We are in need of some assistance. We are wanting to get married on April 12th, 2008 and our WHOLE wedding budget is $6000.00. We have someone to do the floral arrangements and the centerpieces but does anybody know a reasonable priced venue for a wedding ceremony and reception in the Mesquite, TX area that includes some sort of food? Thanks in advance!
A wedding budget of $6000? Help me!?
Hi and congratulations on your upcoming wedding!
Yes, I really think your budget is "doable". You can get everything you want....it just may be a little different than the "traditional" wedding.
~ Two BIG ways to save is to have a SMALL wedding; say 75-100 guests MAX! The second way is to have a SMALL wedding party....just a maid of honor and best man, maybe a flower girl if you really want.
~ There are so many ways to save -- you just need to decide what is important and what you can cut. Everything from your gown to the photographer can come in cheaper if you look around and go "outside the box."
The biggest portion of a wedding budget is the reception so that is the biggest area where savings can add up! Cost compare everything! Everything is dependent on location, location, location! Personally, I do not know of any places in your city. But....look around! You will not be able to afford the "best" venue. But you can look at VFW Halls, Knights of Columbus Halls, cheaper hotels like Holiday Inn or Best Western. The hotels will be able to provide food. The other places should have kitchen facilities where you can bring in your own or have it catered.
~ Another big way to save on your reception would be to have it outside at a park or in someone's backyard.
~ Do you belong to a church? That is another option. Most churches have Fellowship Halls you can use.
Sit down with your fiance and add up the cost of a hall rental, buffet dinner, etc. and compare that to a church hall reception, backyard reception, etc. Sometimes the "outside" thing isn't feasible because you need to rent chairs, tables, tents, bring in plates, cups, silverware, etc. Again, compare. It may be cheaper for you to go to a hall.
~ Other options are to not do the "traditional" dinner thing. Why not have a MORNING wedding with a brunch reception? This would be a HUGE savings and would be very different and unique. OR....have a late morning wedding and a lunch reception. Again, the savings could really add up.
~ Your dress: Look at places like David's Bridal, JCPenney, etc.
~ Your wedding party - keep it small. This is a big savings...not only in terms of "stress", but in terms of attendants gifts, extras at the rehersal dinner, etc. It ALL adds up!
~ Invitations: Buy the "boxed sets" from stores like Michael's, Target, and Walmart. These sell for around $25 and there are 50 in a box.
~ Flowers and centerpieces you said are covered.
~ Cake - a waste!!!! Have a small cake for you and your hubby to cut and then have cupcakes! OR, get a cake from a grocery store bakery NOT a regular bakery. This can be a substantial cost savings!
~ Photographer: Do NOT scrimp on a photographer!
~ Favors - I urge every bride to NOT do favors. No one notices or cares. This is a HUGE waste. If you really think you need something....go with a few Hershey Kisses in a mesh bag.
~ Don't waste money on "table cameras" either! These are usually not used very much, and if they are, people only take silly pictures.
There are endless ways to save. Go on other websites to see what other brides have done! Here is a good site:
www.frugalbride.com
Good luck!
Reply:Parks are usually cheap to rent. Maybe you could have everyone bring a dish to pass at the wedding. Or you could make a list of the food you need and have friends and relatives sign up for what they will bring. Like if you need 5 Roasts five different people could bring a roast.
Reply:Venues may offer catering, but it's normally expensive.
Some reasonably prices venues that are on your budget are VFW halls, community halls, church felowship halls.
Local parks and gardens are alaso a great choice for you since you are in TX, an outdoor spring or fall wedding would be great and economical.
To cut costs, cut back on your guest list. WAY back. A small intimate wedding is affordable on all budgets. Keep it at 50-75 guests at the most.
Have a brunch, hors d'ouvres or cocktail reception to avoid full meal expenses. You must have yoru reception mid-morning, mid-afetrnoon or late at night so people will not expect a full meal. Light appetizes and finger food would do for such type of receptions.
Dessert reception or cake and reception is also a good choice,
Good luck and congrats
Reply:Im a wedding planner, email me I can help you, its not the how much(or how little) you spend, but how it looks
Reply:pril is a lovely time of the year...you can have a tent set up in the yard and cater the food or you can rent out a restaurant for after the church. if you keep the dinner guest to immediate family then you should be OK
Reply:We're having a small wedding and looking at a fire hall or a hotel for the reception area. Consider talking to your family about helping with wedding costs as a wedding gift. My fiance and I are having a very small reception and our budget is about the size of yours, a little smaller. We have a lot of family that can help us though, someone who makes cakes, someone to make the gown, someone who is a photographer, someone we know who caters... it's very helpful.
Reply:$6000 is a lot of money and if spent wisely can give you the most wonderful wedding day to remember.
Weddings don't need to be about how much you spend but how much you enjoy your special day. Afterall, this is the start of your wonderful new life together - why start it with a stressed out overpriced wedding day.
We have created a STRESS FREE wedding guide that includes heaps of HOT TIPS for saving money on your wedding day.
Enjoy your day above all else.
Reply:Honey, $6000 may sound like a lot, but really when it comes to a wedding its not. It can be done with $6000. But honestly your wedding day goes by so fast and so much money gets spent on that day. Just to a bark yard wedding, get a white tent pretty flowers stuff like that. You can make it look beautiful you just have to be creative. And do a big BBQ. You will spend so much money of food if you do it any other way. My wedding was $80 a plate. With over 150 guests it really adds up. I wish I would have done it smaller. But whatever you do spare no cost on your photographer. When its all done and over with the pictures are the only things you have to look back on. So you want your pictures to. be amazing. I had a friend who splurged on the flowers, the dress, the cake, food, linens, etc.... And didn't think much to research a good photographer. And her pictures are awful. She cant take that back. When her and her hubby go back to reminisce on their wedding they only have these dreadful pictures to look back on. So just make that your #1 right now. And all that really matters is that you are marrying the man of your dreams. Cuz trust me on your wedding day that is all that you will see (your hubby) everything else around you will be a blur.
Reply:Do you know any one with a large beutiful back yard or garden? I'd try to find something like that that you can do for free. Then you'll have more money for food.
I see alot of people using disposable cameras and the wedding guests for the pics.
Reply:congrats! i dont live near you, but as far as food goes, some little sneaky pointers ive picked up:
-buffet is much cheaper than sit down or family style dinner
-a square or rectangular cake will serve more guests for the same number of layers
-honest to god, you can have styrofoam iced for some of the layers of your cake, and slice a sheet cake in the kitchen. its ecominal, tasty, and your guests will never know the difference
- for the love, serve the top tier of the cake, i garauntee you wont want to eat it a year later
- examine the drink prefernces of your guests. an open bar is much cheaper if you serve pop, water, beer, and wine, exclusively. you can add a signature drink if you know youll need a martini!
- many venues offer reduced pricing for sunday or friday events
Reply:Easy, just get a homemade cake, a good friend with a good camera, rent your outfits, and much other things. Try checking out the site I attached. Good Luck with your wedding! :]
Reply:Honey, just to let you know, our budget was under $4, 000.00 and it's going to be BEAUTIFUL.
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