Brides Helping Brides ™ - I need ideas

LovelyChas Posted: Jun 06, 2005 01:23 PM

I need ideas

I've been thinking and thinking and can't come up with a way to have a beautiful inexpensive wedding and reception. I know that most of you are having your reception at catering halls but I just can't afford it. My father is giving me 10,000 and that's all I want to use. I have looked at our list and we can't cut anymore people so we have 190 guests, 130 being family alone. We have a mortgage, bills and there are things we want to do to our home that we rather spend our money on. I want an outdoor ceremony so that's ok since we can do it in a park for a donation and my Pastor will be marrying us but the reception and everything else adds up to too much. I'm ready to give up and my Fh rather not elope.

So please use your imagination and help me out....thanks in advance for everything!

JanuaryBride06 Posted: Jun 06, 2005 01:32 PM

Re: I need ideas

There are a few catering halls on Long Island that offer complete wedding packages for a great price. Ariana Waterfall (W. Hempstead), Mediterranean Manor (in Patchogue, I think) and Brentwood Country Club are a few. They'll take care of your flowers, pictures, limos, video and reception. Their prices should be on the websites.
Best of luck to you!

LFitzy79 Posted: Jun 06, 2005 01:34 PM

Re: I need ideas

I don't know how big your house is, but is there any chance of having the reception at your house? And then you could use the money to do some home improvements, and then some of the money on food/beverages for the wedding?
If not, maybe a relatives home?
If not.....perhaps one of the yatch receptions might be ok...I don't know the price range, but the reception takes place on a little cruise....
Have you looked into having it out of town....like Atlantic City, at one the hotels, thier prices are less expensive than reception halls around here, same thing with some places in Weschester......or CT
Or a Knights of Columbus hall, I don't know what the fee is, and then just the cost of food....
What about a town beach? You could look into that...one of the ones in Huntington...have it in the gazebo....
Just a few suggestions...I'm sure if you think about it calmly, you'll find the perfect place....

dita531 Posted: Jun 06, 2005 01:36 PM

Re: I need ideas

Reception halls are often less expensive in the off season October -March (i think). You should also look into having it on a Sunday which is also less expensive.

Bunnymonkey Posted: Jun 06, 2005 01:41 PM

Re: I need ideas

You can do this, I think best if you want a casual reception.

My girlfriend had a beautiful wedding in her backyard. Can you ask a friend or a family memeber with a big backyard and house to let you have it there?

You can have friends and family take pictures, or hire a student photographer.

You can play your own music from mix CD's.

You can have food be Gourment BBQ - there are many catering companies who can do a good BBQ for 30 dollars per head. Clambakes are 50.

You can have daisies (cheap!) arranged in pretty pails on ginghman tablecloths.

I think if you are willing to have a more casual affair, it can be done.

My friends backyard wedding was one of the most beautiful, fun celebrations I have ever been to, and they did not spend over 10K for about 90 people.

...you could also consider having a much more intimate wedding - I knw it seems like sometimes you CAN't possiblyu cut anyone from the list, especially if they are family - but you can.

Summer05 Posted: Jun 06, 2005 01:50 PM

Re: I need ideas

We were in a similar situation and we were planning on having a destination wedding but I decided that I wanted a big wedding so we changed our plans.

Originally we planned on booking a 2 week trip to Mexico. The plan was to do it over the summer and book well in advance so that any family and friends who were interested could join us for the first week. Quite a few family members and friends were interested in going. We could celebrate and hang out with everyone the first week and then spend the second week alone. This way we could still have a wedding and reception but we would only have 30 of our closest friends rather than 200 to pay for! Just about every hotel/resort offers a wedding package.

With about a month to go before we get married I wish we would have gone to Mexico!!!

agentangel Posted: Jun 06, 2005 01:50 PM

Re: I need ideas

You don't need a limo. You don't need a florist. You can decorate with less expensive things, ie candles. You can get a digital photographer or hire ones just starting - check out craigslist.

Have a casual wedding - no tux rentals needed. Have the ceremony and reception in one place - save on fees, transportation costs.

Have a Sunday day wedding. Cheaper.
No fancy invitations.

You don't need favors. They're nice but most people just throw them out anyways. $10,000 can take you far - you just have to figure out what's important to you.

ETA: and you have time to save money. You have a year. and of course...check out:

http://www.geocities.com/budgetvendors/

VERY HANDY!

LovelyChas Posted: Jun 06, 2005 03:30 PM

Re: I need ideas

Have you or anyone you know been to any of these places....I heard from a friend that Brentwood Country Club was not pretty and the food was not good.....food is VERY important to FH....thanks again for the suggestions

Ariana Waterfall (W. Hempstead), Mediterranean Manor (in Patchogue, I think) and Brentwood Country Club

laughinlala Posted: Jun 06, 2005 03:35 PM

Re: I need ideas

I would also check out KOC in Oceanside-I believe they also do an all inclusive package as well-the suggestions above are also good ways to save $$$-Best of luck!

JanuaryBride06 Posted: Jun 06, 2005 03:37 PM

Re: I need ideas

If you do a search on the Bride's Review board, there were a few girls who had their weddings at Ariana (they included pictures in their reviews, too- LadyPrincess did a detailed review of her March wedding).
I don't remember reading a review on this site on Mediterranean Manor, but you might find something if you search on that too.

Mrs. dleeny Posted: Jun 06, 2005 03:47 PM

Re: I need ideas

Posted by LovelyChas

Have you or anyone you know been to any of these places....I heard from a friend that Brentwood Country Club was not pretty and the food was not good.....food is VERY important to FH....thanks again for the suggestions

Ariana Waterfall (W. Hempstead), Mediterranean Manor (in Patchogue, I think) and Brentwood Country Club

If food is really important to you, you want to get married in June, you have 190 people that you can’t cut and only $10K. I’m really unsure how you can cater a wedding for 200 ppl for $10K… that’s $50 a person. And that’s not factoring in anything else… like invitations, your dress, a honeymoon, your wedding rings, DJ, photographer, flowers, etc.

AnniesSS Posted: Jun 06, 2005 03:51 PM

Re: I need ideas

You could also have either a cocktail party - no buffet or sitdown dinner - or have a brunch reception.

If you want flowers, don't look for the high-priced places that cater to weddings.... look to the smaller mom-and-pop places and see what they can offer. Or you can make the bo-k's yourself with silk flowers.

David's Bridal has beautiful dresses - and if you're lucky enough to find a beautiful one in great shape, you can get one for under $400.

Ebay has great deals - I got my veil and tiara for under $40 each there!!

candb Posted: Jun 06, 2005 04:18 PM

Re: I need ideas

I don't know where you live, but the Miller Place Inn gave us a REALLY good price. Also, my friends brother just got married at the Hilton. The price was great and she said the food was really good too!

LovelyChas Posted: Jun 06, 2005 04:23 PM

Re: I need ideas

I live in East Meadow and most of my guests will be coming from Queens. Where is Hilton?

JanuaryBride06 Posted: Jun 06, 2005 04:33 PM

Re: I need ideas

If it's the Huntington Hilton, they have two rates, one is $95pp the other is $105pp.

CandiceM Posted: Jun 06, 2005 04:38 PM

Re: I need ideas

FYI Weddins at home are not cheap at all considering the cost of rentals. Tables, chairs, linens (which cost more than the tables and chairs combined and that is basic white), then you have the place settings, glasses, even salt & peper shakers. Def not cheap. I say to try to find a hall in the off season that has a good price. Have the cermony there so you don't need limos, etc, and figure out little ways like that to cut expenses, like candles in lieu of flowers, etc. I think it is totally doable.

Lastminute Posted: Jun 06, 2005 04:43 PM

Re: I need ideas

I really think you are going to have a hard time getting somewhere on Li or NYC for 190 people for under $10,000.

Like the other girls said its all the other things like the dress, shoes, flowers, cake, grooms wear etc that even though you try to keep it down it still adds up.

I had a small wedding by LI standards - 60 people. We only invited my immediate family and friends...otherwise mine would have been 190 too. And we definitely spent more than $10,000.

I did feel some guilt coming up to the wedding when I was receiving cards, presents and good wishes from the family members that I did not invite but they all completely understood that I didnt want to go bankrupt over one day. I will be sending them all a photo thank you card with a nice note for thinking of us on the day and in the long run I know they will not hold it against me at all.

Sorry so long....but if I was you I would say you have 3 options.

1) Drastically cut your list to under 70 people.

2) Have a very chic cocktail reception after the ceremony with champagne and cake - hey prince charles and camilla P.B did it....

3) Have a destination wedding.

Good Luck!

janelovesharry Posted: Jun 06, 2005 09:40 PM

Re: I need ideas

I second the chic cocktail party. You could have a few speciality drinks and since food is really important you could have some amazing hor d'ourves. Or their is the morning brunch idea, which is along the same lines. But what ever you decide, Good Luck

tjs Posted: Jun 06, 2005 10:34 PM

Re: I need ideas

you can do it you just have to be creative! with bills up the a$$ and a baby we are on a super tight budget!! we rented a clubhose and are doing basically everything ourselves. i did my flowers...and alot of other things! If you set your mind to it , it can be done, it depends on how bad you want it to work! trust me i know first hand!