The document provides an updated budget for an etiquette dinner, including costs for rentals, food and beverage, flowers, and décor. The total budget is now over the original $5,000 allowance due to inflation and additional rental costs. Two options for reception centerpieces are presented: incorporating expensive cherry blossoms, which are difficult to source, or using alternative cheaper flowers as originally planned.

1. March 14th, 2013
Dear Ms. Julia Rader:
We are submitting an updated version of the budget for the 2013 USG Spring Etiquette Dinner.
This document contains up to date information of your total budget for this event, as well as the
break-down costs for flowers and décor in the reception and dining areas.
The following table is the total budget for the etiquette dinner.
2013 USG Spring Etiquette Dinner Budget
Budgete
d
%
Current
%
Actual
Rentals
$3,000.00
60%
$ 3,500.00
$1,000.00
20%
$ 1,300.00
26%
Flower
Costs
$ 250.00
5%
$ 287.58
Décor Costs
$ 750.00
15%
$ 361.29
Budget
$5,000.00
Allowance
Over Budget
100
%
$ 5,448.87
Price increase
due to inflation
and additional
rental of hightops
Price increase
due to inflation
70%
F&B
$
Dining
Area
Reception
Area
Dining
Area
Reception
Area
$
101.94
2%
$
185.64
4%
$
155.79
3%
$
205.50
Notes
4%
109%
448.87
9%
The estimated percentage of rentals and food and beverage is higher than our budgeted percentages
due to inflation of rental and food costs. Our rental has an increase of on average 17% from last
year and our food cost also increased by 37%.
Costs of Rental and F&B in 2012 vs. 2013
Costs
2012
Current
Variance
Variance
Percentage
Rental Cost
$3,000.00
$3,500.00
$ 500.00
17%
F& B Cost
$ 950.00
$1,300.00
$ 350.00
37%
1
Notes
Due to
inflation

2. The following table indicates the costs for flower and décor in the dining rooms (arrangements
already made with florists).
Dining Area Flower & Decor Arrangements
Amoun
t
Flowers for
Dining
Table
Centerpiec
e
White
Tulips
Solidago
(Filler
Flowers)
Units
Unit Price
Total
Notes
$
10.99
$
65.94
Sold in bundles of
10. 3 tulip per table
2 Bundles
$
18.00
$
36.00
Sold in bundles.
Total Dining Area Flower Cost
$
101.94
Flower Cost per Dining Table
Water
Pearls
Submersibl
e Lights
Mirrors
6 Bundles
$
6.37
$
17.00
$
17.00
5 oz containers
2 Package
3 Package
$
$
20.00
26.00
$
$
40.00
78.00
1 light per vase
1 mirror per table
Tealight
Candles
1
Package
$
9.99
$
9.99
3 per table
Candle
Holders
1
Package
$
10.80
$
10.80
3 per table
Total Dining Area Décor Cost
$
155.79
Décor Cost per Dining Table
Décor for
Dining
Table
Centerpiec
e
1 Container
$
9.74
Total Cost of Dining Room Table Arrangement
Total Cost of Arrangement per Dining Table
(flowers and décor combined)
2
Flowers and
$ 257.73 décors for dining
area have already
been arranged.
The cost per table
has been reduced
$ 16.11 to minimum.

3. The next sets of tables provide budgetary information for the flowers and décor for the reception
area. We have separated the tables based on high tops and then main and bar centerpieces. The
reason for that is because the high-tops décor are set based on the information provided by Esther.
We are submitting two budgets; one with the incorporation of cherry blossoms and the other which
is the original proposal we have decided in our second meeting.
The following table indicates the costs of flowers and décor arrangements for the high-top tables in
the reception area.
Reception High-Tops Flowers & Décor Arrangements
Amoun
t
Flowers for
Reception
High-Tops
White Tulips
Solidago
(Filler
Flowers)
Total High-Tops Flowers Cost
Unit
Price
1 Bundle
1 Bundle
Total
$ 10.99
Units
$ 10.99
Sold in bundles of 10. 1
tulip per cylinder
$ 18.00
Sold in bundles. Tied with
1 tulip and insert into a
cylinder vase
$ 18.00
$ 28.99
Flower Cost per High-Tops
Décor for
Reception
High-Tops
Notes
$
4.14
Clear
Marbles
3 Package
$ 3.50
$ 10.50
Submersible
Lights
1 Package
$ 20.00
$ 20.00
Total High-Tops Décor Cost
$ 30.50
Décor Cost per High-Top
$
Alternative of candles due
to safety precaution
4.36
Total High-Tops Cost
$
59.49
Total Cost Per High-Top
$
8.50
3
Prices have been reduced
to minimum.

4. We contacted our florist immediately after Monday’s meeting. Currently, the cherry blossoms are
not the best selection for the spring etiquette dinner reception centerpiece. Due to 2 weeks notice of
incorporating cherry blossoms into the theme, they are more expensive and difficult to find.
At this point, our florist does not guarantee the cherry blossoms for the day of our event. However,
we have obtained the prices and have inputted into the following table. Right now the lowest price is
$28 per stem, plus arrangement fees. The florists are selling the cherry blossom as a centerpiece
presentation; therefore we may not purchase the stems without paying for arrangement fees.
Estimate of Recent Update:
Incorporating Cherry Blossoms into Main Centerpiece & Bar Areas
Amoun
t
Units
Unit Price
Total
Main
Centerpiece
s Flowers
Cherry
Blossoms,
White Only
12
Stems
$
28.00
Bars #1 & 2
Flowers
Cherry
Blossoms,
White Only
18
Stems
$
28.00
$
504.00
Florist
Assembling
Fee
2
Hours
$
80.00
$
160.00
Notes
Prices are broken down by
stems. High prices due to
notice in 2 weeks of the
event
Total Cost of Flowers for Main Centerpieces and Bars
Main
Centerpiece
Mirrors
1
Bar Mirrors
1
Submersible
Lights
3
$
336.00
Florists in charge of
making centerpiece
arrangement
$ 1,000.00
$
$
19.00
Purchased
16.00
$
16.00
Purchased
$
20.00
$
60.00
Purchased
$
Package
19.00
$
Package
80.00
$
175.00
Décor
Vases Rental
Cost
Package
Various
by size
Total Cost of Décor for Main Centerpieces and Bars
Total Cost for Main Centerpieces and Bars
(high-tops inputted separately)
4
$ 1,175.00

5. Our florists have also informed us that even if we get the cherry blossoms, they will not in their
finest quality due to extreme weather conditions in the past few weeks. Based on the timeline we
have provided, 85%-90% of the flowers will not bloom on time for our event. I have asked Chef
Callahan about the previous events that incorporated cherry blossoms. She informed me that the
blooming of the flowers was a big issue and the assembly was just as difficult.
At this time, I strongly encourage you to re-consider the decor options we have agreed upon in our
second meeting on February 11, 2013. We submitted a hard and soft copy of the proposal which
had three reception centerpieces and we have agreed upon building centerpieces similar to option
#3. To reduce the flowers and décor costs for the reception main centerpiece and bars, I would
recommend other flowers to incorporate into those areas. Our florists recommended a few options
which are more financially convenient to the event; i.e. hydrangea, cymbidium orchids, lily, gladiolus,
carnation, bells of Ireland.
Original Proposal of the Main Centerpiece & Bar Areas
Amoun
t
Med.
Dendrobium
Orchids
Gladiolus
Main
Centerpieces Bells of
Flowers
Ireland
White Tulips
Mini Cally
Lily
Bars #1 & 2
Flowers
Med.
Dendrobium
Orchids
Units
12
Stems
$
3.99
$
47.88
4
Stems
$
2.99
$
11.96
2
Stems
$
3.99
$
7.98
1
10/bunch
$
10.99
$
10.99
6
Stems
$
3.99
$
23.94
8
Stems
$
3.99
$
31.92
Unit Price
White Tulips
2
10/bunch $
10.99
Total Cost of Flowers for Main Centerpieces and Bars
Total
Notes
$ 21.98
$ 156.65
Florist
Assembling
Fee
Décor
1
Hours
$
80.00
$
80.00
Florists in charge of
making centerpiece
arrangement
Main
Centerpiece
Mirrors
1
Package
$
19.00
$
19.00
Purchased
1
Package
$
16.00
$
16.00
Purchased
3
Package
$
20.00
$
60.00
Purchased
$
175.00
Bar Mirrors
Submersible
Lights
Total Cost of Décor for Main Centerpieces and Bars
Total Cost for Main Centerpieces and Bars
5
$331.65

6. Lastly, we are attaching the budget plan with the incorporation of cherry blossoms you in case you
would like to know the over budget amount.
VERSION #2- 2013 USG Spring Etiquette Dinner Budget CHERRY BLOSSOM
Budgeted
%
Current
%
Actual
Notes
Rentals
$
3,000.00
60%
$
3,500.00
70%
Price
increase due
to inflation
F&B
$
1,000.00
20%
$
1,300.00
26%
Price
increase due
to inflation
Décor
Costs
Budget
Allowance
Over Budget
$
$
250.00
750.00
5,000.00
5%
15%
100%
$
$
1,210.93
361.29
101.94
2%
Reception
Area
$
$
$ 1,108.99
22%
Dining
Area
$
155.79
3%
Reception
Area
Flower
Costs
Dining
Area
$
205.50
4%
$
6,372.22
127%
$
1,372.22
27%
6

7. Lastly, we are attaching the budget plan with the incorporation of cherry blossoms you in case you
would like to know the over budget amount.
VERSION #2- 2013 USG Spring Etiquette Dinner Budget CHERRY BLOSSOM
Budgeted
%
Current
%
Actual
Notes
Rentals
$
3,000.00
60%
$
3,500.00
70%
Price
increase due
to inflation
F&B
$
1,000.00
20%
$
1,300.00
26%
Price
increase due
to inflation
Décor
Costs
Budget
Allowance
Over Budget
$
$
250.00
750.00
5,000.00
5%
15%
100%
$
$
1,210.93
361.29
101.94
2%
Reception
Area
$
$
$ 1,108.99
22%
Dining
Area
$
155.79
3%
Reception
Area
Flower
Costs
Dining
Area
$
205.50
4%
$
6,372.22
127%
$
1,372.22
27%
6