Cheap reception ideas for wedding ceremonies.?

Question

I am having my wedding in September and am looking for cheap ideas for a wedding reception probably containing only 40 people if that. Looking mostly for food ideas, and cheap delicous wines.
I am also going to have hints of italian themes in this, anything that I can do at home the day before or buy cheapily will help out greatly.

Answer 1

Go for boxed wine. It is the cheapest way to buy it. Then, put it in a beautiful carafe to serve it. People will never know. You can get boxed wine anywhere. Check out places like walmart and http://www.ikea.com for cheap glass carafes. For 40 people, you'd only need a few of them. The carafes allow you to hide the fact that the wine is cheap.

For food, pasta is very cheap to feed people in bulk, and also very italian. For meat, you can put grilled chicken in the pasta. Serve with italian bread and side salad.

For starters, you can have tomatoes with basil and fresh mozzerella, with vinegar and oil. this is also very cheap. Bowls of olives. Cheese and bread plate. Fruit trays. Bruschetta. Salami and meat tray.

For dessert, wedding cake of course! Or, italian ice.

For decor, you can do candles on the table, because they are so cheap, but beautiful. Or, sprinkle rose petals over the tables and floor. http://www.lookalive.com/

Answer 2

Have friends and family prepare the food for the reception in advance and set up a buffet and help serve. You will have the cost of the food, however it will be nowhere near the cost of a caterer. The caterer usually charges about $30 a head.

You might be able to get some Italian posters from a local travel agency to hang in the reception hall. Red and white checked table cloths would also suggest Italian.

Answer 3

I really liked Don n idea.

Here are some also.....Many churches have large rooms
that you could use....Maybe even the church you are getting
married in. They would not charge much, if anything.
Have your friends, decorate it and set the tables up.
Food, why not have what they call.........where all the food is
set up and the people take their plates there and pick what they want....it would be alot cheaper......
You could have a spread of several choices for them....
even roast beef...cook it at home....anything.....make sure
to get hot places or whatever it is called that the food is hot,
have someone there to cut the meat for them, the other foods you deceide on...they can just put on their plates. And if still hungry, go back for more.

Hope this helps a bit......Oh, go to a garden shop that sells
plants, flowers, etc..........it's a lot cheaper and you can have them at the wedding and bring to the reception.
Tell your quests that only wine will be served. If they would
like beer, liquor etc...to bring their own. It would make them
happy also, if they do not like wine and would like a coclktail.
Congraduations........hope I gave you some ideas.
worked with my son's wedding. approx 100 people...We could not afford to have it catered, etc. Turned out beautiful!!

Answer 4

A buffet is usually better value for money than a sit down service event. Being in September you can still serve plenty of salads and antipasto dishes. For a hot dish you might consider osso bucco.

My favorite antipasto horsdoeuvre is a slice of bocconcini cheese, a basil leaf and a slice of Romano tomato with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. Give the oil a chance to infuse the cheese (about 10-15 mins) and mangiare!

As for wines for your big day, have you considered Australian wines? I'm from Australia but live in the US presently. I have seen plenty of good Australian Chardonnays for sale at moderate prices.

Have you considered bomboniere for your guests? (in keeping with the Italian theme) I have seen some really elaborate over the top bomboniere from Italian themed weddings that have raised an eyebrow or two. The best bomboniere is fairly simple but a nice gesture. Gather 3 or 4 sugared almonds in a piece of white tulle and bind with a white ribbon. The almonds represent good fortune and prosperity.

And for desserts I defy anyone to refuse a good cannolli. If you don't know someone who is a dab hand at cannolli making then check with bakeries in your area. They will store well in the fridge a couple of days before the event in airtight containers.

Enjoy your big day and have a wonderful life with your husband.

Answer 5

wine- gallo family moscato - it's rather inexpensive (under $10 a bottle)
it's a sweeter wine that goes down smooth. i love it chilled
the rest of their line is really good too.
i have had their pinot grigio too.

food - serve up pasta with maybe a cream sauce and a tomato sauce for guests to pick from.
chicken cordon bleu is not expensive to make
or even stuffed shells. they can be made a week plus in advance and frozen till needed- they thaw and bake to heat up
green beans and/or new potatos with a garlic herbed butter sauce
you can serve crab stuffed mushroom caps as an appetizer
maybe pick up some of the big appetizer varitey packs they sell in bjs and sams club- they are pretty tasty too.
fruit salad
cheese pepperoni and craker trays

congrats and bon appetite!

Answer 6

i work in an italian restaurant we dont charge xtra for the room just the price per head which is usually 35$ per person
if you request a sunday (which is usually slower) they are usually willing to make a better deal than on a sat.
(we need the buisness on sun more than sat)
also i called a couple of wine distributers to get paintings of different winerys to hang,
they were free you can get their numbers online.
a great place card holder would be to save all your corks (or ask your fave restaurant to save some for you if you dont drink that much) and with a craft knife cut a slit for holding the place card (its free!!)
you can borrow wine glasses and fill with flowers for centerpieces.
hope that helps

Answer 7

Talk to a local resturant about using one of their private rooms if it will be that small. They usually don't charge extra and it comes predecorated.

Answer 8

If you put the glasses on and they look great on you..go for it!! It's not about the name but how it makes you feel! I say go for it!