Hi Everyone..I just stumbled upon this site tonight and thought it couldn't hurt to ask for ideas. Right now my wedding is planned for July 11, 2009, but I have one major problem. I Can't find a location that we can afford. We just started planning this wedding last month and funds are very low. My ideal budget is $4,000-$5,000. This seems impossible to the point that the wedding won't happen. I already have my dress and everything that I need except my shoes. I have been going to craft stores for a lot of DIY projects that I can pull off. I went to Michael's and bought blank invitations to print myself. I have a caterer lined up that will charge me $14-$16 per head, depending on the type of menu I want. My main concern is a location. I am even checking into renting a tent for the back yard. Any ideas, or information will be GREATLY appreciated. Thank you..Tee

Hi, Tee.  Welcome to vibride. The ladies here are very helpful. I planned our wedding in 4 months, and you can do it too! Here are some ideas. I wasn't sure if you were still looking for a ceremony location as well.

low-cost places for ceremony:
- church
- public park
- backyard
- beach

low-cost places for reception:
- community center
- lodge
- American Legion Hall (I went to the one here in Baltimore for a dance recently and was shocked to discover how big it was and with an all hardwood floor perfect for dancing.)
- backyard tent
- church reception room or fellowship hall (may not allow dancing)

So, give the details...post a pic of your gown. Go to tinypic.com to upload. What are your colors? How will the men be outfitted.  How many in your wedding party? What will your cake look like?

Hello Tee,
 
Welcome to the sisterhood.  I don't know how many people you're inviting to your wedding/reception, however, I've done a wedding with a budget of $5,000.  It's not impossible, you just have to remember to keep it simple, but classy.  VIPrincessBride is absolutely correct in her advice to you.  Churches usually have a reception hall and most of the time would donate it free of charge to the couple provided that they're members.  So you could save there.  Although, tents are great, but could get expensive because you would also need to rent the tables and chairs, table covers, chair covers, dance floor.  If you're trying to keep the cost low, then hit your community.  Also, high schools rent their cafeterias as well for wedding receptions.  You might also want to look into that.  Get your wedding party mobilised.  Give them a project of finding the most affordable reception hall (be sure to give them a budget to go by).  Make it fun and say that whomever wins by finding a low budget hall will get a prize (don't tell them what the prize is.  That way, you could customize it if it's a girl or a boy, and you don't really need to spend no more than $20 on that prize girl.  It's just to get them motivated).  You'll be surprise just how very helpful your wedding party could be, if given just a chance.
 
Good luck to you sister!!!

Hi Ladies..Thank you so much for your help. I have a few downfalls to trying to plan this. I have checked into tents and was told that the tent alone will be around $3,000. Right now I have 8 bridemaids and groomsmen, which I don't want. My FH wants all of his boys in the wedding. He also wants about 200 guests. I think this is ridiculous. He has never been married before so I am trying to pull this off. I got my dress on sale at David's Bridal, which is a light champagne color. My color right now is purple. I am trying to find a place that will hold 150-200 people. I have to go look at a very nice place this week that rents for $1800 on a friday, which includes the tables and chairs only. I seriously, don't know which way to turn because I am planning this by myself.

Great advice, G! I also saw a show recently where the couple rented an area at a college. It was like inside a dorm area or a center, not sure which, but anyway the college catered the event as well. However, you did a great job finding a caterer for that price. Wow! I think my cousin had a similar deal when her future husband was a banquet manager.

200 people is a lot for that budget, but with your low-cost caterer it may be doable. At $16 per head, that's $3200. If you can trim the guest list from 200 people, you'll have even more money with which to work. How many are actually on the list? 'Cause I'm just reading that your FH wants 200.  You can still have a fun, enjoyable wedding with less than 200 people. We had 42 at ours, and we had a blast! We could talk to everyone, and let our hair down. I couldn't stop cheesing!  I know our banquet room at the resort cost $700 to reserve on a Saturday night. I think that was a great deal compared to some of these prices I'm hearing.

I actually only want 100 or less, but I am going to try to scale it down to at least 150. I never thought of checking with schools and colleges for rental locations. Thanks for that idea

My cousin got married in ATL with a budget similar to yours. She used Anthony's restaurant on Piedmont Rd. It's a beautiful old mansion that was turned into a restaurant. She had her ceremony and reception all in one place. She saved even more by having an early brunch time reception. The atmosphere there is very cozy and the food was good. Check them out. Their website is anthonysfinedining.com

Thank you..I will look them up right now. I am desperate and running out of time..

Welcome Tee,
Restaraunts make a great place to have a reception. And a early wedding/lunch or brunch menu does cut costs. I think you and FH should sit down and crunch the numbers some more, and discuss ways to possibly trim your list down to a cost you can be comfortable with. Also, ask him if he is flexible with the budget and be willing to spring more for the extra people on the list... But always crunch the numbers....This often reins them in.  

Well we do need to crunch numbers. I just need to let him know that 200 people is not going to work. I just called the restaruant and they don't charge rental fee, only the food that you eat. If I want to have the ceremony there, it will be $5 per person. The sit-down lunch is $27pp and buffet is $45pp. I am getting so frustrated.

Yes, I think your $16 per person cateter is probably the best deal in town. You'd be hardpressed to find a better price. You just need to settle on a good location. Like G said, get your wedding party together have everyone do some calling around town. Check out the community locations I suggested to you.

Well, it looks like my work is cut out for me this weekend. I have a few places that I still have to look at. I will work on some things to try to cut my costs down, like the number of guests. Wow, I always thought this should be a time to be happy about planning your wedding, but this is really turning into a nightmare. Thank you ladies for your help. I will keep you informed as my plans progress..

Tee, try to stay positive so that you can enjoy it. The process does not have to be a nightmare if you are realistic about what you can do and are creative in your planning. Coming to vibride is the first step in the right direction because many ladies here have been through it themselves and are chockful of ideas.

Also don't be scared to talk to the manager telling them their package deals "as advertised" are more than you are able to spend but you want to know what if any they may be able to  offer you within your budget.  Won't hurt to ask.

Well Ladies..My FH and I had a long talk today. We have decided to postpone the wedding for a few months until we can save up more money..He has never been married so he wants a Big wedding..Right now that is just not possible. I will make sure to keep in touch with everyone to tell you of my plans..Thank you soo much for all your helpful ideas and taking the time to try and help me..

Tee,
Planning your wedding doesn't have to be a nightmare.  You could have loads of fun planning your wedding as well.  By your words, I'm taking this to mean that this is not your first wedding, but it is your FH's.  Bring a new spin to the planning process.  You have a new man, think of it this way.  This will be the first time that you will be marrying your FH.  So, in a way it is kinda like your first wedding.
I would realistically make a year plan in order for both of you to be happy with the wedding and the planning process if money is an issue, as it is for all of us planning.  FH and I are on that year plan as well and we're paying for things as we go along, without damaging our regular family's budget because I don't believe in having a wedding today and be broke tomorrow.  I always caution my couples about that.  So, sister, take a deep breath, regroup, have that money talk because realistically, for a wedding of about 150 guests, you will have to get creative and join the DIY wagon, but it will cost you more than you originally thought.  I have a budget sheet that I use for my clients and would be more than happy to share it with you, so that you could create a new budget plan realistically and track your expenses as well.
There's never a rush to get married.  Enjoy the planning process and get your wedding party involved.  I hope that pushing back your wedding won't keep you from our sisterhood.  It just means that since the date is pushed back that you guys could breathe a little.  Hope to see you from time to time.

Hi Ginoue..That is a good way to look at it..I do see this as my "real" wedding..To be totally honest, I did exhale when we decided to push the date back..I have been running around stressed out trying to get things done..I guess this way, we can have the wedding that we really want..I pick up my dress today, so I guess it will just hang in the closet for a few months..I will visit from time to time and keep everyone informed..Thanks ladies

You're more than welcome!!!