A wedding for at the most 50?

Question

I can't find a place that's reasonably priced. I am thinking about $8K (wedding and recption only) for something special. Is that reasonable? My family is really casual, as am I. I don't even want to carry flowers, I just want to hold my dad's hand. I want homestyle food, possibly even served family style, but I can't figure out how to do that with 50 people. A buffet is not something that I want. I want the whole event to be interactive. I want there to be a lot of outside activities for the rest of the weekend. We have a child, as do all of my future in laws, so I want it to be child friendly. I really don't want to spend $30 a plate for food the kids aren't going to eat. I am at a loss.

Sorry I didn't specify that I would like it to be a destination wedding. I live in the North East, and would like to leave the area.

Answer 1

I recently got married (5/19/07) on the beach on Hilton Head Island. We did a wedding on the beach (free) and rented enough chairs for parents/grandparents and an arch. Everyone else stood behind the seated family. The wedding part cost about $400 (not including my dress.)
The reception was held at a hotel behind the beach. They did a buffet, but they could have done plated food as well. The plated meal was anywhere from $25-45 a plate, for adults. It was really relaxed and fun. I think altogether we spent about 5K. We did an iPod DJ thing. I made my own flowers, and the hotel decorated the room for us. It was so simple, yet the most special thing I've ever experienced.

Answer 2

Ehrhardt's on Lake Wallenpaupack in the Poconos does gorgeous weddings! It's somewhat desination oriented area and there are tons to do in the area for the whole family. You can rent a boat and go out on the lake, Claws n Paws is a petting zoo (really nice for the kids), and there are just a ton of things depending on your taste.

They do onsite outdoor ceremonies which can be brought inside if there are weather problems. The ceremony is only $4 per person and includes the use of the site for the evening, the chair set up and take down, an archway to get married under which they decorate for every wedding. Then they have a nice reception hall with a full bar and you can do cocktail hour inside or outside. You can vary the menu for a buffet or sit-down. The pricing online is for $140 but its not much different if its smaller. Definately worth looking into...

Answer 3

Look for a cater that does everything and ask them where they suggest. We have quint old barns, fire halls, that have the full catered meals with the kids able to go outside to the swings and play while the adults are talking inside. I've done a full sit down catered meal in the back yard with a large tent
Find a DJ that will do music for the wedding under an arch outside the tent set away from the food area picturesque with trees, maybe a gazebo then everyone goes in the tent to have a good time. We also have a hall that the wedding is outside overlooking a river. There is so many places to suggest, just look around where you live, ask people where was weddings they been too.

Answer 4

Try a public park that has a pavilion or other outdoor shelter. They are usually very reasonable to rent.

Do you want sit down if not a buffet? I don't understand the interactive aspect.

You may mean a great long table sitting everyone. The food could be placed on the table just like a dinner at home where you pass the food around.

Check with a mom and pop restaurant for homestyle food.

Answer 5

is the destination included in the eight thousand? where is the destination? you've mentioned italy and key west before. BIG difference. off season, key west is quite reasonable. it may be hot, but you're surrounded by water. the nitelife is fun, and if you look, kid friendly. get away from the tourist side, and find the residential area. it's really a great neighborhood. there are parks, beaches and activities to stay busy. also, look into home rental sites. my family just rented a beautiful 3 bedroom house on the water in ft.lauderdale for much less than a hotel would have cost. the problem i see is once you get there, you want to have a non-buffet (most economical) meal. that involves staff which adds up. add hall rental plus linen etc., and eight grand goes fast. unless you know someone somewhere, i suggest vows on the beach at sunset, followed by a pig roast on the beach in key west off-season. love is in the air! good luck!

Answer 6

8K is a LOT of money for only 50 people. I had 63 people and a budget of 10K. The wedding was catered and the ceremony and reception were held in a museum. The budget also included my dress, alcohol, DJ, flowers, favors etc etc etc. My point is, with 8K you can do whatever you want. Since you want outdoor activity why not rent a pavilion in a park, you can hire entertainment for the kids (maybe a cartoonist to keep them busy). You can have it catered. Butlered appetizers and a served buffet. Or, since you'd save a ton of money by not having a hall, you can rent tables and chairs and even have dinner/lunch served.

Answer 7

To do a destination wedding for $8000 is hard unless the travel expense for the guests is not included...you found 50 people willing to travel with you to be at your wedding?? YOU ARE REALLLYYY loved by these people...if there are no kids going, Caesars Cove Haven Poconos Resort is GORGEOUS and affordable...I live in Maine and it took us about 8 hours to drive there for our honeymoon and we stayed in the top suite they offer with all of the extras and it was only $2000 for a 10 days...they have amazing wedding packages and some beautiful locations on the resort for the ceremony plus it is ALL INCLUSIVE for you and your guests...also, try talking to a local travel agent...tell them what you want to do and what your budget is and they can put together some unbelievable packages...as a bridal consultant, I have a few travel agents I work with and they told me last weekend Sandals Resorts has a really cheap promo going on but it can only be booked through agents

Answer 8

Can I come? It sounds so people/family friendly and just fun! How about at a state park or beach, if there is a rec room of some sort that you could rent for a few hours, and have the meal catered. If you had it catered you could pick and chose foods that suit you and even do it family style if you wanted. The plus of a park is that there'd be activitities- a playground for the kids, maybe bikes to ride, kites to fly, etc.....sounds great.

Answer 9

Yes, it's reasonable. I'm actually having a sit down dinner for that many people at $30 a plate and the Hotel is also doing dinners for kids $10 a plate.

Talk with your vendors they can work things out with you.

I'm doing candles for centerpieces, just some pew bows in the ceremony, and I've also found lots of good deals on ebay for things.

Answer 10

I'm sure its do able! Shop around with the venue, ask people, barter! My friend has bartered the manager of a 5* hotel for our pre wedding feast- told him what she'd pay and what we want, he played ball! She's told him how much discount she wants for the wine, and he's given it!! The cheek of some people REALLY gets results!