Shinto? Or shit, no?

Well, the FFG and I met with the Event Coordinator from Shinto this evening.

The manager was wrong about their prices. He told us they were in the $35-$85/per range, so we talked about it and decided we couldn't probably safely budget for $55-$60, tops. Anymore would involved the sale of our first-born.

But when we got there tonight, the EC showed us some quite different figures. They have 3 main packages, priced as follows: $35, $45, and $55.

You heard me. $55 was their expensive one.

What does that include? Appetizers and sushi, dinner, one drink from the bar, champagne toast, and dessert. Plus, exclusive use of the facilities. The only other costs would be taxes, gratuity, and a small compensation for any profits they would miss out on by not having the restaurant open while we are there (a figure based on the average of the date from past years, amounting to a couple hundred at most).

Um, hello? Have I died and gone to Affordable Heaven?

We're thrilled about the $45 pkg, which includes an upgrade to some of the nicer, pricier menu options and a choice of two entrees instead of just one. The $55 pkg is even more of an upgrade, but to things we don't even care about. Saving money already! Oh, and since they're a restaurant and not an outside caterers, our guests will have a menu with about 8 selections to choose from. Not just 2, and not to be picked 2 months before.

So that's what is all included. In addition, the EC is willing to work with us w/o charging a dime more, ie: we can have those appetizers and sushi during cocktail hour if we like, then dinner later. We can have cocktail hour at the bar or on the patio, and the dinner area will be curtained off during that time. She's totally flexible on presentation. We can bring in our own centerpieces, our own cake - we can even bring in our own food from outside for those who just can't stomach Japanese, and we still only pay for those who eat. So the FFG's father who eats nothing but steak and potatoes wil be taken care of.

That's right: if we tell them 100 are going to be there, and only 90 show up to eat, we pay for 90 people.

We're discussing the option of an open bar during cocktail hour, which we understand will be extra. But when we sign that contract, she charges us a flat rate on the alcohol which we decide upon ahead of time based on how many and what kinds of drinks we think will be consumed, and if we go over our limit, they pick up the tab.

They require a 50%, non-refundable deposit one month b4 the wedding, the rest of the balance is due at the end of the night.

Music, live or prerecorded, is an option. A dance floor can be done. Even my mother said the idea sounded like a good one, and she seemed excited.

I'm just not seeing a down-side here...