Is it possible to have a wedding & reception together?

Question

Me and my fiance want to have a July wedding next year and we're still planning everything, we set a budget of $5000. We want to have a bridal party of 8 bridesmaids & 8 groomsmen, plus the matron of honor, and the best man. Is it possible to have your wedding and reception in the same place and still keep a low budget? Also how should we plan our wedding? First timers here!

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

You could save a lot of money by NOT having all of those attendants in your wedding party. Keep in mind you have to buy a bouquet or a boutonniere and a THANK YOU gift for each of those people. The average attendant's bouquet is $75 - $100, the average Thank You gift is $50 - $75 . . can you afford that?

If you wish to have a "nice" low cost wedding then have your ceremony and reception at the same location. For example: a city or community or county or state park or a country inn or a historical site or a friend's home/backyard.

Schedule your ceremony in the morning, and then follow that ceremony with a breakfast or brunch. Breakfast is the least expensive FULL MEAL that you can serve your guests plus you do not have to serve any alcoholic beverages except for a champagne toast to the Bride and Groom.

Schedule your ceremony at 1PM or 130PM or 2PM or 230PM. Your guests have already eaten lunch, and it is too early for dinner. You can have a dessert reception. For example: cupcakes, cookies, brownies, eclairs, cream puffs, root beer floats, assorted fruit tray, assorted pies, wedding cake and punch. Keep in mind: your reception costs will always be 50% of your total budget so you need to control the cost of the food and beverages that you will be serving your guests.

Schedule your ceremony for sunset or after 7PM. Your guests have already eaten dinner so a dessert or lite fare reception is appropriate.

Control your guest list. Every time you add a name to that list the cash register rings and YOU pay. Do not feel obligated to invite everyone that you know.

Answered by: A Certified wedding specialist / A Professional bridal consultant / A Wedding ceremony officiant

Asker's Rating:

Asker's Comment:

This was a very big help to me, thank you for the much needed advice, I may need your advice on some other things as well :)

Answer 2

Yup, we did. We got married in a Spanish Tapas restaurant. Our guests were entertained by a flamenco dancer and Spanish guitarist while we had our moment and then took pictures. Since we only had to pay for food and drinks, it cost about $2300 for 55 people. And the food was reeeally, really good, with tons left over. (The wedding, including honeymoon and rings and everything, cost about $18,000.)

If I may commend, though, your wedding party is insane. An 18 person wedding party, PLUS bride and groom is really excessive. Having a wedding part that large is appropriate for a large, formal wedding with a budget of $50,000+. Why not cut it down to maybe 2-3 people on each side? That's more appropriate for a small-budget wedding.

Answer 3

I got married at a golf course club house which was beautiful!! We had a lunch buffet style which was cheaper than a dinner and we got married on a Sunday which was also cheaper. We chose a cheaper menu with appetizers.
We had our wedding on the 2nd floor balcony and the reception in the club house. When the ceremony was over we went and did our pics while our guest had the appetizers. Then when we came back we were introduced, did the toasting and then lunch.
It was really an stress free wedding.

Since we had our wedding was outside, we decided to have unity sand in our ceremony instead of the unity candle cuz the candles wouldnt stay lit.

Answer 4

*** In reference to "Libby", If you want to have 18 people bridal party--go right ahead.****! I probably would have 18 or more. It's not about the norm, it's what you want and you desire to have these people stand up for you !

Now to answer your question: I have been to quite a few wedding/reception that are together. It was so beautiful. They'll have the tables setup and positioned so there is an aisle. Have everyone facing the aisle while the wedding is going on, then after the ceremony is done..the guests turn their chairs as to be actually seated. I thought this was a cute idea. I hope I explained it good. A nice and big formal banquet hall would be ideal for this.

Answer 5

I'm doing that BECAUSE it will be cheaper, and that's because it eliminates the need for transportation. We do have a 'ceremony site fee' to pay for them setting up the chairs and everything, but that's cheaper then renting a limo.

Congrats!