The Cheaper The Better Wedding Reception

There are many ways to save...there is a great book out there that can help you that I can`t mention the name because they will think I`m a vendor. Basically, check out restaurants who have banquet facilities. Have the reception on an off-night (Fri night, Sat afternoon or Sunday afternoon). Check around with catering companies but is there a culinary school near you? There are so many ways to save money on your reception. One other I can think of is that you aren`t supposed to tell them it`s a wedding reception, but a family reunion, etc. There`s nothing they can do once you sign a contract. I personally wouldn`t feel very honest doing that. We`re having our wedding at Noon on a Saturday with a luncheon following at a fine dining restaurant that doesn`t open it`s doors for business until 5. The hotel ballroom, which we originally wanted, costs over twice as much! We`ll still have a classic elegant reception for a fraction of the price. And the bar tab (most of our friends are bartenders) will be minimal because people don`t drink as much during the day and some of them will have to work that night. Remember to network...since I`m in the service industry I know a lot of vendors (Limo, DJ, Wedding Cake, etc.). Talk to your friends and see who they know. Hope that helps.

Might be hard to do if you have your heart set on Valentines day. If you are willing to go with January or March you can probably get better deals. Just a suggestion.

I am having my wedding on Valentine`s Day 2004....Considering it is a holiday my day is running pretty inexpensive.....I say about 6000.00....There is only two things that I was not able to get....1 is real flowers....I had to get silk flowers because it is a blackout day for the florist...2...a limo....I just need someone for about an hour just to go from my mom`s house to where I am getting married....I am having the ceremony and reception in the same place....I think otherwise I did pretty good....

Have you tried any community club houses? So many communities have their own pool area or club house area and will rent it out cheap. Most of them have a kitchen area too. My area has one which rents out for $75 to communtie members and $150 for non-communitie member and this includes use of the kitchen if you agree to clean up.
Also alot of the churches that are not so"popular " anymore and don`t have much of a congregation are happy to rent out space cheaply. One church near me that has a very small congregation rented out the place to a friend of mine for $50 including kitchen use as long as she cleaned up real good. They told her 4100 if she wanted the maintanence man to clean up everything if she just threw the food trash in the trash cans.

HAHAHAH I meant to type $100 not 4100

Ladies
Thank you so much! You are all so helpful. I`m so thrilled to have stumbled upon this site.
I ran right out to a country club house and did what yall suggested... I think I may have found a place where I grew up for $1000.00 can you believe this?

I keep you all posted and please keep the suggestions coming on anything you can think of to save us some dollhairs...

You ladies rule!

Brendan