“For two people in a marriage to live together day after day is unquestionably the one miracle the Vatican has overlooked.” This huge comical pun by renowned American comedian Bill Cosby was spoken decades ago, but it somehow still convey the glaring truth about the dreaded married life in American society. In fact, the bleak scenario that Bill Cosby has described has didn’t change much.
A data from 49 of the 50 states in America has yielded an accurate figure of marriage rate in the United States. 6.9 out of 1,000 Americans get married since 2014, as reported by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Meanwhile, 3.2 out of 1,000 of that population in the same year end up divorcing their partners.
While a lot of factors can contribute to marriages not ending happily ever after, an even more surprising fact is that only a marginal few out of the many adult relationships actually go through weddings.
It is relatively safe to assume that financial difficulty could be one of the contributing factors that discourage marriage in contemporary times. After all, the standard average cost for a formal wedding ceremony is too much for ordinary working class Americans. The biggest chunk of that budget goes to the wedding venue.
In terms of wedding venue, one of the most popular places to name in the East Coast is the Grounds For Sculpture. Located at Hamilton (New Jersey), this luxury event venue is better known among the tourists as a local museum where local artists would display their works. In term of the usual Grounds For Sculpture wedding cost, certain factors can contribute to wedding expenses breaking the stereotype of being reputedly exorbitant.
The lowest estimated Grounds For Sculpture wedding price is around $750 in terms of location fee alone. As pleasant as the bargain would sound, it is important to take note that a lot of factors contribute to price range, which is pretty much a combination of a slow season, event size and the specific setting. During peak season, the location fee could climb at an asking price no lower than $1,650. In terms of meals, the cost is also determined by the particular dinning arrangement. A more comprehensive assessment of the exact price lies at the venue’s range of features.
Capacity & Features
As mentioned by the earlier part of the article, a specific setting largely determines the fixed Grounds For Sculpture wedding price. Whether one opts for Modern, Rustic or Eclectic themes, it is often the size and coverage of the setting that largely determines the costs. Here is how the average cost is presented according to the specific venue within the Grounds For Sculpture compound:
- Steward Johnson Center For the Arts: As the centerpiece reception and ceremony venue of the Grounds For Sculpture, this museum setting costs an average of $2,300 to $6,000. It has a total capacity of over 250 guests designed for huge wedding events.
- West Lounge: The West Lounge is a relatively smaller interior setting that is designed for low-key but intimate wedding celebrations. With a maximum capacity of 40 people, this setting only cost between $1,500 and $2,400. One of the main factors that determine the location fee is the date of reservation as well as other specific arrangements.
- Covered or Uncovered Outdoor: The outdoor setting proves to be a middle ground choice for those who cannot decide between the museum and the small lounge. This setting mitigates the requirement for a large guest list and a more economical setting. Able to accommodate a maximum capacity of 300 guests, this specific open-air venue roughly costs $1,500. The most popular area outdoors is known as ‘The Nine Muses’ – a sleek picturesque sculpture plaza ensconced within a neatly trimmed hedge wall.
Rat’s Restaurant Dining Service
Another factor worth considering in terms of the overall Grounds For Sculpture wedding price is the catering setup, courtesy of its partner luxury bistro. The option for single plated meals costs $145 per head. Should one choose the buffet setup, the costs drops to $100 per head. It is up to the discretion of the couple and the organizers to decide which honored guests are accounted for the plated setup or which invited visitor eats at the buffet line. Adding to this total cost is the $99 worth of food station and $21 main course (hors d’oeuvre).
In terms of the cocktail service, a bartender entails a $250 service fee in addition to all factors mentioned in the overall Grounds For Sculpture wedding cost. Each bartender can serve drinks to a maximum of 60 guests. Should the couples indulge their guests with more drinks, they can set up bars for a lasting and festive reception. A deluxe bar costs $189 per person while the luxury bar costs $205 per person. Each bars offer an assortment of 10 different liquors.
The Popular Feedback
The presentation of the general Grounds For Sculpture wedding cost in the previous paragraph is enough to keep potential couples informed. However, a more in-depth assessment is understood by looking into the general feedback of former clients who expressed their appreciation for this particular wedding venue.
The famous wedding review website called Wedding Wire gave Grounds For Sculpture an impressive total average score of 4.9 out of 5. While this venue is lauded for their cost-efficient return on investment value, client responsiveness and flexibility, the highest praises are reserved for its professionalism and quality of service.
In a prestigious tourist catalogue website known as Trip Advisor, the Grounds For Sculpture has garnered a total of 1,347 reviews from its community members. Over 1,124 contributors believed that this wedding venue is excellent. 179 reviewers were fairly satisfied with a ‘very good’ rating while only 22 were barely impressed with the average score. The other 22 contributors believed that Grounds For Sculpture is not an ideal place to start the very first day of the married life.