Savings:  Coupons Refunding Bargains Freebies
Grocery:  Grocery Deals Albertsons  Food Lion Harris Teeter Kroger
  Publix Safeway Shaws Shoprite Stop & Shop Winn-Dixie
Local Stores:  Local Deals Wal-mart  Target Kmart CVS Rite Aid Walgreens
Baby:  Pregnancy Parenting Coupons Exchange
Trade:  Gift Cards Rewards Stockpiles Swaps
Community:  Challenges Crafts &
Scrapbooking
Feedback Frugal Living Humor Recipes General Chat

 "Any wedding or reception ideas???"

General Chat Message
 
"Any wedding or reception ideas???"
Posted by shelly on Feb-08-08 at 01:50 PM (Eastern)
Posted on Feb-08-08 at 01:50 PM (Eastern) by 71.0.13.63

Hey everyone, Happy Friday!!

I'm having trouble coming up with something to make our wedding "special", with little to no money!?!

We are thinking of having the city clerk perform the ceremony...in fact, we have her reserved for the date. But, it seems so impersonal. We'd thought perhaps we would like to have a few people for cake, or something----but our home is TINY. We have NO seating (even if we were to rent some chairs!), a large dog that gets in the way, AND basically no room for anyone ANYWHERE, including standing room only in the kitchen.

Hosting in a restaurant (or similar venue) private room sounded like a possibility---until I started researching a bit today. I'm not even sure we'd be allowed to bring our own cake in to serve? I've been looking into Walmart (wedding) cakes---I think they can do something 2 tiers or even smaller for me, special order. I thought if we were to end up going this route, we'd likely have about 10-13 people, possibly including our 3) children. Basically just Ron's siblings and their spouses. I also think if we do this type "reception", so-to-speak, we need to provide *some* food---even if it's appetizers and drinks, then the cake. However, I don't know how to keep costs down this way.

What are all your thoughts?? It would be wonderful if someone would offer to host this for us----all of his family have nice, big, elaborate homes that are perfect for parties---but we obviously are not going to come out and ask!!

I'm all ears....post your ideas, please!!!
Shelly

shelly joined before 2001
1897 posts
[Search for feedback]
[Edit] [Send email to shelly] [Profile]
[Reply] [Reply with quote] [Top]

 Table of Contents
Messages in this discussion
 
1 . "Idea...."
Posted by soccer_mom on Feb-08-08 at 02:01 PM (Eastern)
Last edited on Feb-08-08 at 02:29 PM (Eastern) by 12.149.50.2

Posted on Feb-08-08 at 02:01 PM (Eastern) by 12.149.50.2

Once of the nicest weddings I ever attended was performed in the couples very small apartment. They invited just 5 or so guests and had a minister (it wasn't even their religion) come to their house to perform the ceremony. I though what he said was beautiful. Anyway, after that they rented a couple tables at a very nice restaurant that had music entertainment. We had two large tables that sat about 8 people each. The restaurant sat us in a special corner and the couple had chosen the menu ahead of time. We were served and other guests were nearby but still we felt set off. We had a really nice meal with appetizer, dinner, and dessert. I don't know why but I always thought this wedding was nicer than all the huge weddings I attended. I think because it seemed more personal.

soccer_mom joined in 2005
2543 posts
[Search for feedback]
[Remove] [Edit] [Send email to soccer_mom] [Profile]
[Reply] [Reply with quote] [Top]
 
2 . "I dont remember the date of your special day.............."
Posted by cldt67 on Feb-08-08 at 02:23 PM (Eastern)
Posted on Feb-08-08 at 02:23 PM (Eastern) by 24.239.243.152

but will the weather be warm enough to hold something outside?

Congrats again! Cindy

cldt67 joined in 3/2006
994 posts
[Search for feedback]
[Remove] [Edit] [Send email to cldt67]
[Reply] [Reply with quote] [Top]
 
3 . "Mar. 21st....too cold outside..."
Posted by shelly on Feb-08-08 at 02:35 PM (Eastern)
Posted on Feb-08-08 at 02:35 PM (Eastern) by 71.0.13.63

....I'm really having trouble with this!! I know my fiance doesn't want anything "fancy", meaning expensive...lol....but *I* want it to be special, somehow?!

I've been looking at restaurants....they are all 30+ min's. away, and I don't know how we can afford meals for 10 people or so~~they average $20 a person. I'd love to have some live music in the background---but that seems out of the budget, unless I can find a restaurant that has live entertainment.

..getting frustrated.
Shelly

shelly joined before 2001
1897 posts
[Search for feedback]
[Remove] [Edit] [Send email to shelly] [Profile]
[Reply] [Reply with quote] [Top]
 
4 . "Our ponderosa has a back room that is free to use and and they have the food for about $13 a person. check into a resturant like this maybe"
Posted by coltura68 on Feb-08-08 at 02:57 PM (Eastern)
Posted on Feb-08-08 at 02:57 PM (Eastern) by 72.65.224.116


Mom 2 Nathan and Keirsten and lovin it

Auction link http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZmrscoltura68QQhtZ-1

coltura68 joined in 2001
3110 posts
[Search for feedback]
[Remove] [Edit] [Send email to coltura68] [Profile]
[Reply] [Reply with quote] [Top]
 
5 . "shelly, does your town have a nice motel with pool?"
Posted by turdra on Feb-08-08 at 02:59 PM (Eastern)
Posted on Feb-08-08 at 02:59 PM (Eastern) by 69.42.250.191

just an idea here..........for christmas, my mom's inlaws sometimes rent a private meeting room off the pool area at the local motel. i think it costs $60 for the afternoon, does NOT include pool use, just the private meeting room. has tables, outlets, sink. you could decorate it and make your own foods (crockpot beans, sandwiches, fruit salad, cake, punch, etc) and have a little reception there. or also, in my town, the area motel rents out the pool area, and many people have pool parties there. usually this is kid's bday parties, but i have also seen a superbowl party there and once a co-ed bridal shower. don't know so much if you want to swim at your wedding reception, but just a thought.

Please leave feedback if we've traded, thanks!
http://www.refundsweepers.com/dcforum/feedback/774.html

turdra joined in 2005
626 posts
[Search for feedback]
[Remove] [Edit] [Send email to turdra] [Profile]
[Reply] [Reply with quote] [Top]
 
6 . "What about..."
Posted by hudge4 on Feb-08-08 at 03:03 PM (Eastern)
Posted on Feb-08-08 at 03:03 PM (Eastern) by 67.150.142.100

Some apartment complexes offer small to medium size rec rooms to their residents. Do you know someone who lives at a complex with one? We have a friend that does and they only have to put down $150 for the room (4 hours) and if its clean a picked up after the party they get $50 returned. They just rent it under their name. We had a kids party like that once and the place was beautiful.

Having a reception at a resturant is somewhat expensive, but do you think it would be any cheaper to rent a room and provide food and drink that way? At least with the resturant, you get the room, service is provided, dinnerware, ambiance, music. Even at $20 a meal, for 10 people, that might be the cheapest way to go. And I'm sure you could bring in your own cake. FoodsCo does AWESOME cakes if you have one near you. Also if you look at the menu before and choose the entrees you want to be available ahead of time, you could keep the cost down.

Are you close with any of the family? Maybe someone will ask you what you *need* and you could suggest *a reception*!

~~Feedback link~~

http://www.refundsweepers.com/dcforum/feedback/1021.html

hudge4 joined before 2001
1030 posts
[Search for feedback]
[Remove] [Edit] [Send email to hudge4] [Profile]
[Reply] [Reply with quote] [Top]
 
7 . "I kinda like that idea, Hudge..."
Posted by shelly on Feb-08-08 at 03:21 PM (Eastern)
Posted on Feb-08-08 at 03:21 PM (Eastern) by 71.0.13.63

...perhaps choosing a more *reasonably priced* restaurant to begin with, then selecting certain main courses ahead of time! That seems better than allowing everyone to order straight off the menu---if they all order $20+ steak, we cannot afford it.

I had heard that restaurants do not allow you to bring your own cake in? I guess I'll run some of this by my fiance this weekend, and get a feel for whether or not he wants to have a small intimate get-together of this sort.

We are in a VERY small town--so there are only 2) hotels here, and they are budget-type..ick!

I just don't want to hold the ceremony at this house---it's an older house, and seriously, we can't even GET 5-6 people + a minister in our living rm. It's embarrassing---the condition of my fiance's furniture (all post-divorce--my stuff's in my unsold house, 4 hrs. away!), the dog, etc. NOT a cute setting by any stretch!

Keep the ideas coming....I need all the help I can get. I know if I tell my fiance that we can do dinner for 10 people for $200+, he's likely to have a cow. He'll say we cannot afford it----we DO want to spend a little money on our (belated) honeymoon in July. We're only taking a couple days (maybe 4) and going to Chicago, as it's within driving distance, and I've never been. No kids---perfect timing!!

Shelly

shelly joined before 2001
1897 posts
[Search for feedback]
[Remove] [Edit] [Send email to shelly] [Profile]
[Reply] [Reply with quote] [Top]
 
8 . "I can see alcohol alone...would be...."
Posted by shelly on Feb-08-08 at 03:35 PM (Eastern)
Posted on Feb-08-08 at 03:35 PM (Eastern) by 71.0.13.63

...a considerable cost, given the way his family likes to "party"!! LOL!! I don't know how to accomodate that, at a *reasonable* cost, in our gathering?? How do you limit how much alcohol is ordered when @ in a restaurant setting??

Shelly

shelly joined before 2001
1897 posts
[Search for feedback]
[Remove] [Edit] [Send email to shelly] [Profile]
[Reply] [Reply with quote] [Top]
 
11 . ""Cash Bar " lol lol"
Posted by teener on Feb-08-08 at 06:13 PM (Eastern)
Posted on Feb-08-08 at 06:13 PM (Eastern) by 74.236.236.38

>Posted on Feb-08-08 at 03:35 PM (Eastern)
>by 71.0.13.63...a considerable cost, given the
>way his family likes to "party"!!
> LOL!! I don't know
>how to accomodate that, at a
>*reasonable* cost, in our gathering??
>How do you limit how much
>alcohol is ordered when @ in
>a restaurant setting??
> Shelly


teener joined before 2001
13543 posts
[Search for feedback]
[Remove] [Edit] [Send email to teener] [Profile]
[Reply] [Reply with quote] [Top]
 
9 . "why wouldn't you ask?"
Posted by KellyJef on Feb-08-08 at 04:00 PM (Eastern)
Posted on Feb-08-08 at 04:00 PM (Eastern) by 64.12.116.68

It
>would be wonderful if someone would
>offer to host this for us----all
>of his family have nice, big,
>elaborate homes that are perfect for
>parties---but we obviously are not going
>to come out and ask!!

I don't understand why you would hesitate to ask one of his siblings to allow you to have a small reception in their home? I would think (hope) that your fiance's family is close enough to make such a simple request. Most people would be flattered that you think their house is lovely enough to host a small wedding party :)

I know when I was asked to host a baby shower in my house instead of a restaurant, I was delighted to do it and did, indeed, feel very good that people thought my home was "nice enough" to hold such a special event.

KellyJef joined in 2002
2260 posts
[Search for feedback]
[Remove] [Edit] [Send email to KellyJef] [Profile]
[Reply] [Reply with quote] [Top]
 
15 . "Oh, we are all close...."
Posted by shelly on Feb-09-08 at 02:01 PM (Eastern)
Posted on Feb-09-08 at 02:01 PM (Eastern) by 71.0.13.63

..I just had the feeling it was tacky to actually come out and ask. I had a friend get married several yrs. ago, and we held the wedding in our back yard----however, SHE didn't ask me; I offered.
So far we are planning on a celebration at a restaurant.

Shelly

shelly joined before 2001
1897 posts
[Search for feedback]
[Remove] [Edit] [Send email to shelly] [Profile]
[Reply] [Reply with quote] [Top]
 
10 . "Shelly~*~"
Posted by RebekkaVA on Feb-08-08 at 05:15 PM (Eastern)
Posted on Feb-08-08 at 05:15 PM (Eastern) by 71.223.144.219

Hey girlie,
Is your fiance a veteran or anyone in his family a veteran? Usually you can get the hall at the VFW for a reasonable price. I think they have a kitchen too and you may be able to do your own foods etc. Also they sell alcohol, so if you wanted to limit the price on that, you could say the first two drinks or whatever are free and anything else after that, they would have to pay for themselves. Or you could just bring the champagne or wine and then say if anyone wants hard liquor or beer, they would have to pay for their own drinks. Also you can check into your local churches, some of them will let you use their kitchen and rec room if you make a small donation and clean up everything yourself. Good luck girlie. I'm so happy for you. Hugs, Rebekka

~*~REBEKKA~*~
a.k.a. "Queen Vulture"
Married to my Soul Mate William
"My husband has cancer, Please pray for him"
Mommy to:
Timothy 5/80
Matthew 10/92
Cheyenne 9/99
*EMAIL*: queen_vulture@msn.com

RebekkaVA joined in 2005
4022 posts
[Search for feedback]
[Remove] [Edit] [Send email to RebekkaVA] [Profile]
[Reply] [Reply with quote] [Top]
 
12 . "I do the party co-ordinating in our restaurant, there are lots of ways"
Posted by Mackiesmudder on Feb-08-08 at 11:24 PM (Eastern)
Posted on Feb-08-08 at 11:24 PM (Eastern) by 64.12.116.68

to fix a party in an inexpensive way. If I know a party wants to spend a certain amount per person, that helps me a lot to help them. I know then which way to go. We have a certain section of our menu called "Classics" (Italian restaurant) These entrees are all $12.95 and come with a salad, we offer either caesar or mixed salad. I ask the ones who are hosting the party to choose a few of them, eg. Lasgana, eggplant parmesan, baked ravioli, baked penne. We actually print up the menu for them (at no charge). My boss does a great job with this. He puts on the top something like Welcome to Shelly and Fiance's wedding, the date, lists the 5 choices (no prices)lists the salads and the choices, etc. No one knows how much it costs, no one sees another menu. For alcohol, if you want to serve it and keep it down, we will do carafes of wine or pitchers of beer. You pay only for what you consume. We are not "pushers" of alcohol though it makes the check go up, we have to make sure it is served and consumed responsibly. As for the cake, we don't love it when guests bring their own cake, we don't make any money then but we have secured the party and made them happy so that is worth it to us. Some places will charge you a "plating" charge, usually $1 per person, we don't.
If the group is larger, we do have package plans that are budget conscious but still very, very nice. I'm sure that if you sit down with the manager of a restaurant they will be more than happy to help you. Believe me, right now a lot of restaurants are itching to get your business, they can throw in maybe free coffee or soft drinks. I know I can if i think it will make a difference in getting the party or not. We put an 18% gratuity on all parties 8 people or over. If you need any help, I'd be happy to help you. Good luck!
Cathie

Mackiesmudder joined in 2003
3144 posts
[Search for feedback]
[Remove] [Edit] [Send email to Mackiesmudder] [Profile]
[Reply] [Reply with quote] [Top]
 
13 . "I wanna party where Cathie works lol lol"
Posted by teener on Feb-09-08 at 10:02 AM (Eastern)
Posted on Feb-09-08 at 10:02 AM (Eastern) by 74.236.236.38

>Posted on Feb-08-08 at 11:24 PM (Eastern)
>by 64.12.116.68to fix a party in
>an inexpensive way. If I
>know a party wants to spend
>a certain amount per person, that
>helps me a lot to help
>them. I know then which
>way to go. We have
>a certain section of our menu
>called "Classics" (Italian restaurant)
>These entrees are all $12.95 and
>come with a salad, we offer
>either caesar or mixed salad.
>I ask the ones who are
>hosting the party to choose a
>few of them, eg. Lasgana, eggplant
>parmesan, baked ravioli, baked penne.
>We actually print up the menu
>for them (at no charge).
>My boss does a great job
>with this. He puts on
>the top something like Welcome to
>Shelly and Fiance's wedding, the date,
>lists the 5 choices (no prices)lists
>the salads and the choices, etc.
> No one knows how much
>it costs, no one sees another
>menu. For alcohol, if you
>want to serve it and keep
>it down, we will do carafes
>of wine or pitchers of beer.
> You pay only for what
>you consume. We are not
>"pushers" of alcohol though it makes
>the check go up, we have
>to make sure it is served
>and consumed responsibly. As for
>the cake, we don't love it
>when guests bring their own cake,
>we don't make any money then
>but we have secured the party
>and made them happy so that
>is worth it to us.
>Some places will charge you a
>"plating" charge, usually $1 per person,
>we don't. If the
>group is larger, we do have
>package plans that are budget conscious
>but still very, very nice.
>I'm sure that if you sit
>down with the manager of a
>restaurant they will be more than
>happy to help you. Believe
>me, right now a lot of
>restaurants are itching to get your
>business, they can throw in maybe
>free coffee or soft drinks.
>I know I can if i
>think it will make a difference
>in getting the party or not.
> We put an 18% gratuity
>on all parties 8 people or
>over. If you need any
>help, I'd be happy to help
>you. Good luck! Cathie


teener joined before 2001
13543 posts
[Search for feedback]
[Remove] [Edit] [Send email to teener] [Profile]
[Reply] [Reply with quote] [Top]
 
16 . "Cathie!! Excellent tips!! "
Posted by shelly on Feb-09-08 at 02:09 PM (Eastern)
Posted on Feb-09-08 at 02:09 PM (Eastern) by 71.0.13.63

Thank you so much----some of that stuff, I kinda knew, but some I wasn't aware of. I printed your response off, and will be contacting the Olive Garden (one of our choices) to see if they can put something along these lines together for us!!

Thanks everyone...my fiance actually came home on Friday and said he'd been thinking a restaurant would be a good option, vs. OUR house. I just thought it was cute, that he'd even been thinking about the reception, etc. He's a GUY---and he also is very spontaneous, so I assumed he'd start thinking about a wk. beforehand...lol

Shelly

shelly joined before 2001
1897 posts
[Search for feedback]
[Remove] [Edit] [Send email to shelly] [Profile]
[Reply] [Reply with quote] [Top]
 
14 . "If his family does not know you are wanting to have a reception....."
Posted by Quietwaters on Feb-09-08 at 01:55 PM (Eastern)
Posted on Feb-09-08 at 01:55 PM (Eastern) by 64.136.27.226

then they might not think to ask about it, I don't think it would be rude to ask family if you could use their home, just let them know you plan to pay for everything.

My mom had a reception for my brother in her apartment, it was more of a open house, and she made all the food, and I did the cake. It was a tight squeeze with people coming and going but was so much fun and cost hardly anything.

Have to tell you, my wedding cost 65.00, ( the best deal I have ever gotten,) including the cost of my wedding band, that has never been off of my hand for 25 years. I would not trade that day for the world. The special part comes with what you and your spouse bring to the day. No amount of money spent can make it any more special than what you feel for each other.





*~~*Love*~~*Peace*~~*Joy*~~*Kindness*~~*Goodness*~~*Faithfulness*~~*Gentleness*~~*SelfControl*~~*

********************************

************


Quietwaters joined in 2001
2365 posts
[Search for feedback]
[Remove] [Edit] [Send email to Quietwaters] [Profile]
[Reply] [Reply with quote] [Top]
 
17 . "What about at a church? (more)"
Posted by cattlebaron1 on Feb-09-08 at 04:53 PM (Eastern)
Posted on Feb-09-08 at 04:53 PM (Eastern) by 64.136.26.225

We got the basement of one of the local churches for our reception some churches just ask for a donation. I know some churches don't let alcohol in them but that didn't matter to me because I don't drink at all lol! We got married on March 11 and it was fairly warm here in Ohio.

cattlebaron1 joined in 4/2006
1975 posts
[Search for feedback]
[Remove] [Edit] [Send email to cattlebaron1] [Profile]
[Reply] [Reply with quote] [Top]


Remove This Thread: Admin and Moderator Only
Click here to goto Click here to goto the Lobby