I'm trying to help my brother plan his wedding. He is on a tight budget and cannot afford to spend more than $4000 on it. The religious ceremony is already taken care of so that isnt included in his budget. Mostly we're worried about the reception hall and food. More than likely this will be a 300-400 guest event and we cannot find a banquet hall who's price is below $15/plate. We're in Bridgeview, IL and an outside wedding isnt really feaseable for us. PLEASE HELP!!! I know there are country clubs and other places that will allow you to bring your own food, I'm just having a hard time finding them.
Keyah,
Have you thought about having it outdoors? Maybe someone you know or a family member has a big enough back yard, you could rent a party tent and have the reception catered, or you could contact your local parks and recreation center and inquire if there is a park you could use. If you are having a church wedding, ask if they have a fellowship hall that you could use for the amount of people you plan to have. Sometimes, they will also have a kitchen you could use if you plan on doing the cooking, or they may let you bring in a caterer. Hope this helps.
Since you have such a minimum budget, the Church usually has a large gathering room that you can use. Most churches have kitchens and they have what it called a Multi purpose room (may be called something else) but maybe you can decorate that room, get a few friends and family members to cook or the Church may have someone who does cooking. I will tell you this, you are looking to feed a lot of people and that is not going to happen in IL on that budget. Maybe in Iowa. Maybe you guys should think of cutting the guest list in half. Go with what you can afford or push the date back, save up another $10,000 and get the hall that charges more than the amount that you are able to afford. You want 300 to 400 people for a reception on a budget of $4000? No place has ever charged $10 per person. You get what you pay for. Cut the list in half and go with what you can afford. People are giving you help with the fact that an outdoor wedding is your best bet and for that kind of money, you may have to find a date that will work for outdoors. In PA my wedding for 450 guest was $35,000 and IL is more expensive than PA.
A friend of mine had her wedding at the park district(forest preserve) and was able to bring her own food.
Its not outdoors, they had a building they rented for events.
You could also have each family member bring in some kind of dish. It may seem rude, but at least they will be able to eat. That is what I'm doing for my wedding. I know you don't want an outside wedding, but keep inmind that most ministers don't have a fee!
Hi, guess what,,,,,there is someone in the world who's wedding budget is less than your brother's....Mine! so i can totally relate to frantically searching for good deals. $2500 for 200 people. Ouch. Definitely search for reception locations where you can bring your own food...think Gordon Food Service; depending on how nice your town's schools are, you could check on a Cafeteria and you can bring your own food. Our High School was just remodeled and looks awesome with round tables and white chairs...$30 an hour, so like no more than $400 for hall rental there. I am going to ask a few of my trustworthy family friends to help with the food, just watch it at the wedding and keep it hot, etc. Or try a Civic center or K of C hall, or things like that.
Instead of a Huge layered cake for 300 people, do a smaller layered cake, and then a few sheet cakes in the same design and cut those in theback somewhere, and noone will know the difference. Much cheaper.
I found a website online for real roses that is the cheapest Ive EVER seen, the prices include shipping, so it ends up about .45 cents or so per rose. In stores it can be like $5 per rose. The site is www.nusabana.com.
I dont know how into this you are, but I got my centerpiece vases from the dollarstore and goodwill. They are a cute little globe with a ripply tip edge, and you can find them all over the place for anywhere between 10 cents to a dollar, depending on where you go. YOu can put a candle in there ...so theres centerpieces for about $1 or 2 a table. Then you can add flowers or a little mirror underneath the vase, if you have enough $$.
Check on www.ikea.com (if you live near a big city, to pick them up) in the dinnerware dept. If you are stuck on trying to have real dishes and not paper for a do-it-yourself dinner, they have white PLates and water goblets for .50 cents a piece, plus cheap silverware. I have found them to be even cheaper than dollarstores, which are obviously $1 each. But if you dont mind paper/plastic dishes, etc, you can find good deals at Gordon Foods. Or clear plastics and pretty colored napkins for something diff.
Try out Ebay for sure. For anything from guestbooks to candles.
You can use those white Christmas lights for decorations on the ceilings, or around the edges of tables. Sometimes dollar stores have cute chinese laterns you can hang from the ceiling to make a cute focal point in the room.
Im not sure for a cheap DJ , but if you know someone with a big stereo, you might ask them if you can use it and have someone VEERY responsible using. But that would easily save you like $500. You can burn all the songs onto like 1 or 2 Cds and just play it thru.
I hope this helps ;)
Check out the book " How to have an elegant wedding for $5000 or less". There are some great ideas in this book. My daughter is having around 200 people for her wedding and reception. Check out smaller towns around your location, and you may find rental for less. Ask people who they have used for catering. We found someone to cater a 2 meat full buffet for $9 per person, and the cake for .75 a serving- all very nicely done. It won't be the Hilton, but still a nice party and no second mortgage required (also nix the alcohol- serve non alcoholic beverages and or champagne. Saves on the liability or you may need to add a rider onto your home owners insurance and there goes your budget again).
