Cheap ideas for a wedding with 100- people......?

Question

no loan....few good ideas....okay i'm looking for a nice but low cost reception place excluding park and backyard......for 100 people max...possibly less, I'm located in Dallas, Tx, and that's where i'm getting married....I also need do-it yourself ideas for decorations, bouquets, bridesmaids dresses (places), ect....need any more details to help...leave a comment...thanks

Answer 1

Go to eBay and look around for what you can find as far as inexpensive dresses for the wedding party, decorations, etc.

Answer 2

Instead of using bridesmaid dresses that will require alterations, I would recommend dresses from the new Ann Taylor celebrations collection. They have beautiful colors and varying styles. The girls will definitely be able to wear them again. For flowers you could just have the girls carry a few long stemmed roses with a ribbon around them. This would be much cheaper than paying for bouquets. Instead of flowers for decorations, use candles. They are very elegant and you can get a large number of them in bulk with glass votives at a craft store like Michaels.

Answer 3

I can't give you specific help on locations as I am not from Dallas, but here are some places to look:
- If it is a summer wedding, try an indoor volleyball court and have a luau -- decorations can be cheap and you can buy them at the end of this summer even cheaper.
- Find out if any of your family members are members of a local organization such as VFW, Shriners, etc. Often they have a lodge or building they can rent out.

For your flowers -- don't try to make your own -- when you get done buying the supplies, you will have paid for professional work (I made this mistake at my wedding, and then again at my brother-in-law's wedding). Check online at ebay.com for things people are selling. Also, if you have been to any weddings recently -- check with those brides. See if they kept their decorations and if so, are they things you can use.

If you keep a room fairly dark, and use candles, it makes the ambiance a little more romantic, and makes up for many "cheap" tricks.

My brother and his wife got married and had their reception at a bingo hall. My aunt came and helped my mom and I and othe family members prepare the food -- a simple ham & turkey dinner with mashed potatoes (from a mix) and gravy (from a mix), salad (really easy and cheap), Fruit Salad (also easy if you buy the big cans of fruit and mix it with some pudding mix and just one or two bowls of whipped cream) and cake of course. We served buffet style and there were easily 200 people there. Worked great and wasn't too expensive.

Answer 4

I am renting out the town hall of a nearby small town. It is a lot cheaper than the things in the city where I live (Seattle). Also, go to any wedding expo's or show that they have around your town because you can get coupons or discounts from florists, cakes, rental companies for linens or chairs. Also Michael's arts and crafts or Joann's usually have coupons in the Sunday paper you can use to help buy some of the do-it yourself decorations you might need. I got my dress and my bridesmaid dresses from Davids bridal. If you buy your dress there, your bridesmaid get a discount.....just look for any deal you can and good luck!

Answer 5

Well, your question is pretty vaugue.. What's your budget, style, theme if any? When are you getting married? I bought my wedding dress at a consignment shop.. It was originally $1,000 and I got it altered w/ a train/headpiece for under $400. Flowers look for someone that does them privately- out of their home, a family friend perhaps. My friends mother did all our flowers for the reception for $60- it was awesome ! My cake I had a private baker make my wedding cake at her house.. Instead of the bakery where she worked my cake would've been $1,000 I got it delivered for under $300 for 160 guests.... So, go to a specialty shop and inquire with the bakers if anyone would bake the cake on the side? They might also know a florist etc.... Word of mouth.. I would start with a theme.. Mine was vegas we got married there so it was pretty easy and inexpensive to put together...

I made a slot machine card collecter- cost $10
I made table decor... felt card suite (hearts,diamonds,spade etc).. My florist put my flowers in casino cups I brought back from vegas- the containers are FREE in the casino's.
I also put dice, poker chips and money confetti on the tables..
My table markers/place cards were playing cards as well $1 a pack w/ vegas casino's on them..

Just be creative on any budget.... Also, if you have your reception on a Sunday mid day it's cheaper and your guests won't drink as much.....

Answer 6

I reccomend an elks club hall or a vfw with a buffet. They will supply the tables and all that stuff. You may be able to do your own cooking in their kitchen. Go mor casual than formal. Perhaps matching dresses rather than bridesmaids outfits will save some money and the girls can use the dresses on a different occasion.

Answer 7

call your local fire stations. some have banquet facilities and can do the cooking for you. they also might have table/chairs and some decorations to use... table cloths etc
also look for vfw halls, masons, shriners, elks lodges...

cheap dressses/ bms dresses. ebay! i found mine and it's less than $200 with shipping. they make them custom to your measurements. give ample time to make it and ship it to you.
look for sellers from china.
they combine shipping on dresses too.

bouquets... use silk flowers. if you have an ac moore or michaels or craft store... wait till they have a 1/2 off sale on flowers and stock up.

centerpieces... get shallow glass bowls, fill with a hand full of glass stones/flat marbles, float some candles that are lightly scented on the water and you will have a great smelling reception!
also avail on ebay. just search floating candles and look for someone who makes them. you can request a specific color or colors to match yours and you can request scented or not.
http://myworld.ebay.com/shenvalleycandles
look on ebay for ppl that also make invitations... most have package deals for thank you cards, rsvp cards etc
http://cgi.ebay.com/100-Rose-Wedding-Invitations-Favors_W0QQitemZ280017758193QQihZ018QQcategoryZ102470QQcmdZViewItem

Answer 8

For dressess, check www.therosedress.com. In their clearance section, you can get fancy dresses for as little as $24. I got my wedding dress there for $98. It's not officially a wedding dress, but a very wedding-y formal--my sister and future sister-in-law thought I got it at a bridal shop.

Answer 9

LOL Oy... 100 guests, in Dallas, and CHEAP.

Lots of luck to ya.

Here are some ideas, though:

Bridesmaids dresses: Hit department stores. I work in Sears, and we actually have a small formal section, and there are some lovely bridesmaidish/promish dresses for a lot cheaper than you would be able to get them at David's Bridal. Depending on the season, get skirts in your preferred color (taffetta, georgette or satin all looks good this way) at David's Bridal, and have sleeveless or 3/4 sleeve white button-down blouses in the same style. Pair them with simple white dress sandals with heels, and a pretty but elegant hairstyle and simple jewelry, and it's actually really pretty.

With flowers, instead of ordering full bouquets professionally, buy some long-stemmed roses, lilies, etc., or even daisies, wholesale. Have each bridesmaid carry a single stem, or a few tied together with a pretty ribbon or cord, or carry a bunch of daisies, put together by yourself or any helpers the day of the wedding (I did this, was worried it would look bad, but it looked really pretty for a simple summer wedding). As for you, have an actual bouquet of flowers that match. If you're able to get to Tyler, TX (about two hours away), get some Tyler roses (I'm from the area). A dozen run around 3 or 4 dollars. Yes, they're wrapped in newspaper, but you can then arrange them however you want, or use the petals for your flower girl or sprinkled on the tables. They have a wide variety of colors.

For food, skip the caterer, you will not find a cheap one for 100 guests in Dallas. Find a few people who are willing to volunteer some time and make simple meat/cheese/crackers trays, vegetable/fruit/dip trays, and/or finger sandwiches. Go to Sam's Club and get the boxes of pinwheels and/or mini quiche, and arrange them on a nice platter. Get a large crystal bowl (bet someone you know has one that would work just fine), fill it with ice and cooked shrimp, then have a smaller matching crystal bowl in the middle, surrounded by ice, with cocktail sauce. Make a tray of mini veggie pizzas, mini fruit pizzas and mini cheesecake squares (at the bottom of the post). Rent some chafing dishes and have someone make up some sweet and sour meatballs, stuffed mushrooms, or even chicken tenders with various sauces.

Candles with mirrors, and twinkle lights, can transform any place into a fairy land, so use them. If you are inside, bring in green garlands and ficus trees, and string white twinkle lights through them. For centerpieces for tables, have a plain table cloth, a 6 inch by 6 inch square simple mirror (you can find them at hobby stores), a plain clear bowl (they have them in the flower/candle/potpourri section at Walmart), and a couple floating candles. The mirrors reflect the lights. Along the same lines, if you hang pretty framed mirrors on the walls of the reception hall, the lights from candles and twinkle lights will bounce off them.)

Don't stress over things like favors. For the most part, guests could not care less if you give them each a really cute 1"x1" frame engraved with your name and your wedding date. Likewise, not many people are really all that fond of Jordan almonds.

Use tulle, or some other little inexpensive favor containers (Walmart), and fill them with normal favorites like mixed nuts or M&M's (the pastel ones you can get around Easter are cute if you are getting married around that time and are wanting to use pastels, or there are various shades of pink for the Susan G. Komen Foundation -- you can even special order your own custom colors), or even mini cookies.

Instead of hiring a DJ, get a good playlist to last throughout the evening, and have a trusted friend who is interested and okay with doing it be the Master of Ceremonies, in charge of the pre-determined playlist on a computer hooked up to a sound-system.

For hairstyles, manicures or pedicures, or facials, go to a local cosmotology school instead of paying big money for the same hairdo you could get elsewhere cheaper. My sister is a hairdresser, and she and her friends did the hair at my wedding, and they did great (this was while they were in cosmotology school). You'll pay a fraction of the cost you would pay elsewhere.

For the cakes, contact local hobby stores. Many of them have cake-decorating classes, and the instructors and even some advanced students make wedding cakes on the side, and are really very good.

As far as location, try contacting some hotels. See if they have a conference room, and if you can get it at a low price if you ask your guests to use that hotel exclusively if they are coming from out of town. Or try to find a church that has a nice recreation center, meeting area, or multi-purpose building. Anything can be transformed quite a bit using flowers and proper lighting.

What costs a lot is when you start hiring people to do things you don't care one way or another if it's "professional", as long as it's nice. Most things that are specifically "wedding" are marked up, because people know they can get brides and their families to pay the mark-up amount. Even using some of the do-it-yourself ideas can cut down on the total cost by hundreds of dollars. It just requires that you use a little ingenuity, and that you call upon ALL your resources (not money, but friends and family who will help you).

I am married, my two sisters are married, my best friend is married, ALL 8 of my cousins are married. All of us had really nice weddings. None of us went into debt over them. It just required a little creativity, and all of us working together to make it work out nicely.



Mini Fruit Pizzas
Pillsbury sugar cookie dough, sliced into cookie-sized slices, or the break-apart kind
1 pkg. (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla
Assorted fruit (sliced strawberry, sliced kiwi fruit, mandarin orange slices, blueberries)
Assorted fruit preserves or jelly (apricot is especially good)
mint leaves, lemon zest, orange zest, lime zest

Bake the cookie dough according to package directions. Allow it to cool.
Mix softened cream cheese, sugar and vanilla well, and spread on the cookies
Top with the assorted fruit, using different flavor and color combinations.
Melt the preserves or jelly in a sauce pan until thin, drizzle over the fruit-topped cookies.
Artfully garnish with mint or various zests

Mini cheesecake squares
Honey Maid graham crackers, broken into squares
Philidelphia cream cheese Cheesecake Filling (it's premade with the cream cheese)
chocolate sauce (Hershey's Syrup works fine), strawberry preserves, cherry preserves
mint leaves, chocolate shavings

Break the graham crackers into squares
Spread the cheesecake filling on the crackers. Top with drizzled chocolate syrup, or the preserves (or the preserves, drizzled with a little chocolate syrup)
Garnish with mint leaves or chocolate shavings


Mini veggie pizzas
Roll crescent dough onto a baking stone, press the perferations to seal. Bake until golden brown. Mix dry Ranch seasoning with softened cream cheese. Spread on the cooled crescant pizza crust. Top with finely chopped carrots, red bell peppers and broccoli. Slice into 2x2 inch squares.

Answer 10

I got a brain block on this one-cause it dont add up-details ahead to your answer/question

hey tree hugger its been a while

congrats on that youre getting married

I got to wonder first if you got 100 people or so comming -why is the family not into helping out in alot of these areas, especially the standard ones which is their responsibility.

people will give you money for gifts figuring in that you can get a nice reception place-doesnt have to be extravagant -problem is timing-some you got to reserve way ahead -for June weddings can be 2 years or more.

you should have someone -not yourself in charge of the gift list=and a favorite store or two if different type stores where your registered so there is no duplication of gifts.

bridesmaids dresses -consider others weddings and see the dresses you like best-and find out who wont want to keep theirs or would sell at a low price-then go to where they were bought or tailored and get the rest of them that you may need and have them tailored to size of your brides maids. Mexican tailors do great work and charge only a fraction of the price.

Decorations -coated almonds and other quality candies to the color of your wedding in containers on each table-balloons too, and center pieces of flowers bought in bulk at the flower exchange-dont design it till you get the flowers -know what is in season and have some idea -and so no hard feelings -let each table know the flowers and candy left on the table are to be taken when leaving by the newest married couple at the table.

if you got kids there have someone assigned to occupy them at least some of the time.

and dont forget the dinosaurs and faith=There is dinosaurs spoken of in the bible-yet to the one convinced why would you change your mind? remember if you reject Jesus or that the sun shines-then Jesus and the sun shine are a myth.
to Jesus footprints in the sand-what a poem--The bible speaks about dinasaurs before the flood in the book of Job Liviathan and other references. Isnt it interesting that the earth is claimed to have been created in ages with some of it so many million years old-some so many more or less-thus instead of a creator that created the earth with age it had a creator that created out of nothing (because its got age and didnt exist a day before it was created-some say from gas lol-how much gas would it take to make 100 miles of earth all at one exact time?
yet why did they find these dinasaurs on the earths surface. why didnt they have to dig down 100 thousand or a million when it is claimed they roamed the earth and up to a billion years into the earths crust to find these bones? they are preserved in tar pits of recent age-yet covered with great pressure to preserve them (the universal flood)
this helped me as raised a Jew to see the deaper truths too=Christian means a follower of the Messiah-who came as a Jew- the believer in Jesus-has power over the mind to control their thoughts, thus when Jesus says to forgive and let Me handle it, or about lust is adultry against God, or hate is murder in the heart, we have the calling to cast down all imaginations that exault themselves against God which brings true peace and joy to our heart in all situations (Philippians 4:4-20).
My Jewish people believe in the comming of a Messiah, and his fulfillment is in Jesus. The laws of Judaism were given specifically to the Jewish people to be kept and to guide them to the promised Messiah.
Isaiah 9:6 the child to be the Son given, the mighty God and the prince of peace..
Isaiah 52:13-53:12 To be the exalted one. To first be marred more than any man, and to lay down his life to make atonement for our sins.

The way I came to know him is by believing what he spoke to us from heaven (Revelation1:1 chapter 1 verse 1 & 3:19&20 "I love you and ask you to repent of your sins (even one lie) quickly. Behold I stand at your heart door and knock If you hear my word and open the door, I will come in and be your friend."
so I prayed "Jesus I am sorry for my sins, come into my heart and help me, be my friend, amen."
Its all good and now as a Jew who has come to know Jesus is my Messiah, savior, and best friend giving me joy beyond words and power to live right.

prayin it goes great and you see the trees from the forrest before you are there, David