I want to get married this coming April in GA. Where can we for cheap that doesn't look cheap?

Question

We are college students and we are on our own. So we have a low budget for this wedding. Where are some cool places to get married without using enough money to buy a car? After being together for 7yrs, we really want to have a wedding and not just go to the courthouse--for our families and memories. We are in the metropolitan area of Atlanta, but we are willing to go as far as TN to wed. We had considered Gaitlinburg, Tennessee, but we are having some difficulties...

Answer 1

I live in Savannah. It wouldn't be bad there. You could get married on one of the Riverboat, on Tybee Island, or in one of the historic squares downtown. The weddings downtown are beautiful. We have horse and carriage weddings and then you all could enjoy a reception at Paula Deen's " Lady and Sons later. I would just look around for what matches your budget. I know in Atlanta you could try the Biltmore downtown. I don't know how expensive it would be. You just have to shop around. Good luck

Answer 2

If you're college students in Metro Atlanta, I assume that you go to one of the many beautifully wooded campuses in the area, like Kennesaw State, Emory, or Oglethorpe U. If you don't, your college or university - like Georgia State and Georgia Tech do - might have an off-the-main-campus non-urban plot of land. Since you are a student, the campuses will frequently allow you to use these areas for events at an extremely reduced price. They may also own properties that they use for other purposes that can be used for rental purposes. For example, the University of Georgia owns several old homes in the area that they use for parties and events. They also own the botanical gardens out Milledge Ave. that has a beautiful small chapel on the premises. If you are a student, the rental rates are frequently lower.

You might also consider one of the numerous parks and recreation areas around the city, such as Peidmont, Grant and Candler parks. Although they won't be able to close off the park for the day, they have great parking and lovely landscaping. There is frequently a pavilion or gazebo that can be utilized for a reception afterwards. There are also plenty of smaller private venues, such as Gross Lake in Conyers, that provide ample parking and a lovely outdoor setting without a very high price. Also, consider having it at the home of a friend or family member who may have an expansive plot of land. I think that the serenity of a natural surrounding lends itself very nicely to the atmosphere of a wedding, and bowers/arches can be purchased at Michael's for a mere $30.

If outdoor isn't your thing, consider, again, government-owned properties. They are often cheaper because they are publicly funded, and many are beautiful historic houses and properties.

You might also consider a Sunday wedding in a bar that is beautifully designed that is closed because they are unable to serve alcohol and do not choose to serve food. They will already be set up for a crowd, and it may take just the simple rearrangement of a few tables and chairs to make room for a ceremony.

You might also consider contacting commercial property rental places to see if they have any empty spaces that can be rented for a special event. Closed restaurants - such as the one on Virginia-Highlands across from the CVS on N. Highland Ave. (near Limerick Junction) - can also be nice places.

This might sound odd, but a church that has closed down is another idea. Many of them are being sold as homes, but they tend to sell slowly and those selling them are desperate to make a little revenue in the meantime. So you might contact residential property realtors in your area, too.

Consider who you know that can be trusted, or businesses with whom you or your parents have contact. See if you might be able to convince them to do some tradeouts - for example, the cake might be donated by a business if you allow them to put a flyer and business cards out at the wedding - in return for other services.

In addition, see if you can hire a student photographer whose work you enjoy, instead of a professional photographer. So long as you are both on the same page, they frequently turn out to be more interesting and memorable than the normal cheesy shots taken by pros. They also will turn over the negatives and/or the digital originals to you, whereas with a pro, it would be over their dead body, and if you ever needed reprints they'd charge you again and rub their hands together, laughing maniacally.

Look for ways to make things beautiful without adding expense. I got married in the botanical garden where I was a wedding planner. Because I worked there, they didn't charge me rent. Because it was a garden, I saved a bundle on flowers and decorations. The list goes on. I spent $5,000 on a wedding that, once I added up everything I saved using friends, students, contacts, business partners, family, and negotiating, should have cost $17,000. But I was out of college already, so that amount of money wasn't such a hit.

Finally, remember that absolutely everything is negotiable, never take the first offer, and if you plan for off-days - Fridays and Sundays - the rates should drop at least 30%.

Best of luck!

Answer 3

Savannah Ga is beautiful, and you can get married in several places. Some people with large plantation style houses rent them out for weddings for what i was told is a "decent price." But you can also go to the Marriott hotel on the river. They have a great ball room. in fact my brigade had our ball there when we got back from Iraq. It was great! Good luck and best wishes!

Answer 4

Save the cool for the honeymoon. Use a local church so more of your friends can attend. You'll be zonked at the wedding and remember some of it. Your honeymoon should be something else.