Wedding budget question?

Is $5,000 enough for a wedding that will have 80-120 guests? I'm not sure %26amp; I'm think I'm going to have trouble doing a wedding, flowers, pictures %26amp; reception for that amount of money. (Can't cut guest list either, more than half is family)

Wedding budget question?
Find a hall that doesn't have a liquor license. It's much cheaper to bring in your own, typically they mark up liquor 100%. Also, to really save money, only serve beer and wine and soft drinks. A buffet is usually cheaper than a sit down dinner and it's nicer. Everyone can pick what they want to eat instead of getting whatever shows up on the plate. I usually starve at sit down dinners, because they're usually something I won't eat.





Don't let the florist talk you into $50 centerpieces. Not necessary, there are lots of centerpieces that can be done for less than $10. Go to your local arts and crafts store, buy a glass bowl, fill part way with water and float some blooms in the water. Much less than a typical florist arrangement. If the bowl is shallow enough you can also put a pillar candle in it. Check out the neat centerpieces they did on Design on a Dime wedding, link below.l





Don't buy a four figure wedding gown. I have seen a $5000 gown up close and personal and I'm here to tell you, it doesn't look that much better than a $500 gown from Davids. You can't tell the difference at all in the pictures or on the video.





Don't rent limos or any other kind of transport, they're a very expensive, waste of money. I went to my wedding in my dad's pickup (it looked nice, not a beater). We left the church in my mom's car, she has a nice Cadillac.





I will say that you should spend as much as you can on a photographer. This is the only part of your wedding that is permanent. Go with the best person you can afford.





Don't buy really expensive invitations, no one but you and maybe your mom, will keep them. I ordered mine from one of the companies that advertises in the wedding magazines. Send away for all those catalogs and order from one that you like.





Order a small tiered wedding cake to cut, instead of a cake that will serve everyone, and have sheet cakes in the back that the caterer can serve to guests. Also, a good place to get a cake that's not too expensive is a grocery store with a good bakery.





Skip favors all together or go with something simple and inexpensive. Wrap up some Hershey kisses in tulle and your good to go.





I hope this was helpful, have a good wedding. Another course of action you might want to consider is a destination wedding on a cruise or at an all inclusive resort. You get your wedding and honeymoon all in one, plus you can invite whoever you want but you don't have to pay for a reception because it's all inclusive. Friends of ours did this in December, in the Dominican Repulic, it was fun and about 40 people were there. We got a 4 day vacation and a great wedding on a beautiful island. I don't remember how much it cost us, but it wasn't bad, since we got a vacation out of it. Not everyone will come if you do this, but I'll bet the people who would complain the most (parents and siblings) will come. The bride and groom stayed for an extra five days at a different resort, so they got their honeymoon. Another couple we know did this in St. Maarten which is more upscale and they actually changed islands for their honeymoon. I think a destination wedding might be more in line with your wishes since the honeymoon is what your really into. Good luck
Reply:I had 80 people at my wedding. I decorated, paid for flowers, had reception catered, and had over 300 pictures taken. I paid for my own wedding BY MYSELF and did it for less than $2500. E-mail me at destinykelly0305@yahoo.com if you want some ideas. Remember, things don't have to be expensive to be beautiful!!!!!!!
Reply:this article has some great tips on weddings and budgets. hope it helps
Reply:you can pull it off if you can have the wedding in your house or a park or the beach near by where you live cook all the food yourself with help flowers you can shop around near by stores for a discount pic have someone record it with a camcorder and use disposal cameras or shop around and have stores sponser your wedding it worked for star jones and try theknot.com the have tips and the reception a community center they are cheap
Reply:sorry....thats too low
Reply:Out of all that family, is there anyone who might have a nice backyard that they can offer to you? Or should I say that you can ask to use? That will save a chunk of money. Keg beer is less than cans or bottles... and check with your local trade schools for a bartender in training. Use flowers in season and local so they don't have to be flown in. Believe it or not, you can even make your own food and save there too. Roast beef cooks itself, as does boneless chicken breast in some type of gravy. Steam veggies and add mashed potatoes and rolls. I gave my daughter her reception for less the $5000 and we had 124 ppl. E-mail me. I'll give you all the other tips I have.
Reply:I've been engaged over a year and we've been debating over the same questions. We've basically decided that the honey moon is the most important thing to us (it's about us not them) so we're doing what we can to cut corners on everything except the honeymoon. Infact, we might just elope and get it over with. It'll be close and personal, since most of our family members don't really care, and they live out of state.
Reply:HONESTY ALERT:





It *may* be enough, if you don't care about the hapiness of the guests. The whole point of a reception is to celebrate the marriage, celebrate your friends, and to celebrate your family. Making them pay for their own wine and serving them costco or bottom level food is not really thanking them for anything. My recommendation is to cut your guestlist to 25-50 and put more effort towards quality rather than quantity. If you feel bad cutting the guest list and can't afford more money, then do a very simple ceremony with only 10 people present. This way no one is left out.
Reply:Good luck with that budgeting. When I got married I had something low key with ceremony and reception in one place and only 90 people and it was 14k. But that was in California. There are always work arounds though...like get mini rose bushes and put them in little pots and use those as centerpieces on the tables, or use pictures of you both. The most money goes toward catering and any wine/beer...and reserving the reception site.
Reply:Sorry, hun. Chances are it's not enough. We're doing about the same amount of people and with an inexpensive hall we got it at $55/person (includes a hour devours, buffet dinner, open bar and cake) plus everything else. A good photographer and package will cost about $2k. It's going to run you about $10k. if you can find a hall for the same price as us. I'm in the NY, Long Island area, if you are too message me and I'll let you know what hall it is.





I did find this site with great flowers at a decent price though:





http://www.afloral.com/index.asp