How can i plan a wedding/ reception for under $500?

Question

on a very tight budget but want a memorable wedding

i am only inviting about 30-40 people and am not having bridesmaids or groomsmen. my daughter will be standing up with me and then we also will have a preteen boy that is a close family friend hold the rings. I am trying to find a beautiful location that can be decorated inexpensively

Answer 1

courthouse wedding, then a backyard party. it'll be as memorable as you and your friends make it. maybe a party where everyone brings a dish, instead of a present?

Answer 2

Keep the guest list to a minimum (probably just immediate family, possibly a couple friends). Make or borrow everything you can for the big day (bouquets, food, decorations, clothes). Concentrate on making the ceremony memorable. Put real thought into the order of service, any readings and/or music. Hold the wedding at home or in someone else's home that they open up to you for the day.

You won't be able to have huge numbers of people or mountains of food, but aside from hiring the officiant, nothing in the ceremony needs to cost a penny. Put your primary efforts into having a ceremony that says a lot about you as a couple. That's what matters most at a wedding.

$500 won't go very far, but you can stretch it further than you might think by being creative, flexible, and focused on what really matters.

Best of luck, and I wish you both all happiness.

Answer 3

A potluck reception for 100-150 people?!? Yuk. I get that in small parts of the country, people do this sort of thing. But there is no way a potluck for this many people will work without someone spending a lot of time to manage it. What happens if 55 people bring baked beans? What about beverages and ice for a group this large? If your family has always done gatherings this way, just ask them. But I have a feeling a crowd this size isn't something they have experience with. And you'll end up with a lot of unhappy guests.

Answer 4

The biggest expense is location. Hopefully, you can get married at the church where it's free. If not, pick a family members home that has good location and looks nice. Invite the most important people in your lives and depending on how many people you want to invite, you can get a hall of some sort rented (go for Sunday night, if possible) to cut on rental cost. If you know anyone who is creative, enlist their help with invitation printing, music, photos, catering, baking, etc. Alternatively, you can go to the Justice of the Peace to get married and use the entire $500 for a cool reception. You will still need to get help for people you know who are creative.

Answer 5

Its next to impossible but I'm thinking that if you were to have it outdoors on land you or a relative owned, and had a potluck type reception it would cut cost dramatically. Your dress however would have to be next to nothing on that sort of budget, I know that store like target now have bridal departments online with affordable gowns for brides. If thats still too much try your local thrift store, be sure to have it cleaned though. Bridesmaids should pay for their own dresses anyway but to avoid them being angry with you pick a modestly priced dress that they can use again and wont over power you look (short homecoming/promdresses work wonderfully and are on slae during summer months-thats the best time to look.) For the guys well the groom can usually get away with a 30-50 dollar tux if he goes with rental place that has a deal going on. (Tuxedo Junction I know has that free groom tux with so many rentals going on) Ummm as far as invitations go be personal about or get a mass email. It doesnt have to be fancy. As far as favors you could do them yourself, mints in mesh netting are popular and cost about 40 cents to make. and I know this sounds bad but have a bridal shower because thats what they are for... to get things you'll need for the wedding as gifts. Hope this helps and good luck!

Answer 6

Ask friends to help prepare the food as their wedding gift to you - you have to make sure your reception site will allow you to cater yourself. You didn't say how many people at the reception - that makes this a little difficult. Do a dessert reception - with cupcakes in place of the wedding cake - stack three footed plated to make tiers. If you have friends who make a wicked cookie or brownie - ask for a few dozen as your gift. You will be amazed at people willing to help. Costco and Sam's club will help fill in the gap. As for flowers - stick to what works seasonally. If you have a friend or relative with an awesome garden - ask permission to do a little trimming. And again - Sam's and Costco have affordable floral departments. Good luck!

Answer 7

i had a wedding for around 500 so i know what you mean but we rented a local hall (sports mans club) it was like only 75 dolars and it had a pond and nice open yard out back so we had the wedding and reception there, i bought beer and wine coolers, meat and cheese platter and a boneless fried chicken plater from the walmart paid a preacher 50 bucks. bought a simple white dress that could be died later to were again. at Ross department store for like 20 bucks it was a nice little country wedding but at least we are married now. it can be done you just gotta look and call around.

Answer 8

Wow, I would say a beach wedding or outdoor wedding. The reception won't include much but maybe you can have cake and punch.....Just the wedding Gown alone will normally cost a good $500.00....Davids Bridal is usually cheaper. Perhaps there is a Nice Park near you with a waterfall, use that as your back drop...Your gonna be pretty limited with only 500.00... Good Luck and Congratulations.....

Answer 9

First of all, Congradulations! #1 Don't plan! Keep things simple and don't stress. People are easy to please and the less you plan and stress the more they think you worked on this for a year! Your wedding will be memorable to you and him the two most important people at the wedding. The reception is a party of celebration. If you have friends and family near you or go to a church ask for help. People want to help and if lots chip in with a little here and a little there. Ask someone you know who has a flair for decorating to do it for you. If they say "how" tell them that they can do whatever they can but let them know you are on $ store budget and you will be surprised in the end what creative folk can do with a buck. If you have an older woman friend that you trust ask them to help you with this. Some of us older women have been to plenty of weddings and have lots of ideas. Don't do it on your own. Have your wedding at a park and do a barbeque and ask a friends and family to bring salads, bread, chips, etc. Get your cake at walmart or cosco. Get one of those with you and his picture on it. Ask people to bring music and set up a small cd player for music. Take some white dollar store plastic table cloths and put them over the picnic tables and maybe drop some rose petals on them for color. With friends helping $500 is alot for a reception. Its all about the wedding and being with folks who want to celebrate it with you. Ask people with cameras to bring them and take pictures for you. If they have digital cameras all they have to do is put them on cd then you go to walmart and print them. If not get some disposable ones and ask people to take pictures. Good luck to you and let me know how it went!

Answer 10

Have an outdoor wedding/reception at your place or maybe your parents. Have relatives bring food and if you have a garden or know someone who does then get flowers there. You may want to check goodwill or even discounted wedding dresses at bridal shops. Also, ask around many people are more then willing to bring their skills to make your day better.. Good Luck

Answer 11

My sister had a nice JP wedding, on the dock of a public marina. After we all walked down the street to a restaurant where we all had dinner, we had reservation so they could accomodate all 30 +/- of us. We brought own cake, jordan almonds, and after dinner, a smaller group of us went to a local bar (this is our home town, and we know people..lol), where I had the dj surprise my sister by clearing the dance floor, and playing Groozy kind of love (I had asked her earlier what she would have chosen for her wedding song). It was simple, calm/relaxed, and beautiful. My sister had found a lovely white dress and like JC Penny that was not to frilly, but elegent and beautiful, and in her budget. Over all, one of my favorite weddings of all time!!!!