Caricature Artist at Reception

[jasonandlisa]

I just got my initial BEO a few days ago, and I'm debating the cost of having caricature artists at our reception. I did a quick search for other posts on this topic and found some information from past brides. I figured I'd summarize what I've found here and include what's on my BEO proposal, for other brides who are considering this. Also, if you've had/been to a wedding with a caricature artist, I'd love to hear whether you think it's worth it.

In past posts, I saw a quote of $425 for 2 hours (don't know how many guests, and that was an older post.)
I saw $500 for 30 guests, 3 hours I think.
And $1,365 for 70 guests, again 3 hours I think.

My BEO says:
(3) Caricature Artist (80 guests)
Price: $535.00 per each
* Approx. 20 portraits per hour. Based on a (3) hour call time featuring (3) 30-minute sets. Dressing Room Required. Subject to availability. Artists will begin during cocktail hour and continue through reception.

It looks like that does include the 12.5% service charge and 6.5% tax that was applied to other items in our budget.

So, I'd pay a total of $1605 for the caricature artists. (Or maybe more if our guest list creeps up to 100 guests, which is possible.) I'm also playing $1780 for a string quartet for 3 hours (ceremony + pre-reception + start-of-reception), $820 for a pianist for 3 hours (at the Living Seas, which has its own piano), and $800 for a 30 minute appearance by Donald Duck at the end of the reception. So that's over $5000 for "entertainment"!

The reason we requested a caricature artist in the first place is that DF is anti-dancing. (We're not even having a first dance, father-daughter, mother-son dances.) And since I'm not a big dancer, our families aren't the "dancing kind", and it's a morning reception, I'm fine with a no-dancing reception. But I don't want guests to be bored. Thus, the idea of the caricature artist.

Now I'm second-guessing myself (after seeing the cost!) What if guests don't even want to be bothered sitting for their caricature portrait? What if guests would rather just sit and eat and drink and relax and talk to each other? I just don't know...

I'm very lucky to have parents who are paying for everything and just say, "that's fine" about everything on the budget and a DF who says, "whatever you want, baby" about everything (and just doesn't want to know what things cost, since my parents are paying for it all.) So I'm very grateful and the last thing I want to do is plan unnecessary extravagances. I'm already feeling a little guilty about an over-the-top floral budget...

Any advice?? Thanks!!

 

[orangetiggs]

that seems alot for entertainment but we are not the dancing type either and were thinking about haveing the caricaturist during our reception and before the dessert party. We are only have 25 guests so dancing i think would look silly with that small amount.

Its good to know about the pianist at the living seas as thats where we would like our reception

 

[lpizzuro123]

Are you planning on giving our favors to the guests that attend your wedding. I would look at this like this will be their favor (to justify the cost). The only problem I can see with it is how large is the picture. I am sure that people will want to keep the picture and I don't know how they would keep it from getting wrinkled or bent when they try to take it home.

Linda

 

[jasonandlisa]

Are you planning on giving our favors to the guests that attend your wedding. I would look at this like this will be their favor (to justify the cost). The only problem I can see with it is how large is the picture. I am sure that people will want to keep the picture and I don't know how they would keep it from getting wrinkled or bent when they try to take it home.

Linda

No, we weren't planning on favors. We're doing welcome gifts and the place cards are going to be chocolate bars, so I thought that was plenty. But I like thinking about the caricature sketches "as favors" as a justification for the cost. Every little bit of rationalization helps Thank you!

I hadn't thought about how people would get their pictures home. This is a very good point! I'll ask my WP about that. Thanks!

 

[lpizzuro123]

I love the sketchers. My boyfriend had one done in the Poconos many years ago. We had just purchased a new Green Ford Explorer so we had him put us in a green truck. When we got home I framed it and it has been hanging in our bedroom ever since.

I guess if they gave you the size of the sketch you could get thin cardboard cut to that size and bring that down. Depending on the size (if it is not too large you could get large zip lock bags and put the picture and cardboard in the zip lock bag for transportation. I think what they usually do is roll the paper and secure it with a rubberband.

Linda