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.
Big Wedding Alternatives
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.
Save 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.
Find a "Free" Spot
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.
Check Local Restaurants
Sometimes you'll even happen across a 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.
Network for Savings
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 planetariums. 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 also 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 Food Budget-Buster
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.
Setting Up a Potluck Reception
The basics of such a 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!)
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 a vintage theme even more. Or start with a 50's or 20's theme, both old-fashioned themes with a lot of life.
Informing Your Guests
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.
In 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 — so enjoy a touching, traditional reception that leaves your future clear for your next financial milestone.
Hi! I found this site and there are a lot of great ideas, but I am having a few problems of my own that I would like your advice on.
Ok, so,I live in Canada, and i moved away from home to another province a year ago, and mt fiancee and I are still trying to sort everything out for wedding. My family wants it there, his family wants it here, and We just want it to be nice and cheap.
Unfortunally where my family lives theres not really a nice place to choose there. Where we live now (where his family is as well) we are looking at around 14000 just for food and the venue. I was talking to one of my friends and she suggested a destination wedding. It is way cheaper for us, but then anyone we want to come would have to pay for themselves. We suggested this to his mother after we got some quotes, and she lost it saying this one wont be able to come and that one cant either.(it doesnt matter if they come or not, we actually rather not)
We thought about the idea of going to the court house and having a celebration later, but neither side of the family will go for that, and if we elope, its going to me even more problems.
All my fiancee and I want is something nice, cheap, and a few close friends, and I dont know how to position this to either family because mine said they wont help finacially, and his said they would, but basically we have to do it their way.
Im soo upset and I dont know what to do. Any way we try to work it, someone is going to be angry, we might not get what we want, or be in huge debt that we cant afford.
I really need help!!!
Manda,
Unfortunately, the meaning of the wedding being lost. I would sit down with my future spouse and ask: If it was just the two of us what would we do? Then plan around that and stick to your plan. The wedding is about the couple committing their lives together and should never be about finances or others. I think a destination wedding is the best route if all other options have been explored. You could always find a venue in the middle of both families, if you choose. If a smaller less expensive wedding is what you both desire, I say go for it! Remember, when you both look back at your pics one day, you will want to say..I couldn’t have imagined marrying any other way. If there are issues then take over the finances so you are in more control, allow the ones who want to help to contribute and plan your special day.
This may help
Source 2
And last
Sometimes it is best to sit and talk about how you feel. Explain to her that this your wedding day and the way you envision it. Also tell her it would mean the world to you to have her support about your dream wedding. That you would love her to help you plan out “your” wedding and respect your ideas and decisions( even though you will listen to hers and keep them for reference, that you can’t imagine the day without celebrating it without her. Tell her that if you didn’t plan your dream wedding, an honor the bride has, no matter who pays, you would always look back and wish that you would have done it differently. That it wouldn’t be your wedding, it would be someone else’s plans. Tell her that you love her very much but you are about to be joined together with someone you love and must begin setting up healthy boundaries for your new lives together. Some guidelines that may help!!
Monique,
Pasta is the best route to go. You can add salad like caesar salad, french bread, dessert. Keep it simple and pared down. You could have lasagna with meat and without, if there any vegetarians on your guest list. It pleases everyone young and old alike. To ease the load, ask everyone to make a tray of lasagna or any pasta and have a pasta buffet. You will need to check with the venue to see if they have ways to keep food warm or cold.
good source
thrifty wedding
ellen’s kitchen
With the pasta dinner, you could easily make it into a tuscan treat for everyone. I am not sure what your colors are or what your theme is but going this route would be a breeze. Add fake grapes and greenery to everything, soft parisian music in the background, candles, etc.
see these ideas
Pasta is very filling. I went to a rehearsal dinner once( and a wedding) that had spaghetti/lasagna, caesar salad, french bread, and strawberry shortcake. it was awesome. There was even food left over after everyone went back for 2nds and 3rds. I highly recommend it. I would go to Costco or other place that carries trays of frozen lasagna and have that prepurchased. I have heard it saves time, money, and tastes amazing. It will cut the stress load. Depending on what time your wedding is, you can also have more of a appetizer station but this can run into high dollars if not careful.
do it yourself wedding food ideas
getting married in may what the reception and wedding in the same place somewhere romantic and cheap i already have a catering taken care of thanks to cooks in the family help please oh i live in michigan
I’m due to be married this November on the 25th and me and my fiance are strapped for cash. could you please help us on any cheap venues we could use in chicago or just some really good ideas on things we could do instead of a reception or at least for a honeymoon.
Damien,
I recommend having a reception even if it is only dessert and coffee( offer bottles of coffee syrup too so guests can make it their own). Reason being, if guests are invited and drive for a 15 min. ceremony they may be upset or disappointed there is no toast or type of celebration to spend time. If you have a morning wedding you could easily have a simple breakfast or brunch style foods. Afternoon or after dinner would be perfect for dessert and champagne or coffee. A wonderful idea for a honeymoon is search for a place nearby or out of state that has a B&B. My daughter got married at a B&B first week in December for way under 400 dollars. The place was decorated for Christmas, she had a gumbo reception ( one pot wonder and perfect for our Louisiana culture), made her bouquet and her own cake. She had a nice size guest list and the “entertainment” was the town christmas parade we forgot was scheduled for that night. If you are strapped and even brunch foods would hit hard, I recommend a very small wedding with immediate family and friends only or a civil ceremony with your nearest and dearest and go out to lunch or dinner afterwards.
Good links here….
Love this wedding…
Here is the article on my daughters wedding…
If you have any more questions please write back.
I’m trying to help plan by best friends shot gun wedding and i only have 50 days to do it. I’ve told her about having it at a public location like a park that is not busy with people all the time. My concern is that i dont want her to feel ackward or like its a rushed non romantic thing. I still want her to feel like it’s not “in public”. Plus, I’ve looked on websites to see if quick 30 min weddings need a permit or something but I can’t see anything. I also don’t know what to tell her guest. “um go to the park and just find us in a corner somewhere” haha. Any suggestions there?
Ashley,
Does someone have a beautiful backyard? Or a spot by a lake would be nice. For permits you need to contact your local mayors office to find out what you need to do. Usually there is a minimal fee. Another idea is does she have a romantic spot that she loves? If so it is worth looking into. For outdoors have backup “just in case”.
I don’t know how much you have to spend or how many guests you want to invite, but maybe you should look for a wedding salon or wedding chapel in your area. I live in Philadelphia and some of the ones here have indoor or garden ceremony packages that sometimes include photo packages, and/or cake and punch receptions, minimal decorations, flowers and favors for between 25 to 50 guests. The package prices I found were anywhere from $250-$1250. For the $1250 you get everything and most wedding chapels are very quaint. Their primary target is couples who want a nice wedding with minimal planning in a short amount of time.
Allie,
I am getting married in Oct. 2011. In order to spare feelings, we invited WAY more people than I’d planned. So, we’re having the wedding at 4pm and just having cake (cupcakes, actully), pie, cookies, lemonade and water. That’s it. No savory foods, it’s just too expensive.
As for a venue, have you thought about the college where you’ll be graduating? Some colleges allow alumni to use facilities for free or low cost. It’s worth the call! I really hop you find a pretty place in your budget!
This is an amazing wedding site for thrifty weddings. I hope it helps in the planning process…
My dearest friend got married at her parents home, borrowed tables and chairs from the school, where her mom works. She had the whole shebang for 1200 bucks including a fish fry dinner. It was amazing! She had about 40-50 guests. I made her bouquets etc. as a gift and was able to borrow a metal arch for the florals. Since it was spring she used gerbera daisies for everything. She used a color scheme that would have automatic impact. Pink and green. I highly recommend a impact color scheme it will save money and you will need less decor. For instance square glass vases of a single type flower in one color, like burnt orange. On white or champagne linens looks amazing, which gives a great contrast. Foilage and pepperberries for a fall wedding can give a lush look for cheap. These items can be clipped for free or bought at saveoncrafts or any craft store. Does someone have a garden and wouldnt mind free clipped florals or greenery? A cake doesnt have to be ornate to be grand. A family member with baking skills can whip a tiered cake up and around the base put a grouping of garden roses. Instant glam and actually what vintage eras would have done.
Useless advice yet again.
I love “Save on the venue”. Get a “free” venue.
Ya, NO SUCH THING. Free? Even if you can get a patch of grass for free think about the cost of putting chairs under people’s butts and tables for that “free” food. How about tablecloths? Good disposable china and flatware will cost you 4-5 per person (extra cups will be needed etc…) The chairs usually start at 5 up to 20 per person. Tables are 10-20 each plus set up. And even with a potluck you’ll need catering pans with stands, sterno fuel, serving utensils and a dozen other things that people normally wouldn’t think of also bringing. And here’s another worry, what if they don’t bring enough? What if you have people who go up to the buffet and discover that there’s no food left? I’ve seen this happen, your guests are not professional caterers and they don’t know how much to bring. THe one affair I was at that had this set up had some corn and the gravy from what was a beef dish left. All the other dishes had been completely cleaned out. About 20 of us just stood there hungry and no one seemed to give a sh*t. They ate the food WE brought, but we had nothing left to eat ourselves. We each put corn on our plates and rummaged around until we found some brownies. Suffice it to say we didn’t stay much longer and left. We went out to dinner instead of sticking around.
And that’s IF you know someone with a yard big enough. And if their house has just one or two bathrooms and you’ve invited a hundred people then you’re going to need porta potties! I’m going to guess that ain’t cheap.
Few, if any, parks are free and if you plan on having booze be prepared for an alchol permit.
You’ll also need people to set up and break down and clean up the space otherwise you could be hit with a ton of other charges.
Not to be a spoil sport but these trite columns about how to have a budget wedding are just nonsense. I’m trying to do a wedding on a budget and honestly when you get down to it you cannot have a super cheap or nearly free wedding unless you invite just a few people. If you have to invite family and friends and you end up with more than 10-20 people start figuring out if you’re going to have a wedding at all b/c its going to cost you.
I think if you want to have a low cost budget friendly wedding it can be done. We are having one it just takes a bit of creativity. Friends of ours have beautiful yard so the venue is free, I was able to borrow table cloths from a local hotel for free, we are have 62 people not small but not huge either. I have 3 people lending 8ft tables for the food and dessert tables and the other 8 I am renting for only $8 each from a local party rental store along with the nice white chairs that are only $1.25 each. I hired someone I am in business with to do the food who caters small affairs for only $80 and am having pasta and salad and a dessert table. I have friends who are bringing some of the desserts and I am doing the rest. I am doing my own flowers from the local costco and all my table decor is free jars I have collected and willow with paper flowers attached. The music is from our laptop with a friend running it for us. We did rent a dance floor from a equipment rental company for $200 for a 16 square foot floor. I made my own invites and with printing and mailing them out I only spent $50 and they looked like some that I found online for $150 for 25 invites so I really saved there. I bought my dress online from another bride for half the cost of what it would have been so I really think you can do this in fact I know you can because I am doing it and for under $1000. You just have to get creative thats all and have a positive attitude and it does work out.
I beg to differ, Sisi.
$5 per person for “good” disposable china and flatware? I don’t know where you were shopping but that’s ridiculously overpriced. Here’s what I bought at $1.63 total a person:
2 dinner plates
2 cake/dessert plates
2 clear drink tumblers
1 coffee cup
1 champagne flute
2 cocktail napkins
3 dinner napkins
2 forks
1 knife
1 spoon
Total cost, including shipping? $78.30. I am having 48 guests. The only thing that is paper are the napkins. The plates are heavy plastic and look like china, the utensils are plastic chrome silver and look like metal. All of the cups/glasses are heavy plastic and look really nice.
And “save on the venue” is definitely possible. Maybe not free…but you can definitely save. My venue is a community center in a nearly 100 year old restored mansion. 9 hours rental at $31.50 an hour for a total of $283.50. (2 hours set up, 5 hours reception, 2 hours clean up.) It has a full kitchen, bathrooms, buffet room and 30’x38’ party room. It comes with twelve 2.5’x8’ tables, 100 folding chairs and a piano and a sound system. The floor is hardwood and the walls are lined with medium blue velvet curtains to the ceiling. My son & nephews are doing the set up/take down, my nieces, sisters and I are doing the decoration. Decorations include balloons, crepe paper and paper wedding bells with a total cost of $58.47.
Let’s talk about tables now. Everything below was purchased and all prices include shipping (if any). Total cost per table is $25.88.
12 white cloth tablecloths, 60″x120″, for $7.89 each.
12 satin table runners, $0.83 each
2 candles and candlesticks per table, $1.49 each
3 silk flower arrangements per table (12”x15”), $4.72 each (3 types of silk flowers, a decorative bowl, florist foam, wire and tape)
If you do the math, my total outlay is $446.16, not including food, beverages or catering supplies. So, the advice is not useless. It is possible to have a super cheap wedding and reception if you are willing to spend the time searching for deals.
I think Sisi needed to read more closely. The writer said “find a free location” NOT “have a free reception”. I’m getting married in less than two months and I will be having my ceremony in the sanctuary and the reception in the social hall, both for free. My Pastor is officiating for free. The church band (they’re phenomenal!) is playing for free. A friend of the family is offering great catering services for only the cost of the food and I just have to take care of decorations and favors. Its all about who you know — and how much they like you!
I forgot to mention I’m a member of the church where I will be having my wedding.
Great job JBG! I wish that more people would do like you and stop with the ego-enhancing displays. My older niece spent over $22,000 on her wedding. Was it really nice? Yes. Was the food great? Not really. My nephew spent just $2000 3 months on everything and the food was much better and the guests seemed to have more fun.
what state do you live in
@ Kelly what website did you get your supplies from?
Allie,
What type of theme are you wanting? winter wonderland? There are so many ideas that be used. Venue is important, the more decor it has the less you will need. A all inclusive venue is the best way to go if their rates are good, make sure they have a budget foods or let you bring in food. You can make it unique by serving cocoa, cookies,etc. Want a way to avoid necessity of a dinner? Have a reception around 8 or 9 p.m. and serve champagne and dessert bar( which is best for the later receptions-these have a hip romantic vibe). Alcohol is a huge budget buster, limit to a signature drink and champagne for the toast, if serving alcohol. Some couples choose comfort nibbles with the speciality cocoas etc. in place of alcohol and the guests love it. Night weddings are amazing with twinkling lights and candlelight. Keep your color scheme all white or 1-2 color scheme. Any color scheme with impact needs little as far as decor( like black and white, aqua and white, cranberry and white) Think natural, which is the big thing now. Fresh winter greenery, mixed with pinecones, dollartree.com has vses for a buck each you could float or have candles in. If your wedding falls on or closer to the new year something festive would be great. Remember some places will have their holiday decor still up, so that may pose a problem. Unless they have fresh trees and will allow you to keep on just hte white lights and it will look like a winter wonderland. venues may have table linens etc. that they let brides use, take advantage of that. A huge tip is cut your guest list. Keep the guests that you are closer too. It is not a necessity to include family or friends you have not talked to in a year+. That is one good guideline for cutting guest lists. You, as the couple, should sit down and decide what you both would choose if it were just the two of you. In big family weddings, lots of couples look back and planned to meet family/friends ideas, with little to none of the couples tastes/ideas. If you know the final plan of what you want it can make it so much easier. A loft in NY would be a cool venue for a champagne/coffee, cocoa, and dessert reception.
Allie,
My daughter got married the first part of December a few years ago at a B&B on main street. She decided to have a gumbo and tea reception and made her own wedding cake. There were several guests there due to his having a bigger family. CLosest friends, and immediate family along with her church family. The venue was already decorating anyway for the holidays, but the owner asked what my daughters colors were( cranberry wine, gold, and winter greenery) she used those in the stair garlands, mantel, the tree by the fireplace etc. It was so beautiful, professionally done by the inhouse florist-all free since it was normal holiday decor. The only thing my daughter made was her bouquet. her hubby didnt want a boutonniere, so he wore a white pocket hanky with his own black suit. SHe wore a flowing cranberry wine pant suit with angel sleeves and empire waist with black beading and black beaded heels.It was so stunning. They had no attendents. People still talk about their beautiful wedding. What we all forgot about was the christmas parade set 30 min. after my daughters wedding. It was awesome. Everyone grabbed a bowl of gumbo and tea and headed out on the porch or down by the parade. It was like the parade was planned in the couples honor. We loved it. There were about 40 people there( give or take, the dinner, the venue, and one night all for 300bucks. She also bought a guest book and a little christmas tree for any monetary gifts or cards, the owner set it all up at the front door on white lace table. Friends and family video and camera shot pics. Which they all had copies and sent to them. I have been to many weddings and I have to say simple, intimate gatherings are a memory.She also served cocoa and cookies, owner surprised her with fruit and fruit dip on crystal platters and wine glasses with ribbons, cake knife with ribbon. A wonderful B&B owner who went out of her way to make my daughters wedding memorable and no cleanup crew needed, that was all up t o the owner!! It can be done, if you know what you want as a couple and stick to your plan.
I got engaged in the Spring. My fiance and I are getting married January 2012 in Albany, NY. We’re both just finishing up college, have big families, and want to do this for as cheap as possible as my parents will be paying for most of it. Since it’s in the winter, I’m really struggling finding a good spot to hold the reception. Any unique ideas that could be cost efficient?