My fiancee and I will be hosting our wedding in the upcomming years. We have over 800 people comming to the wedding itself and I'm trying to shave of as many people as I can to invite to the recption. So far I'm up to 200 neccessary guest and counting. It's not that I dont have the funds it's just that I want to opptomize my dollers worth. How can I opptomize my budget? ANY IDEAS FOR THE WEDDING OR RECPTION WELCOME.
2006-11-09 13:52:59 · 14 answers · asked by alishaedens 1 in Family & Relationships ➔ Weddings
I have planned quite a few wedding where the couple decided to save some money by replacing the traditional sit-down dinner with an hors d'ouvres reception instead. This way you can invite more people to the reception, because you aren't paying $120-$150 a plate. Caterers have very creative selections for passed and stationed appetizers. Your guests eat so much during cocktail hour that it feels like a meal anyways!! It will allow you to give your guests more options so they can create their own dinner. Plan on having it before the usual dinner time (around 3 or 4) so they aren't expecting a sit-down dinner...
Also, it is perfectly fine to invite a ton of people to the wedding itself and only a select few to the reception. However, make sure you hire a wedding planner and arm that person with a list of reception attendees...that way if someone shows up who wasn't invited (because, lets face it, it will happen...no matter how hard you try) there is someone there...who is of no relation, family or friend, to tell that party that they have to leave. It sounds rude, but people do it all the time. Don't worry about it...
2006-11-10 06:53:48 · answer #1 · answered by VAWeddingSpecialist 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some of the easiest ways is if you know people (such as a person who makes bouquets or arranges flowers) get them to do the work. This can sometimes shave half of whatever you pay. When we did our wedding afterwards I had people come and ask me how much our wedding cost. It looked like it cost a fortune. In reality it only cost us a little over 10000 dollars. We have 150 guests. My best friends hubby was a professional photograper and he did our photos. What kind of flowers are you looking at. We did real but we also looked at faux flowers but decided we wanted real ones. If you go for fake flowers then you can cut the cost of flower arrangments as well. These are a few things. I hope it helps a little. Otherwise I would look around each place and decide which places have the best prices. I also agree with what bibliophi.. said. Bring more people to the reception than the wedding. Oh and don't forget the thank yous cards and maybe a small gift for those who do help. It doesn't have to be expensive of course just a way to say I could not have done it so easily without your help.
2006-11-09 13:59:59 · answer #2 · answered by Kelly s 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I wouldnt even have all the food, thats where you get into the money aspect of a recpetion. How about a dessert and punch reception? Your could have your wedding cake (go to the bakery at your local grocery store, these days they can work wonders and are SO much cheaper than bakeries) and some cookies and pastries, some yummy punch and maybe a tray of chocolates. Thats all you need. Especially with such an intimate crowd, I bet this kind of reception would be alot of fun for all involved! Good luck!
2016-05-22 01:50:13 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ok I don't think I even know 800 people let alone 200 people, are you like an entertainer or something like that in the pubic eye that you know a lot of people.
I think the simpler reception is better, cake, punch, nuts and mints are more then enough. People are coming to celebrate you getting married not to feed their faces. Also if you go simple then you'll have more time to greet all 200 people you want to invite. Just know most times it costs about $10 a person to feed them...or that's what I've heard it costs.
2006-11-10 13:56:33 · answer #4 · answered by Kitikat 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have to agree with the first person, you are supposed to have a smaller wedding with a larger reception. Just think if you were invited to a wedding and you heard the music start to play and they closed the door on your face and said you were not welcome to attend. It's tacky and makes you look very rude. As to how to save some money, don't have actual meals just do appetizers and drinks. Also sometimes its cheaper if you hire someone and they can do both things, such as a photographer who does your music as well. Also shop around for prices I'm planning my wedding and I seem to find better deals everyday. For invitations or save the date cards try vista.com they have some great prices for everything! Well good luck enjoy your day and I hope you don't hurt to many people's feelings!
2006-11-10 05:45:03 · answer #5 · answered by Tamra 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Many people expect to go to the wedding AND the reception, so you will definitely have to change your numbers. From my own personal experience, I usually go to the reception and not the wedding ceremony so you might have people do that.
You would definitely have to cut on the people attending, both things. Dont invite friends of friends, or business partners, or customers of one of your family members. I suggest inviting close friends and family only because even that can be a high number.
2006-11-09 18:53:54 · answer #6 · answered by Veronica 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oh my. I have to say......I don't think it's proper to invite 800 people to the wedding and less than that to the reception. REALLY. That's tacky. If anything, it should be a smaller wedding and larger reception. If you can't afford to invite them to your party, you should not be sending them an invitation to the wedding. That's like saying, "Hi, can you come see me get married and bring a gift? Sorry, I really don't have room for you at the party CELEBRATING my wedding, though. Anyway.....don't forget that gift!"
2006-11-09 13:57:03 · answer #7 · answered by bibliophile31 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Do a pot luck meal. Have almost everyone bring one or two of their favorite dishes. Hey its free for you. Also is an out door reception a possibility? That way you don't have to pay for a huge room. Also wedding favors, thats alot to make I hope your planning on something homemade or not expensive. Best of luck to you.
2006-11-09 15:04:29 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
there is an eBook I loved called Dream Weddings On A budget (and not just because the name is the same as my blog) - the couple who wrote it planned their own wedding under $2000, and it is full of unique, affordable ideas for a amazing wedding. I just reviewed it on my blog - check it out:) Hope it helps:)
2006-11-09 15:25:44 · answer #9 · answered by Chrys 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is rude to invite people to the wedding but not the reception. Please do not do that.
How in the world do you have an 800 person guest list?
2006-11-10 05:50:35 · answer #10 · answered by Etiquette Gal 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋