5 Useful Ideas For An Inexpensive Wedding Reception
It is always the goal to have fun after the wedding ceremony and throw a great wedding reception party, but without breaking the bank. A wedding reception is an investment just as is the wedding ceremony, but starting off on the right foot financially when walking into the life of marriage is extremely important.
Find a Wedding Reception Location that is Inexpensive
The first place most brides tip the budget scales is when booking a wedding reception venue. Look for alternative locations for hosting your wedding reception when beginning your search. Hotels, ballrooms, and large restaurant venues are often beautiful and sparkly, but they can break your budget before you get to the catering! Try planning your reception at a park or local outdoor attraction area that your city is known for. See if friends and family have a large yard or space to hold your reception. Most churches have halls and large rooms useful for having a reception. Find a wedding reception location that is interesting and inexpensive.
Cook It Yourself (Or With Help!)
When wedding guests come to the wedding reception, the first thing on their minds is usually food! Think about what kinds of food you want to serve at your reception and see if these choices are possible without using a wedding caterer. Although wedding caterers create amazing and scrumptious dishes, the price per plate can be more than a dinner at a fancy restaurant. Ask friends and family if they would help out and cook for the reception in advance. See if the venue you are hosting your wedding reception at offers a discounted party menu that might work to serve your wedding party. Suggest the idea of having a potluck wedding reception. This sounds against the norm, but try having guests bring a favorite dish to the wedding to serve at the reception. Of course, serve it buffet style and tell everyone to eat up!
Narrow Down Your Wedding Reception Guest List
It is never easy deciding who is important and who is not because in all reality, everyone is important, right? However, when it comes to your wedding reception, the number of people you invite strictly influences how much money you will commit to spending. Narrow down your guest list to 100 people or less and you won't need a large wedding reception venue space or nearly as much food to feed the crowd.
Save Money On Your Wedding Reception By Limiting The Bar
Many couples feel that having an alcoholic bar at their wedding reception is important for that social interaction dynamic, but remember that it does greatly influence your budget. One option is to cut out the alcohol all together from your wedding reception. However, if you truly wish to have a bar included, try limiting it to only serving after dinner is over. Narrow down your personal alcoholic beverage choices to just a few that you both really like. Limit the choices down to what you and your fianc enjoy and give the guests few, but still some, options.
Make Your Own Wedding Reception Playlist
Though they can often be the life of the party, professional DJs can break your wedding reception budget bank. As an alternative, write down all the songs close to your and your fianc. Choose songs you and your wedding party all know by heart. Make a personalized playlist yourself that shows what is important to you. Have a friend or family member be in charge of the iPod or CD player, plug in some speakers, and start dancing the reception away!
Find a Wedding Reception Location that is Inexpensive
The first place most brides tip the budget scales is when booking a wedding reception venue. Look for alternative locations for hosting your wedding reception when beginning your search. Hotels, ballrooms, and large restaurant venues are often beautiful and sparkly, but they can break your budget before you get to the catering! Try planning your reception at a park or local outdoor attraction area that your city is known for. See if friends and family have a large yard or space to hold your reception. Most churches have halls and large rooms useful for having a reception. Find a wedding reception location that is interesting and inexpensive.
Cook It Yourself (Or With Help!)
When wedding guests come to the wedding reception, the first thing on their minds is usually food! Think about what kinds of food you want to serve at your reception and see if these choices are possible without using a wedding caterer. Although wedding caterers create amazing and scrumptious dishes, the price per plate can be more than a dinner at a fancy restaurant. Ask friends and family if they would help out and cook for the reception in advance. See if the venue you are hosting your wedding reception at offers a discounted party menu that might work to serve your wedding party. Suggest the idea of having a potluck wedding reception. This sounds against the norm, but try having guests bring a favorite dish to the wedding to serve at the reception. Of course, serve it buffet style and tell everyone to eat up!
Narrow Down Your Wedding Reception Guest List
It is never easy deciding who is important and who is not because in all reality, everyone is important, right? However, when it comes to your wedding reception, the number of people you invite strictly influences how much money you will commit to spending. Narrow down your guest list to 100 people or less and you won't need a large wedding reception venue space or nearly as much food to feed the crowd.
Save Money On Your Wedding Reception By Limiting The Bar
Many couples feel that having an alcoholic bar at their wedding reception is important for that social interaction dynamic, but remember that it does greatly influence your budget. One option is to cut out the alcohol all together from your wedding reception. However, if you truly wish to have a bar included, try limiting it to only serving after dinner is over. Narrow down your personal alcoholic beverage choices to just a few that you both really like. Limit the choices down to what you and your fianc enjoy and give the guests few, but still some, options.
Make Your Own Wedding Reception Playlist
Though they can often be the life of the party, professional DJs can break your wedding reception budget bank. As an alternative, write down all the songs close to your and your fianc. Choose songs you and your wedding party all know by heart. Make a personalized playlist yourself that shows what is important to you. Have a friend or family member be in charge of the iPod or CD player, plug in some speakers, and start dancing the reception away!
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