Tips for inexpensive wedding receptions?

Answer 1

Buy everything you need at orientaltrading.com amazing prices!!Good luck

Answer 2

Whats your definition of inexpensive? You can have an afternoon wedding reception, which doesn't last but a couple hours.

A friend just had a punch and cake reception. Another friend got married late (830) so that the reception was just alcohol and cake.

Price shop. No need for a 1,000 designer cake. Do cheaper appetizers, less alcohol, and don't bother with a dj or a band. Certain foods are always more expensive, like seafoods. An early wedding tends to be cheaper than a later one.

Really the definition of inexpensive here is the whole issue. Some people think 20,000 is inexpensive and there is one guy one here that prides himself on only spending $150 and having the reception potluck/picnic style. It's all about what type of atmosphere you are going for.

Answer 3

I would say have a limited time bar. Have an open bar from say 6-9 or whatever the hours are; not all night. Also, a lot of places are cheaper if you don't have the reception on a Sat. Buffet style dinners are also cheaper then sit down dinners Also for the bar you can do beer and wine only so no hard liquor is involved. That is what I am doing for my reception. It is normally cheaper and people most likely won't get hammered as quickly.

Answer 4

Skip wedding programs
Do edible favors
Do not go overboard with centerpieces, nobody ever remebers them
Do not spend a fortune decoarting the chuch, It's innecesary
DIY invitations to print at home
Get married on a Friday or Sunday (rates are cheaper)
Have a mid morning or mid afternoon reception so people won't expect a full meal.
Buy the cake from a supermarket
Skip the liquor and just offer a toast with chanpagne or sparkling wine
Get married by the JOP at the reception site, That will save you church expenses, decoration for two places etc.
Skip the limo
Invite only the people that you really care about. No acquantainces, coworkers, neighbors or people that you haven't seen since hightschool. A selective guest list is the best way to save.
Buy the dress off rack
Try ebay and www.orientaltrading.com for unexpensive decor and favors etc.
Skip the personilzed trinkets, no one cares about them
Skip useless stuff like cake toppersm guests books, unity candle etc. that is so passe and you don't have to have them
No, you don't need 8 BM and GM.



Good luck and congratulations

Answer 5

For a wedding, it depends on the time of year.

Outdoors,

Inexpensive favors

Instead of having the reception catered by professionals, try having it catered by students in a cutlery school. Go and have lunch or dinner at various cutlery schools. pick out the one you like the most, and hire them.

Do not have a live band, instead get cd's burned and have them played. Have a different variety for all different type of music listeners.

Decorations can be done by the bridal party the night before the wedding. Bows, etc should be done 3 days ahead of time.

Answer 6

When my son got married, we had the wedding and reception at our house. We just served wine and beer. We made the flower arrangements ourselves with flowers from the farmers' market and a book from a craft store (it was work, but we did it the night before the wedding, and we got a lot of people to help). We had the daughter of a friend do the food. She is not a professional caterer, just a good cook. We borrowed a wedding arch from someone who had just gotten married - the groom made it.
Good luck.

Answer 7

Limit the guest list to close family and friends. Include RSVPs, to get a head count. If you can, get a friend and family to do the food ahead, but can get messy and may make it less enjoyable for them. Find a reseonable caterer, and remember local food will be cheaper than say fish when your landlocked. I like the idea of a tea reception, but think its tacky not to feed your guests a meal. Do not serve liquor at all. Go with the CDs, skip the DJ. If you do favors, consider the most cost effective. We did table pieces on our own using vases we already had and silk flowers.

Answer 8

Usually Friday night or early Saturday receptions are cheaper. Keep the guest list to a minium. Serve soda, wine, and beer, instead of doing an open bar. DON'T do a cash bar!! That's rude!

Answer 9

-Outdoor reception in a park or something that's free or low cost- we did ours in my parents' backyard- it was perfect
-Don't do a dinnertime reception- you could do breakfast, or afternoon snacks, or latenight dessert reception, then you don't have to feed everyone a big meal
-If you have less than 100 guests and several friends to help before and/or during the wedding, you can do your own catering and save, literally, thousands of dollars. Just make sure you have enough help!

Answer 10

Have a buffet instead of a served meal, dj instead of a band, no need for an expensive wedding cake - just go with something yummy and pretty; don't bother with fancy centrepieces - simple is fine. Don't skimp on having a full open bar.

Answer 11

daytime instead of evening.
buffet style instead of sit down.
potlucks.
limit your alcohol options to beer and wine only.
having the ceremony and reception site in the same place can be cheaper.
favors are not necessary.