And it won't just be the cost of a tent. Porta potties, tables, chairs,linnens, dancefloor, wiring, parking........

Really, isn't it best to just stay home and watch an L&O marathon?

Only if it's SVU, or NCIS (yes, I am well aware is not part of the L&O franchise). Heck, wouldn't it be best to just stay home and watch whatever marathon was on USA that day?

Sheesh, this is starting to make hotel ballrooms look cheap

And, alcohol will also usually require a minimum of two security guards, which have to be off-duty police officers if at a public park. Two guards run about $100 per hour (combined).

When combined with insurance, security, and park permits, an event location can easily run over $1,000 for 4 hours, not including any of the rentals.

It's actually just as expensive as having a party at this place:

http://www.imaginethatevents.com/

That was Ken and my alternate choice to our wedding ranch. They even have a banquet room that looks like the Blue Bayou: http://www.imaginethatevents.com/facilities/manor.html

Whatcha plannin?

I know from my reunion planning we only needed an alcohol permit if we were selling it, which we were. If it would have been a private event with open bar we didn't need the permit but we did in any case need additional insurance for the venue. I guess the Catholic Church didn't trust us :)

I believe we needed extra insurance if there was going to be alcohol at Erica's going away party too.

Not planning so much as pricing.

In theory, "the boy" should make with "the ring" at some point here, and given how small our budget will be when we finally do it, I figured I'd better start laying the groundwork now. You know what they say, "You can have it cheap, you can have it good, you can have it quick - pick two".

Now that we've finally had a serious conversation about possible invitees, I have a tentative number to work with/trim from/etc. and I can think more seriously about how to keep the costs down so I don't have to hack away at the guest list any further.

So, basically, I'm comparison shopping between the interior venues, and some outdoor venues. Given what you guys have shared here, I think if it were outdoor, umbrella tables would probably be the order of the day.

I don't wanna start some rumor that we're planning a wedding at this point in time, because I'm really just information gathering. I don't even have a ring on my finger yet.

In my experience from planning different events over the years. Unless you're planning to use somoene's backyard, it's easier and cheaper to use a proper venue. They usually have all the equipment, facilities you'll need to use. If you piece meal it out it gets expensive quickly.