Joined Dec 2014
L3: Novice
Forum Thread
How to Host an Inexpensive Wedding
April 6, 2016 at
06:49 AM
in
Wedding & Bridal
(3)
So I recently got engaged, and holy shit was I surprised when I found out how much the average wedding in the U.S. costs (about 30k for those unaware). Being a slickdealer I was immediately suspicious at what appears to be an outrageous cost, for basically throwing a large party. Like anything else in life, I know that there are ways to save money when hosting such an event, but I'm having a really hard time figuring out how. I have tried posting in specific wedding forums, but have been met with tons of negativity, and claims that it can't be done, from people who's opinions seem very suspect to me.
Maybe I'm just being an arrogant misinformed dick, but I find it very hard to believe that a wedding HAS to cost this much money. I feel like the slickdeals community can resolve this question for me once and for all, so here it is:
Were you able to have a relatively inexpensive wedding? Estimate what your cost was per guest? How did you save money? What were the sacrifices/compromises that you made?
Personally, I have a pretty specific idea of what I want at my wedding. If you have any saving ideas that apply to my plans specifically please let me know.
What I envision:
Outside wedding in a beautiful field under a tent in New England early September with about 150-200 guests (no church/priest, so saving money there). I want to host my guests appropriately so I want an open bar and a fully catered wedding with music. I feel like location/space, food, booze, music, and bathrooms are all you need to host a fun filled wedding, so why does it cost so much?
What I think I need:
1. Venue, large field, requires lots of parking, access to electricity, bathrooms (or option of port-a-potties). How do I get this cheap?
2. Booze, seems pretty self explanatory, buy it yourself and you'll save way more money than if you purchase through a middle man.
3. Food, I believe you can get pretty good catering for about 25 bucks a person. What did you guys pay? Does it make a difference in price that it is being held outdoors?
4. Bathrooms, hopefully on site, but if not renting port-a-potties. Any specific way to get nicer ones on the cheap?
5. Music, probably rent a sound system and make my own playlist. Are there businesses that offer this type of thing at a lower price bracket?
6. Tent, this own is expensive, I can't seem to find large tent rentals that seem like they are fairly priced. It is a very unique item, so maybe this is something I will have to pay for.
7. Various rentals, tables, chairs, linens, dinnerware, wineglasses, dance floor, stage.
Thanks for the help
-Ben
Maybe I'm just being an arrogant misinformed dick, but I find it very hard to believe that a wedding HAS to cost this much money. I feel like the slickdeals community can resolve this question for me once and for all, so here it is:
Were you able to have a relatively inexpensive wedding? Estimate what your cost was per guest? How did you save money? What were the sacrifices/compromises that you made?
Personally, I have a pretty specific idea of what I want at my wedding. If you have any saving ideas that apply to my plans specifically please let me know.
What I envision:
Outside wedding in a beautiful field under a tent in New England early September with about 150-200 guests (no church/priest, so saving money there). I want to host my guests appropriately so I want an open bar and a fully catered wedding with music. I feel like location/space, food, booze, music, and bathrooms are all you need to host a fun filled wedding, so why does it cost so much?
What I think I need:
1. Venue, large field, requires lots of parking, access to electricity, bathrooms (or option of port-a-potties). How do I get this cheap?
2. Booze, seems pretty self explanatory, buy it yourself and you'll save way more money than if you purchase through a middle man.
3. Food, I believe you can get pretty good catering for about 25 bucks a person. What did you guys pay? Does it make a difference in price that it is being held outdoors?
4. Bathrooms, hopefully on site, but if not renting port-a-potties. Any specific way to get nicer ones on the cheap?
5. Music, probably rent a sound system and make my own playlist. Are there businesses that offer this type of thing at a lower price bracket?
6. Tent, this own is expensive, I can't seem to find large tent rentals that seem like they are fairly priced. It is a very unique item, so maybe this is something I will have to pay for.
7. Various rentals, tables, chairs, linens, dinnerware, wineglasses, dance floor, stage.
Thanks for the help
-Ben
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HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA!!!!!!! Little did I know.
And the absolute worst part, the part that still burns my @ss whenever I think about it.....
Our reception was in Pensacola, Florida but we hired a caterer that was from Alabama. They had a fantastic little restaurant over the state line and they were known for their "fancy" catering services. Anyhow, the setup was beautiful and everyone said the food was amazing. The problem? We didn't know it but AL had (has??) a food safety law stating that NOTHING could be kept after the event by the person(s) that paid for it. That's right, they threw everything away. I remember calling my mom from a payphone (no cellphones in '92), on the way to the hotel to ask her about something I had forgotten at the reception and she was crying because the caterers were dumping everything off into the garbage cans. They almost dumped the remaining cake until my mom reminded them that THEY didn't make the cake.
We had no idea that would happen. They didn't tell us and we didn't think to ask.
Word of advice; ask even the questions you would never think you would need to ask.
Now I'm mad all over again.