NON Traditional Wedding Reception

I am having the traditional wedding but I have some ideas for you. You could just find somewhere to rent out that`s cheap... We have things like a pavilion in the park which is cheap and the American Legion if you can find a member... And just make food yourselves. It would be perfect to do something like a cookout in the summer because then you can put up volleyball nets and stuff. Just get a few barrels, grill out or make some sloppy joes and put someone in charge of being a DJ. I`m sure you can find places around you that are cheap to rent out, especially in parks. I think that would be the cheapest way to go about things. Good luck!!

We are doing the exact same thing. I came to the web-site for ideas. We are getting married at the beach in our beach house and having a party a few months later at a friend of the families restaraunt on the beach. Very Non-traditional but exactly what we wanted to do. I am not sure how to do the invitations, because it is only for the reception/party....
Good Luck!

Congrats! I`m also getting married and I feel the same way as you do,we have a big family as well and I really don`t care much about the hooplah.....One of the things we wlll be doing at our reception is have karoke there will be nothing but love songs~

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I had a normal wedding but not that elaborate. I had a church ceremony (with just my immediate relatives) but instead of a big reception we had a pig roast.....very inexpensive compared to sit down dinners!!!! once the ceremony was done my guests (the rest of our friends and family) were to go to the reception and start eating without us while we finished our pictures. It was considered open house style. If people had to leave early it was okay. It worked SO well i would do it in againin a heart beat. My whole reception cost around $1500. For almost 200 people. It was buffet style and that made it very casual. I would recommend it to anyone. We did the pig ourselves and it was great. If you need help with that let me know. I would love to help.

That`s pretty much exactly what we had in mind, our only problem, is where in the heck do we fit 200+ people, and what kind of entertainment do we give them. We thought about hiring a DJ at least, and possible catering, nothing fancy. We know people in the food industry that would give us a break on the price. My big concerns are a place, and entertainment. I would think though if you give people food and drinks, and just get them together, then they make their own entertainment. I just don`t want anyone to be bored

I guess where you hold the reception depends alot on the time of year you are getting married. I am planning on getting married in April, in Ohio. The weather is very unpredicatable this time of year! We are renting an inclosed, heated pavillon at a really nice park near the church.
We are doing a 1958 theme wedding so we are asking our guests to come dressed in 1958 attire, and dressing as a celebrity of the period is welcome. My brother - in- law, who has a great sense of humor and isn`t shy, is dressing as Ed Sullivan and will be hosting "a really big show", we are having my bf`s cousin`s band, perform and dress as musicians of the period, at the moment we know Elvis will be there and probably Buddy Holly. If something happens and the band can`t make it, we will have a mix of karoke and just regular cds played. We are sticking to songs that were hot in 1958 or before. Our focus is on fun.
Oh food wise - we are doing our own, no caterer. We are cooking some big items and asking the wedding party to bring the sides. And we are renting the platform for the band and the dance floor from a party rental store.

At my reception i didn`t have a DJ. Therefore i was able to have my reception in our church. It was also an open house style reception...people could come and go as they pleased. It was great. I had so many people come and compliment me on the way it was set up. It didn`t take up their whole day as opposed to a normal reception. We did the pig ourselves (which is easy....let me know if you want to know how.) a lot of churches have rooms to rent as long as you don`t have alcohol or a DJ. If you need those things then i suggest you checking in to your local catholic churches....some of them have rooms to rent and are usually only a few hundred dollars. They usually let you bring your own food in too. You might also check into your local parks...some of them have enclosed shelters available. If you need any help please feel free to ask.....lep0201@aol.com. Good luck