The (Super) Low-Budget Wedding Reception
Even low-budget weddings can take a huge bite out of savings ... and often leave you stumbling under a serious pile of debt.
Take heart, though: planning a wedding yourself in a hands-on way can save you some money. At its best, it also lends that personal touch that provides lasting family memories. When you've got enough time to tackle it, creating your own wedding favors and planning your own reception can lead to a special satisfaction no pile of catalog orders can ever compete with.
If you have the time and energy, expect to take great pride in your super-low-budget wedding. And this won't just arise from your one-of-a-kind creations. It also flows from the huge savings you realize, which you can then spend on something with lasting impact on your future, like a car or a down payment.
You might have a lower budget, but your wedding costs will break down much like your spendier counterparts. You can still save money in each and every category. The secret comes down to one basic choice: avoid the formal wedding.
Of course, if you're footing the bill yourself and just can't see starting your married life with a heavy financial burden, you could skip the reception entirely, opting for a courthouse ceremony and intimate dinner instead. Then you could plan a more formal ceremony down the road. Wedding vows renewals are popular today, and it's a romantic way to spend your anniversary! So if funds are tight, and you're paying for everything else — don't wait to get married. Just wait on the formal ceremony.
But if it breaks your heart to forego the big wedding, yet your wallet's an empty nest, you'll need to pull out every trick in the budget book. Fortunately, there's one that can save you thousands.
Focus on the Venue
The reception alone will bust your budget if you're not extremely careful. Of course, the most obvious way to save money here is to sharply limit your guest list.Also, the venue that's hosting this grand occasion could make or break you. Your best bet? Find one that's free or nearly — taking into account the costs of renting chairs, tables, tents, portable toilets and so on.
A "free" location could include your home, or that of a friend or family member. A low-cost option might include a church reception hall, the local fire department, or club halls. Most will have a kitchen area for preparing and serving food.
Sometimes you'll even happen across a local restaurant that specializes in low-budget receptions. These usually offer a package deal, which might include dinner and limited beverages along with the restaurant space or banquet rooms. Check hotels in your area for banquet rooms as well. Some may rent the banquet room by itself and offer reception packages as an optional add-on.
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The venue's key to saving cash, so leave no stone unturned in your search! You could happen on a gem of a deal that will save you tons. So network. Ask friends and family. Scour the internet. Try unusual locales like vineyards, museums, gardens or plantariums. We have several plantations in our area that offer competitive wedding packages. These are elegant locations, with price options that don't rule out the low-budget wedding.
Once you've done your homework, record your findings. Chart not only the price but services and packages available at each venue. Then, it's easy to see how to get the most for your money.
For instance, one venue might offer really cheap rates, and let you book your caterer separately. Looks good — but sometimes, a location that costs more will offer a catering package that's a better deal overall.
Beating the Biggest Budget-Buster of All
There's one type of reception that's "truly traditional" (not counting royalty!), and that's the potluck. If you've read this far, you probably agree that the commercialism in today's weddings is slightly out of control. The biggest cost in the average budget, usually even bigger than the venue, is the food. Slashing costs here is a must if you want to get through this process financially intact.Serving up crackers and cheese whiz, however, is not a solution. Your guests will feel deprived. They'll leave the party early, in search of sustenance. Those warm memories of lingering over something hearty with your friends and family will be conspicuously missing from your wedding. The solution for the cash-strapped? The potluck.
The basics of the potluck reception is that you ask your guests to bring food — not a toaster or espresso maker or other trinket from a registry list somewhere. Many guests will be pleased, even relieved, to have this choice. Sound off-the-wall? Up until recently, potluck weddings were absolutely the norm. They're truly the traditional way to celebrate the coming together of a couple. And not coincidentally, they're the absolute best way to throw a low-budget wedding that still lets your guests leave satisfied. (Take this same budget to a caterer, and you'll quickly find that caterers offer very limited menus to very limited budgets!)
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If you're shy about digging out and dusting off the potluck option, you can simply refer to your reception as an "Old Time, Traditional Wedding Celebration." The potluck dinner suits this theme naturally, and no one will even question it.
You may even want to pick an "Old Time" theme for your decorations and favors. Tuck simple gerbers or wildflowers flowers in medicinal and apothecary jars, for example, and hand out beautiful old-fashioned candy sticks tied in ribbon. This will fill out the "Old Time" theme even more. Or start with a 50's or 20's theme, both old-fashioned themes with a lot of life.
How to get the point across to guests? Simply slip in a note with the invitation that gives invitees this option. For example:
Our reception will be an "Old Time Traditional Celebration" with a potluck dinner.____ Please check here if you would like to bring a dish for the reception in place of a wedding gift.
We kindly request a call for dish suggestions.
Have your guests check in ahead of time so you'll have some say over the menu. No one's obliged to participate, but it's likely that many of your guests will opt for this.
And fact, you and guests alike will probably be surprised (and delighted) at the variety and quality of the dishes that debut on your banquet tables. Guests always want to bring out their top-drawer recipes to a grand occasion like yours!
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I have a VERY low budget ($1200 right now… hoping summer savings will bring that up). My colors are coral and marine (kinda hard to find). I’d like to do a lot of diy stuff to save on money. Right now, I have purchased silk roses, but I am having a hard time finding the other flowers that I want for a very low price. I really wanted to use real flowers, but they’re just too expensive. I do have some very pretty wildflowers that grow around my house that I can use (tigerlilies, daisies) if you have any suggestions for them. I also am looking for coral and marine cardstock to make invitations. Do you have any suggestions for imprinting or stamping a specific monogram on them for cheap? How about decorating ideas? Someone I knew is getting married this fall and she said that I can have her reception decorations after the wedding. Oh! And a cool idea to replace a unity candle… I’ve been told that around here, they have 2 different colors of sand (one for each side of the family) and the bride and groom pour them into a vase or bottle at the same time and it creates a very pretty pattern that they can keep as a decoration in their house. It also is a better picture of the two families coming together and never being separated (because it would be impossible to separate the two colors of sand). Hope this is inspiring to some of you. Also, if you could help me at all, I’d greatly appreciate it. Thanks!
angel25,
hi!!
try here saveoncrafts.com they have sooo much stuff!
also orientaltrading.com
have you tried your local supermarket florist, they are usually very cheap. there is a way you can have more $$$ for flowers. i would use nothing but simple greenery the ceremony area, accented by crisp white and coral striped ribbon ( elegant type ribbon) maybe you can find some edged in gold or silver depending on the metal accent. keep your flowers down tojust the bridal party and yourself. axe the boutonnieres for the guys and use colored pocket hankies instead. the tigerlilies and daisies would work very well, beware, daisies and sometimes lilies can wilt quick. florist have special ways of extending their life and appearance. i cant say enough about candles. they add more bang for your buck! for your reception, depending on wedding type and theme, centerpieces can be simple greenery. i promise it is beautiful!! you cant beat the look of greenery when paired with inexpensive votives. if you can t afford real flowers the substitute rose petals with candles, gorgeous combo!! i dont know if you have a plan for your food etc here is a great link….
*thrifty wedding
*budget friendly weddings ( they have budget friendly mood boards here, complete themes with how to) also check out practicalwedding.com (real weddings)
your local craft store should have handheld embossers, it will be reasonable to buy (usually under $40) and you can stamp the cardstock with desired item!!
please post back if you need further help!!
Hi! We are hoping to marry next April. We of course like most people are victims of the recession and therefore have a super low budget. We would like to have a beautiful wedding on the beach/park. Would like to hear suggestions on how to make the reception cost-friendly and every other aspect of the wedding. We are capping our guest list at 65. We live in Miami, FL. I would appreciate any suggestions! thanx.
mirtha,
can you tell me a little about the colors or style you like? i would love tohelp!
*Thrifty Wedding
are you wanting a theme? what formality do you want it to be; casual or semi formal? meaning do you wnat guys in suits or slacks and shirts?
Hi Stacey,
We would want something casual. As far as colors haven’t really decided…theme might be beach & nature. For example. I have a vision of glass vases filled with sand, seashells and starfish & votive candles. We would like to incorporate a lot of nature accents into the wedding. We would like to have all our guests dress in white as well. Maybe neutral colors like beige and off white?? what do you suggest?
mirtha, i think i might have the perfect wedding for you.
*Jodi and Aaron in Baja, Mexico
you could stick with the centerpieces they chose or add more greenery like ferns, curly willow, etc. to pull in more nature. add a fern motif to the wedding invites etc. place sand, shells and starfish in bowls filled with water then your flowers and candles. or have tall glass cylinders with shells and floating candles, then small floral with greenery in containers, and repeat down the table. place a palm frond under the plates for accent.
I helped a friend plan her wedding at the park about 1 ear ago. We made picnic baskets. We laid out very inexpensive quilts found at a local store (about 15 of them total) then placed a large basket with fresh fruit, drinks, small sandwiches, cheese and crackers. We wrapped each basket in white tulling and a coordinated ribbon. We stretched out a sheet between 2 sheets and played a video of the couple. We still hear people comment about how unique it was and how beautiful. And the bride was happy because it was very inexpensive.
sorry 1 year ago. We put one basket to feed 6-8 people at each blanket. We stretched a sheet between 2 trees for the movie.
I’m doing my wedding at a winery in Northern California for under $8,000. I know how hard budgeting can be. The 3 biggest expenses are food, flowers and venue. They best ways to cut back on food is by doing buffet rather then a big sit down dinner. This doesn’t mean you need to have plastic utensils and paper plates, but you can have a very elegant reception with simple linens, flatware and china. Or, to really save a bundle, do passed appetizers and skip dinner all together.
As far as flowers go, when florists hear the word wedding the price intently goes up. Call it a party and save a ton! Or do what I’m doing and do it yourself
There are wholesale retailers everywhere and by purchasing the flowers, vases and other decor though them and making the arrangements yourself you can save hundreds if not thousands of dollars.
When it comes to venues look for budget killers! Cake cutting fees, corkage fees, insurance policies can get you where it hurts. I have a friend who is getting married at a restaurant and they are charging her $20 a bottle for corkage fee and $5 a person to serve the cake…and more often then not, you are required to use their services.
I hope this helps!!!!!
I live in Massachusetts and I need help. I am getting married in October and we only have 6,000 for everything. I don’t have a backyard to have the party in, or do any of our familes. I want it to be really nice and DIFFERENT. but it needs to be in our budget. i am open to almost anything and i am not picky. if someone has any ideas i would greatly appricate it
catherine,
i would love to help!! i highly recommend an all inclusive venue or a reasonable b&b. i dont know what prices are like in your area, but this would be the way to go or even a hall. you said different if you could tell me the vision you see it will help me narrow down some ideas. also what are some colors that you love. i will say fall colors would be ideal not only will they be beautiful in your area but if you go with what is in season you wont need many decorations. it would be a plus if youfound a local b&b that had a roaring fireplace to marry in front of and already had the mantel decorated. the only thing i would suggest for decor is large urns filled with “free” maple branches and some beautiful ribbon serving as your aisle decor. have your flowergirl throw silk maple leaves instead of petals. for your centepieces think maple leaves in nice crystal bowls and apples laying atop them. have a tree branch holding suspended place card leaves. ( again the branches can be free) for your invites have simple diy parchment paper( i love recommending this stuff its cheap and gorgeous!!) find a initial monogram on your computer and use an elegant font voila invites!! also you can buy 1 large sheet for your guests to sign and roll it up (put into a mailing tube from post office) and stow it away. or buy a fave coffee table book and have your guests sign the back of front covereverytime you open the book it will bring youback to your wedding day ( write “guests” in calligraphy across the top of cover so it will look elegant) have a great peacock or real pheasant feather pen ( cant find find one? diy get a gold plume pen and swap out the feathers, make sure you put a dab of glue to secure) . for wow factor consider adding a few pheasant feathers to your bouquet. i would consider simple white or cream roses. have bm in a simple nuetral dress like brown, wine or black( wear again friendly) carrying her fave( it it doesnt match decor just lighten shade a bit) color of flower in roses tie with a simple ribbon. you can buy roses at walmart( louisiana they cost $10.00 for a dozen) so that is super affordable. if you stick with all one color except for bm bouquet, you will be able toarrange them in a flash and they will look fantastic!! they also look great with colorful maple leaves ( another idea would be get bunches of acorns or nuts in shell place in bottom of a vase to secure white roses and leaves) you could also use this to hold your guest book pen. also paper lanterns are super cheap to fill up a room. just off the top of my head, hope youlike some of the ideas. let me know!!
Catherine!!! I too have a low budget! Actually less than yours!!! My venue is at Weymouth Lodge of Elks and it is only $350 for 6 hours! Cash bar is included! Get married at your church! We found a dj from the Weymouth Lodge of Elks that is only $600 for 6 hours!!! My dress is the most expensive thing I am getting! We are still looking for catering! We found our photographer, Lauren Halvonson she is AMAZING and she is $500 downpayment and $500 two weeks prior to the big day! PS-you can do this! My wedding is October 25th, 2009. =] we are on the same page..let me know if I can help.
Hi Catherine,
I’m also without a backyard on both my side and my fiance’s. However, we’re looking into the event rooms at condo buildings where our relatives live. They’re cheap to rent and allow you to put your unique (budget-friendly!) stamp on the decorations, flowers, etc. You might not even have to rent tables, etc.
The Elks lodge idea and the maple branches ideas are great! Wait until the end of summer and buy some tall planters on sale to put the branches in. Or pay repeat visits to your local thrift store to buy those milk-glass bud vases that people are always getting rid of.
My best friend is getting married in a few weeks. She is my hero when it comes to DIY. Her and her fiancee wanted a unique wedding also. He is a musician and she is a mini Martha so they decided to do the wedding their way.
They lucked out with the fact that her parents have a large backyard, but you can rent out parks for a pretty low cost. For a “theme” they chose eco-friendly picnic. They have picnic tables, mixed matched vintage table cloths, earth soluble plates and utensils and my favorite thing is their choice of glass ware…they are using mason jars! She loves to make jams, so she will be able to re-use them after the wedding. By stringing lights around the trees and buying local meats and produce and having a bbq they are saving a few thousand.
She is backing her cake and for entertainment, the groom and his band are playing as well as another local band. Your wedding should represent you and your fiancee. If you don’t want huge flower arrangements or the traditional sit down dinner…don’t do it. It’s your wedding, make it represent who you are.
I hope this helped.
My son is getting married in August. They are on a tight budget and want to have a reception outdoors. They are looking for ways to save a bundle on food sinc ethey are having 200 guests. We need ideas for a menu, and place to have the reception. Is it rude to have the wedding in one church, and reception at another church hall?
The entire wedding budget is $3000 which includes everything but dresses. Help!!!!
Terry,
i have a great websites here:
*thrifty wedding
*7 Creative Ideas For a Wedding Reception
*Wedding Reception Menu Ideas
My nephew and his bride had a great reception and they served sloppy Joes. It was made ahead of time and frozen, then thawed the day before and put into large electric roastes to heat and serve from. My son is going to do the same thing only with pulled pork. Baked beans, potato salad, or macaroni salad and coleslaw and and some melons cut with the tops out and a little flat spot to sit on and then make melon balls and fill with grapes and kiwi and strawberries and what ever you wish in fruit place them on glass plates so they don’t leak through to the table cloth and you are good to go. Little favor cups with peanuts and M&Ms . The trick is in how you display the food. A covered table ( I use Sheets) with bricks used to elevate bowls and platers at varing hights and then covered with some material purchased at Wal Mart along with some yardage of white netting. Then cover the bricks with the material and place the bowls and platers and then bunch the netting and place it around the serving dishes and you are good to go. Another nice touch is to have some candles placed randomly and add the Wedding Cake as the center piece and it is beautiful. You can pick up artifical flowers at yard sales and make net bows and tie them together and place them on the ends of the first several rows going down the isle at the church too. Yard sales are good places to find small vases too. They don’t all have to match. Place a single flower with a piece of greenery in it and use as decorations on the tables. Be sure to buy a role of white paper to use as a table cloth on the eating tables. Plain white napkins from the dollar store and stamped with a wedding motif or the first names of the bride and groom are inexpensive too. I hope this helps ! Judy
for food options, you can do just an hors doure and desert reception, thats what me and my fiance are doing, and we are just making the reception about 3 1/2 hrs and in between lunch and dinner, so our guests wont be starving or expecting those bing meals. we are making most of our food (try to keep it to cold entrees) and we are hiring servers from the local high schools cooking class, so that they dont cost a fortune!. please visit my website and give us a call at the store if you have anymore questions
my wedding is comming up fast. The only alcohol we are having is beer. What else should I get to drink at the wedding.
melissa, i would have punch, sodas, bottled water, in the south we add iced tea and lemonade. if outdoors or casual think galvanized tubs iced down with beverages and glass containers filled with different “ades”. it makes for a beautiful presentation and offers a variety.
Diana,
Congrats on the wedding, you can still have a very nice wedding on a low budget, though I am personally not a fan of the pot luck, if you feel that your guest will go for it, then do it…I would just kind of ask or get a feel for what everyone is bringing, becuase you dont want to have a lot of the same things..
Also, why have food or dinner reception, Why not have a dessert bar, so its all dessert ( candy and cookies, maybe cupcakes, etc) and you can serve, Coffe, Tea and and maybe wine ( you can get a couple of bottles at Costco). The Dessert Bar is a cheaper way to feed your guest and also cut cost…you can even do the dessert bar as a potluck as its easier on your guest to bring brownies or candy/cookies than whole dishes
Also try Big Boo Designs they do affordable ( and I mean affordable) wedding invites and save the date as well as other stationery, which will be good for you since you are having a small wedding… I assume you are having a small wedding since you are on a small budget. Also if you tell them what you need, they can do something just for you and within your budget
What you can also do is when you send out invitations on the RSVP card, you can have this place make a space for you to say
“Please check here if you would like
to bring a dish for the reception in place of a wedding gift.
Call with dish suggestions please.”
By having them Have them call to get or offer suggestions on a dish so you have control over the menu. So no one feels obligated to particitpate.
If you can’t find a house, why not try a church reception hall. Alot of times, especially the smaller churches have low prices and a kitchen on site for your to prepare food….also during off season its cheaper.
For your bouquets, you can buy flowers from local market or carry a couple of big Lily’s wrapped in ribbon at the bottom all that you can get from Micheal’s or local craft store. Also, if you want the bouquets for the bridesmaids ( if you have them) can be also used as centerpieces for the table. Just have them ( after the wedding) put them in the vases that are already on the table ( with water or whatever you want in them ( somepeople put marbles, peas or beans, etc in glass with water) just depends on your wedding colors and you can just put those votive candles on table ( you can get those 6 for a $1.( looks better if this is at night)
For you pictures, instead of getting a photographer, just put cameras on table and make an annoucment at begining to let your guest take photos and then collect the cameras at the end of the night, THe guest will get photos that you wouldnt get, and you wont have to worry about it. And just have a trusted friend with a Digital Camera take photos of you and your groom after wedding in different poses , you can go to park or in front of church or a garden….I say digital, becuase you will be able to see the photo once its taken….
Good luck and I hope this helps or at least gives you an idea and If I think of anything else I will post
I am planning on getting married this December and my fiance and I are on a very very very low budget. Can anyone give me some ideas as to how we should conduct our reception. I like the potluck idea, and the idea of having it at someones house, but we don’t know of anyone with a bid enough house. We only have 3 months to plan our wedding, so any suggestions would be greatly appreciated…thank you
hey diana imalso gettin married in december.actually my in law thought us havin a potluc dinner great.she did dat @her wedding 30years ago.well i made my own invites and will be having a garden wedding jus after xmas so nature and flowers r gona look so fab. im al good 2 go 4 my wedding dnt stress GOD will be wud u and everythin will work itself i promise
.all d best….
Lee, I am getting married in 3 weeks and I only had 3 mths to plan I am having the wedding an reception in a family backyard. But original plan was to have on the beach. you could look at having at a pavillion by a beach side if you are close to one. Also look into Lions club or one of those clubs, they can sometimes be reasonable
hi Diana,my name is Amelia.i’m getting married on Nov 01 2008(in 1 WEEK),my fiance and i are just like you in a VERY small budget.thank God we live in Florida so we had A LOT of choices.i was goint to buy my dress at first at david’s bridal but i didn’t like that the day i went the girl that helped me made me wear the corset bra and wen i put on the dress i had my lil fat coming out of the dress so i try to explain to her that the dress fitet good but the the corset was the one making my lil fat come out.so she said i needed a bigger dress nd that it was more expensive.so i left davids bridal and ended up at group usa.there i found a dress that was on sale for $ 99.00(yes $99.00) because of a defect that it had on the inside wich i fixed myself.my reception was in the hall of a park( $150.00),the food my friends and my mother-in-law cooked.the decoration and the favours i bought at the wholesale warehouses next to my house.($200.00).the beers i went to a place that rent the barrels ( $300).i hav my friend that did my hair and makeup($65).well mi spent a total of $1000.00.so mamaif you live in Miami Florida don’t worry you’ll find everything you need.
My Fiance and I will be getting married October 21, 2008. We are on a very tight budget, not planning on spending over $2000.00 on the wedding. I am VERY artsy, do-it-myself type of personand so far thats helped save costs. Here are some things I am doing and have done:
1. For favors I’ve done mini take-out boxes with rose petals, 2 mini floating candles and a matchbook engraved with our names/date.
2. For guest book I bought a photo mat/pen set for $8.00. Took black ribbon and decorated the mat edges, finished with some rhinestones. For the pen I bought a black ostrich feather ($0.99) taped that tightly to the pen, took the rest of the ribbon and wrapped it tightly around the feather/pen. Then I got a cute pin I have and secured it at the top.
3. Did my own invites. I happen to be very good at calligraphy and have my own pens so I went out and bought card stock in my colors, rhinestones, pearls, and ribbon ($35.00) and made my own invites.
Also if you’re planning on using a lot of candles I suggest going to a dollar store. They have candles, taper candle holders, and even mint julep glass vases that go for $10.00 a pop in hobby stores!
Hi Ladies,
Snippet & Ink has just published a post on how to have a posh, stylish and INEXPENSIVE cake & punch reception that is pretty much dripping with style … and only has doable Do-It-Yourself elements (as opposed to florals that require the bride to invest 4.5 hours of free time right before the reception).
Personally, I married at the JP but the neighbors are always pressuring us to “have a party” to celebrate it. This post might JUST change my mind!
Great idea!!!
I will definitely use this in my wedding to cut corners. My fiance’s best man just got married and they had silk flowers! I couldn’t stop staring at them they looked so bad! Thanks for the tip/link!!!
Hi Cassandra, welcome! This is just my take. I look forward to seeing what other people think!
Okay, 1) This shouldn’t be a problem unless it’s one for you, or you expect to be grilled on the fine points of your spiritual beliefs. Can you fly under the radar on this one? Will you be upset if prayers and scripture are part of the day? Can you nod your head and go along or will the situation make you uncomfortable? If so, you may want to arrange something more secular, with an officiant who isn’t related to you!
2) I personally believe that asking the guests to bring a side dish is a sweet tradition for couples not flush with cash — one that should have never gone away. However, in practice it can be harder. These days people can be resistant to bringing food (lots of people don’t cook very often.) If you want to do this, you might want to feel out a circle of friends & relatives first and see how they take it.
3) You can decorate a children’s wagon and have a bridesmaid or groomsman pull him down the aisle. Very cute.
4) This, to me, is the crux of THE PROBLEM. This is very big.
Everything seems backward here. Because the budget DETERMINES the size of the guest list. You simply can’t spend what you don’t and won’t have. 300 guests is an enormous number for a small-budget wedding. Always, the first and most powerful thing to do if your budget runneth over is cut guests.
I don’t care how many near & dear uncles and cousins your fiance has, you cannot invite them all on a small budget. Sure, creative, resourceful brides can make a dollar stretch, and you can even ask guests to bring some of their own food, but that still leaves you with the bill for beverages for 300 (god forbid that include alcohol!), and an enormous venue. Or if you’re having it at home, a huge rental bill for the chairs, tables, tent, not to mention all the bathrooms you’ll need to rent for that number of guests.
So, my advice is, don’t get pushed into planning a wedding that neither of you can possibly afford. It’s nice he has so many relatives, but unless one of them is a genie or he has a secret stash of gold, you won’t be able to host them all. If you try, your wedding planning will be an impossible task instead of a remotely pleasant one. Your stress levels will go through the roof, the closer you get to the date. This is not the kind of strain that any newlyweds need .. and not the kind of memories you want for your wedding. Plus, realistically, the entire burden of “pulling off” this unlikely task is going to fall on your shoulders. Don’t let that happen!
Instead, figure out how many people you can REALISTICALLY feed, water, entertain (and accommodate in the powder rooms), given the REAL figure that is your budget. Once you figure it out, THAT is your guest count, not how many relatives you have scattered over 48 states. Many couples find a smaller, more intimate wedding is immensely satisfying, and more reflective of who they are as a couple.
Best of luck!
Here are a few questions I could use some help getting answers for.
1. I’m an Atheist and we’re getting married inside a church with my soon to be father-in-laws friend who is a pastor. It’s his sisters church that we are using. Could this prevoke a problem?
2. I believe its alright to ask the guest to provide a small side dish such as salads or meat trays. We’re providing the main dish which is a pig roast. My fiance thinks it’s wrong of me to ask them to do that because he said it’s suppose to be a day of celebration and it doesnt look good if the guest are bringing dishes to pass at OUR wedding. Is that wrong of me to ask them for that?
3. My ring bearer is only going to be about 5 months old but his sister, my flower girl, is already 2 years old. How can I get him down the isle without having to have someone else carry him?
4. I have almost 300 people on my guest list, most of them are his family. That’s a big list for someone with my budget. I cant afford alot and neither can my fiance. How can I cut down that list without hurting someone’s feelings? This is why I want to have them bring a dish to pass because I cant afford to buy food for 300 people.
I am on a very tight budget, but I have until August to pull this reception decorations off. I found a beautiful lit-up-tree to use from a thrift store for $2.00 some of the lights were missing and I replaced those for $4.oo. I put bows, bells and other things and their picture from a white frame with silver at a dollar tree for $1.00. I found a wedding wreath for $2.00. I found tea light holders for .25 cents each. I found another thrift store that made beautiful huge bows for $1.00 each. I found raindrop flowers at another store only $1.65 for a bunch. I found small flower vases that I will break off one flower from each bunch, which will make several and put in these vases, that I only give .10 each at a thrift store. So, ladies if you have plenty of time to look, go for thrift stores. I also found a new flower girl basket, and ring holder for $2.00 each. The most expensive items on my list are the sage and white paper lanterns.
Does anyone have any new/neat ideas for a reception. I know that the candy bar/ice cream and popcorn bar is becoming very popular in our area these days, and since we’re not getting married until May 09, I don’t want it to be over-used. Any new ideas on what to do at the reception would be great! Thank you!
Amber, here are a few ice cream buffets at weddings. They’re a little easier for caterers who have cold pans, party tubs, etc. on hand, but you could go to Home Depot and buy some galvanized tubs and fill with ice for your cream. A few portable hot plates would work great for warming hot toppings, then just concentrate on a variety of room-temperature toppings you can serve in bowls like sprinkles, candy chips, fruit. Please see pics!
Another popular option for some weddings: rent an ice cream cart or even an ice cream van. See pics above, or check out the really cute kid manning the ice cream cart here!
Does anyone have any idea how to make an ice cream bar for a wedding? Thanks
And, I felt compelled to add a few more! :-? I love the details here .. the darker donuts for the stately wooden background, the white powdered donuts for the winter wedding, the chocolate-dipped strawberries one couple placed at the base … then, the touches of iris and hydrangea are cute!
Jessica, that’s such a cute idea. Here are some really sweet photos of donut cakes from couples around the web who weren’t afraid to have fun at their reception.
Has anyone done the Donut wedding cake? I would love to know more about that? I am wanting to plan a low budget reception with lots of spunk, sweets and color.
I’m getting married in 1 month… and nothing has been planned yet! (i’m from South Africa and the visa only just arrived) I would love to have a beach wedding and i’ve picked up great ideas from this site… we have about a $2000 budget- and we’re planning it for a sunday morning. a huge worry for me is the weather- has anybody found a cheap option for bad weather back-up plans? if anybody else is planning cheap beach weddings i’d love to hear what you’ve come up with!
Here’s a way to save money, don’t serve alcohol! Is it really that important? I was actually relieved when our pastor said no alcohol was allowed for the reception! Not only did it save me several hundreds of dollars, but it made me re-think what to serve. We’re having pasta (another great low-budget choice…see your local Costco for some great deals) and what better to go with Italian food than Italian sodas!? If you must have alcohol but can’t afford “dinner” I would say go between making and purchasing lots of appetizer-type foods. Again, many can be purchased from your local grocery store, and many can be made a day or so ahead of time. Farm some of those things out to folks who have offered to help (it doesn’t take a culinary degree to cut up cubes of cheese) You could do something along the wine and cheese line and save actually serving dinner. Or, if you just really feel like your budget doesn’t go much farther than cake and punch, maybe just offer up some other desserts and fruits. Chocolate fountains are fun with all sorts of things to dip. Varieties of cookies, caramel popcorn, divinity, pound cake, chocolate covered fruits, and fruity drinks will be quite fun! Why not an ice cream sundae bar? But, if you are having the reception around dinner time I would go with more “substantial” foods.