not much. And I'm not into hotel weddings. Not for us.

Listen, it wasn't aimed at you. My guy and I have lived in Boston (right in the middle of it) every single day for the last 11 years. That is plenty of time for us to have formed a fair opinion based on how we are treated and how we have seen other people treated over those 11 years.

I've been all over America and have seen lots of other cities. All of them are more polite than Boston. It's not a personal attack on you, it's the opinion I've formed through the proof of living here for a decade. Obviously 100% of Bostonioans aren't jerks. But I've see for myself that a lot of Bostonians are rude and selfish. If you're not, then good! It gives me hope.

Forgive me, but I just can't celebrate a wedding in within the city's limits. My opinion of Boston isn't going to change anytime soon.

Thank you for the suggestions, though.

I lived in the city of Boston for 6 years, and Cambridge for the last 4 or 5. But I go into Boston every day for work. Cambridge is no more polite than Boston, I've found. Just being honest.

Julies, you're right. I'll be smarter in the future. But take that rant above and then pretend you feel that way every day... it's hard to bottle it up sometimes. Actually, what I was REALLY hoping for was for someone to 100% agree with me... but I guess I am just the most miserable bride in the Metro area, apparently.

We're planning a Friday or Sunday recepetion, but prices are still pretty crazy. We've even called our old universities to see what we can get as alumni, but catering options are still all above $10,000. Friday's looking bad because of Friday traffic.

Eloping sounds better every day, but it would break our family's hearts to not have a wedding. We're having one more for everyone else than ourselves, and for older relatives who might not make it much longer and need a little happiness.

I don't love this kind of negative attitude, but I know it's expensive. We really made the most of our money, and we had the wedding outside Boston, and it was still a lot more than what you've got to work with, for fewer guests. 

Have you looked at the Andover seminary in Newton? 

Have you considered having a Sunday brunch instead of a dinner? That would save a bunch, I bet. 

Everyone just take it easy, wil ya?

I love Montrose Colorado. I have family there and would call it home.  If someone said Montrose Colorado was ugly and full of rude people, I wouldn't get angry, I'd just wonder why. But I guess I'm not allowed to voice my opinions here.

The above rant is the problem I'm having. If you hate me for it, fine, I don't really care and I personally wouldn't hate someone for saying that a city was rude. It's not like I said your mom wears army boots. And you cannot honestly tell me you enjoy driving in Boston. I don't know anyone who does. And it stems from the rudeness of strangers.

The intolerance of people astounds me. I do thank everyone for their suggestions. I guess I'll go cry in a corner now, all alone.

7SevenJ9 and pinkshoes, thank you!

Well Boston, is rude. To me. If you're so upset, why are still responding to me? Why does it bother you that I hate this place? If you love it, then great! I wish I could. But that's not the case and I'm trying to plan a wedding here.

Chill out!

Oh, and it is dirty and loud, by the way. But all cities are. I'm pretty sure that's what makes them cities.

I guess I dont understand why people who dislike my rant would comment on it and tell me how wrong I am, rather than ignore it and move on. It's like passing by a restaurant you don't like but going in anyway and ordering an appetizer just so you can yell at the manager.

I was hoping only like-minded people would respond, but common sense is rare these days.

My main problem is that we just don't want guests to travel too much. FI's parents want us to get married at the church, so we will because it means a lot to them. That's why we're having it here.

Sassy, thanks.

Fine, you've all convinced me that Boston is the nicest, cleanest, quiestest city in the universe. Thread over.