So I recently got engaged (baat paki) and my parents want to have an engagement party for us. I had my heart set on this outdoor tented venue in Toronto but now I’m thinking it’s a bit much. I still have to meet with the owners and whatnot to get accurate pricing but so far what I’ve gotten is a quote for use of the facility (tent, tables, chairs, draping, chandeliers), caterer (only food) and DJ. I’m not sure of this yet, but I’m assuming the venue does not provide table covers, napkins, cutlery, plates, drinks, or service staff - so all this stuff I would have to get separately.
(sorry this is going to be long)
Here are the prices of what I have so far:
Venue: $3500
Includes
the property for 4 hours (including house) + 2 hours for set up & take down
40’ x 80’ tent with chandelier and draping package
150 folding chairs (my mom has an issue with these chairs)
18 round tables
Sound & PA System
3 Staff (but I’m not sure if these would be service staff to bring out food and clear tables, etc)
Catering: $19/person ($2850 assuming we have the full 150 people)
3 Appetizers (2 veg, 1 non-veg)
5 Main Courses (3 veg, 2 non-veg_
Naan, Salad, Yogurt
1 Dessert
Tea/Coffee
I’m planning to negotiate down the catering to 2 apps and 3-4 mains because I think 5 mains is way too much. What do you guys think? This is also the only South Asian caterer we can use because it’s on the venue’s approved list.
DJ
$250 for 8 hours
I saw this guy at a mehndi I went to recently, loved the way he mixed, very professional and good music.. I think $250 is a steal!
Misc Expenses for Dining: $823 (provided the venue doesn’t provide this)
I’m up to $7423 for just the engagement party at this point. How does it sound so far? I called some halls in and around the GTA and they’re quoting me around $60/person for just the hall, service, food for a Saturday.
Are there any cheaper venues around the GTA that I should be considering?
Hey congrats!! Not from your area but an outdoor venue sounds legit!!!
Cant tell you about other locations- but my reception (in chicago) is at a venue which doesn’t provide silverware etc and the price keeps racking up. It’s much easier to work with a venue when they provide silverware, napkins etc. We have fewer people for the reception, but trying to manage all those utensils etc is making us go “yikes.” Umm have you asked the caterer if they could provide certain silverware?
And I sorta agree with you - try to knock down some app & 1-2 main course dishes. Usually people only have 1 or 2 appetizers, with 3 or 4 main course dishes at engagement parties. And bargain like you never did before!!
I nixed the idea of the tent altogether… I ended up booking a hall because I really didn’t want to coordinate 3 different vendors myself on one day. The tent was starting the cost the amount of a wedding.
The tented place was Miller Lash House. It was significant to me and SO because we met at that school but I had a wakeup call when I saw the prices.
We booked Candles Banquet Hall (the small hall) and it was around $4k I think. Now I’m trying to find a decent decorator who doesn’t charge an arm and a leg to put up a back drop LOL.
Try using Shaheen.. their in-house decorator (owners daughter) . Business is called Exquisite Events. I can upload the decor from my sisters nikkah tmrw
I already spoke to her and her prices are really good (I might use her for the mehndi and wedding) but they’re a little over my budget for this party. I want something REALLY simple and elegant so I found some new talent on kijiji and I’m going to meet with her next weekend.
Bella Banquets in King City is worth checking out. From what I remember, they can do a tent outdoor (for cocktail hour, or full event…depending on # of guests)
It was a nice hall for a small function. We had 150 guests too and it was fine. Ill find out from the guys side what decor/caterers they used as they organised it!
So you were going to have an outdoor event in winter?
Ok so I HAVE to ask you… did you use the small hall or the big hall? If you used the small hall, how did you enter? Because the door’s off to the side and the dance floor’s in the middle (unless you didn’t have an entrance).
No outdoor event in winter… people would die in their saris! LOL.. I wanted it in May but coordinating 3 vendors was getting too difficult.
My sister had the small hall for her Nikkah - she walked in an “L” shape. From the door to the middle of the dance floor and then straight to the stage
Make sure you clarify that to the hall people how you wanna set up your tables because in my experience banquets mess that part up a lot. Everyone assumes and then you walk in on the day of an hour before and it’s not the way it’s supposed I be.
We didn’t ask them to … they did it themselves. Basically that’s how the hall gets divided for people to walk anyway… they keep an aisle open when you walk straight from the door to the dancefloor… for your guests to be able to get to the food etc
It IS a little cramped (depending on the number of people/tables) but it should be fine… 3 people will not bump into anything… but if you have 6 people walking together, there may be certain times when 1 person has to walk slightly behind… Again, depends on the size of your guestlist too!
Not from your area but an outdoor venue sounds legit!!!
and good luck!!