Wedding Help with finding a place where I can do my ceremony and reception at for cheap

[ladyphoenix032107]

I''am getting married on March.21,2010 and I''m trying to look for a place that I can do my ceremony and reception at the same place for cheap! Please help! I''m trying to keep my wedding under 3000$. Thank you! Also convenient to where I live which is Bronx, new york.

 

[ladyciel]

Hmmm, I'm not at ALL familiar with your area, but there are some questions you can answer so others who do know the area might be better able to help you.

1) How many guests do you want?
2) Do you have any preferences about the style/feel of the place?
3) Is the 3k your entire budget including dress, jewelry, officiant, etc, or is that the reception budget?
4) Are you thinking cocktails/light food or a full dinner? You'll have to balance your food/bar choices with the size of your guest list to be able to find a venue you like that fits your budget.

 

[ladyphoenix032107]

Well I want the maximum of people of 100 and I would like to be able to have a ceremony in a garden and move to the reception area. I have no preference concerning the reception area just as long as there is outside access and can hold 100 people. I want a place that can provide services like full dinner or buffet, parking available, dressing rooms and clean up service for afterwards. As for the price I would like it to be under 1000$.

 

[oobiecoo]

I''m not familiar with your area... but I think it would be a miracle to get EVERYTHING you listed for under $1000. You probably couldn''t get all of that for under $3000 for 100 guests. Maybe find a nice park or something to have the ceremony, and then have friends (or an incredibly inexpensive caterer) set up the food with nice plastic plates then have your family help clean up afterwards. Not sure where your guests would eat though. You''ll have to get pretty creative when considering food and locations.

Honestly... if I were you, I would use the majority of the budget for the reception location/food, etc and then have a smaller budget for a dress and flowers and whatnot.

Goodluck!

 

[VRBeauty]

If you''re thinking of hosting up to 100 guests for a total cost of $1000.... you may have to go back to the drawing board and revise your vision. I suspect it would be hard if not impossible to approach that cost with a catered event. Your best bet would be to find a park, church, or friend''s backyard and and get close friends and family to help you with a DYI reception -- Costco-based barbecue or hors d''oevers, for example. You might be able to pull it off if you can avoid having to rent tables, utensild and stuff.

I suspect the closest you could get to your budget without going DIY is an hors d''oevres reception. I hosted one for a retirement party several years ago, I think we paid about $15 per head (closer to $20 once tax and tip was thrown in). Since it was a retirement party, the guests expected to pay for their own drinks. We held it at a small "reception hall" run by a catering company.

Another option is to elope or have a very small, basically private wedding, and then host a reception or party of all the rest of the guests you would have invited to the wedding. You an your guests both will have lower expectations of a for an after-the-fact reception than for a wedding and reception, and it could be just as much fun.

BTW I''m not from your area -- the locals may know of some spectacular local bargains that would allow you to have the wedding you have in mind!

http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf40440302.tip.html#read_feedback

 

[VRBeauty]

I should add that I like your approach of planning your reception around your budget, rather than vice versa. And I do think a more casual reception could be just as much fun as a more elaborate one. However, March 2010 is still quite a ways away. If you could fit in some part-time work between now and then... really watch your pennies... have a garage sale or two.... I'm sure you could double or triple your reception budget to give yourself some wiggle room and a few more options.

 

[Lynnie]

It''s gonna be tough to have a wedding for 100 ppl under $3000, but I''d love to see you pull it off! Have you checked out local firehalls, VFW posts, etc? I am renting an American Legion hall for a halloween party, and they''re charging $300 for the 4-hour rental. If you go that route, maybe you could do buffet-style sandwiches, salads, and hor dorves (I hate that word - I know it''s spelled wrong!) to keep costs down. You will definitely need to enlist help from family and friends, like VRB said.
I don''t see why you couldn''t have the ceremony in the same room with the guests seated at their tables. We''re having an outdoor ceremony, and our back-up plan in case it rains is to exchange vows at the reception venue with the guests at their tables. I hope the weather cooperates, but it won''t be the end of the world if it doesnt.
I love that website VRB suggested. Crafty folks.

Best of luck!

 

[Diva0413]

That''s a tall order. I live in the Bronx too and have yet to come across any place in the NYC area that will host about 100 guests for 3K. Not that''s it''s impossible though. Are you looking to have your ceremony and reception in the same place? If so, most of the places automatically charge a 1000-1500 site fee for the ceremony portion. If you can, I would definitely try to have the ceremony in a church to avoid the high costs. As far as the reception goes, I don''t know what part of the Bronx you''re from, but there is a reception hall on Third Avenue (by the Cross Broonx Expressway). A friend of mine held a reception there a few years ago and they''re prices were very reasonable. If I drive by there today, I''ll get the name for you...

 

[Italiahaircolor]

You need to become a do it yourself bride really quick to pull off a wedding for 100 for only 3k.

It''s sad but true, there is a price hike when you talk about anything wedding related. It''s an emotional tax...

I would start driving around to see if there are any parks local to you that rent out space. This can often be done for a few hundred bucks. Sure, you have get permits and stuff...but it''s cost effective.

Next, start shopping sales. The key elements of a wedding can often be purchased at places that have little to nothing to do with weddings--like centerpieces, candles, and things like that...these places probably have great sales that you can take full advantage of if you''re a smart shopper.

Lastly, find a friend or family member to cook. Something simply like buffalo wings, mini grilled cheeses, and pork tenderlion sandwichs could make for a cute BBQ feel for the wedding too.

 

[neatfreak]

I think you might need to revise your meal plans. That''s going to be the biggest money suck and unfortunately there is no way you are going to be able to get a full buffet or sit down dinner for $10/pp, especially in NY. You might want to consider a brunch or hors d''oeuvre reception instead. Or cut the guest list...or have your friends and family cook the meal...etc.

 

[ladyphoenix032107]

Well me and my fiancee was talking and he told me of a place called the landmark in new jersey since he is from jersey. I want to have my options so just in case one place dont work out I have a back up. We decided on a 5000$ budget. As for the decorations I want to do it with lots of candles, roses and icicle lights on the ceiling. Food wise I have two options to cook the food or have it catered. My fiancee says its easier to have it catered, so it wont put too much stress on me. I know I got 1 year and 5 months but time goes quick. Any advice would b appreciated. And thank you to all who has responded so far, you girls are helping me in alot of ways!

 

[Diva0413]

I was browsing around and there''s a place called The Smithville Inn in Smithville, NJ. Look them up via Google. They might be a good choice for your budget.