We go the other direction. Buses to New Orleans for the weekend. Not cheap, but they knew about it months ahead of time, and I absolutely agree about keeping hidden expenses to a minimum.

They can go with double hotel rooms or more expensive singles. We didn’t want the rooms all in one area cause that tend to create more insanity.

Restaurants are fine, but a little less workable if you’re doing more than eating. Hotel ballroom is better. They’re used to this type event. So, dinner, dj, dancing, cash bar, etc.

Members are aware they will incur taxi, food, and entertainment expenses for whatever they do outside the planned program, which includes the buses taking them to bourbon st on Friday night and bignets on the way out of town Sunday.

That’s a really expensive formal, but that’s what they really wanted. You can easily do a much more budget conscious event closer to home & in a less lascivious hotel. Honestly, I’ve put on several of these kinds of events since college, and you can do the actual event for about $50 per person, plus whatever they’ll spend on the hotel and bar tab, so still probably 250-300 for a couple.