250-280 people guest list

100 people, $20K. That is cutting all kinds of corners. It includes open bar and amazing food, but...dress $250, flowers $500, cake $300, DJ - free. MUH - free. I'm totally cheaping out on so many things, but I'm hoping the important stuff is covered.

50-100k for a 378 person (300-350 expected) guest list.

We invited 200. but we didn't have a set budget. Just tried to keep the price down as much as possible. right now our biggest spend is the venue, that includes pretty much everything. food, ceremony, center pieces, cake, open premium bar, hotel suite for us, appetizers and late night buffet snacks. that is about 14,000 based on 175 people( the estimated # we will have.) I made our bouquets and boutonnieres.those were about 250.00 total from Michaels. I bought a template from etsy for $8.00 each for our table numbers, place cards, programs and thank you cards. And i bought the card stock on sale and I am printing those my self. Shop around alot and find the best price. orientaltrading.com is a reallly good site.

Where I live, a dessert costs $10/person, so I have no clue how this person is budgeting $20/person for her entire wedding. If she can figure out a way to do that while guests enjoy it, then she is talented.

$50-$100K is quite a range. Why so wide?

Andibrede you will have better luck up there than down here. I am in Waukesha and at 180 people we are looking at around $8000 just for the reception.

@Stylish, the budget started at 50k. It's beginning to look like it will be closer to 100.

1pm Ceremony (between meals means you dont have to feed a full meal to 250 people) Reception Follows immediately

Champagne

Cake

a walking Violinist or sitting harpist or string band or whichever music you like- live

and Flowers, a few tall displays around the edge of the room/space

Standing Tables for people to mingle at

Thats it, find a venue for 2K or less and a caterer for 2K or less that can serve champagne and cake to 200 people, find live music and flowers. This is typically referred to as a parisian wedding, and it works, everyone is happy as long as they get champagne, cake, and a few pics with the bride

I'm in milwaukee. Our invited guest list is 134 and we are already around $13,000 and I'm buying everything on sale. Best of luck with your planning

North Dakota. 275 people. Budget is $22,000. Our food is the most expensive. Taking up around $10,000 of that. :/

Umm unless you are only doing cake and punch, i dont see how you can make that works. That breaks down to $24 per person (for 250), If you spend it all on food. You could spend $10 per person on food and still have around 3k for dress, photos, dj (?) invites, tux, hair, alterations, flowers, decor, centerpieces, any venue and rental fees- if you invite 250 people, you will probably spend 200-300 just on stamps.

My suggestion, cut groups of people. Cut all children, cut all coworkers, cut all secon cousins, cut dates unless already married or engaged.

Im spending around 15,000 for 160 people.. And we are "only" spending 35 per person on food. The remaining 9k is everything else (outside honeymoon and rings).

I'm in Toronto, our guest list is 220 and our budget is 30k

You could maybe just do a cake and punch reception after the ceremony or maybe a light brunch, but I dont see how you will be able to feed all those people for that little. I guess maybe $15 per person could get you hotdogs, hamburgers, ice tea, and a sheet cake. Don't forget about taxes and service fees.

Right now; 285 and climbing. We're in LA area and our budget is $50,k. However, we are working really hard to keep it under $40k. Our biggest expense is the reception veneue ($20k)

Small world I grew up in Wausau!! Anyways, we are getting married in Oshkosh and have a guest list around 140 and our budget is $10,000 or so and have gotten a few deals on things with working with friends for some vendors and we are also doing a lot of diy things. Knowing where you're located I think your guest list/ budget maybe doable but I think you may have to be flexible in your expectations too! Good luck

You will have to cut stuff but I honestly believe that you can feed that many people for less. Our catering will come out to be like $8 or $9 a person for chicken and beef fajitas, rice, and beans. In texas, Mexican food is a norm and we're Hispanic anyways. But you can also do Italian pretty cheap or bbq pretty cheap if Mexican food would be unexpected. You can definitely make it happen. Or you can do a cake and punch reception and have the other things that you want. It all depends on what you want. Every wedding is different but consider the things that you know you really want, then decide if your budget is doable or if you might have to wait a bit.

Bless your cotton socks. I have a large guest list as well(at least 250). Hopefully by the time the invites go out, we will have "lost touch" with some of those folks. Good luck!

Sorry, but unless things are about 1/4 the price in Wausau as compared to Milwaukee, that would probably be a cake and punch reception. I am having 200 people, cash bar (non-alc drinks paid for), an extremely inexpensive caterer, a friend is doing videography for free, for music we are doing an ipod and a friend is emc-ing for free, and our photographer is a gift from a family member, and we are still struggling to keep it under 15 k. However, I am crazy surprised that you can find a venue for that many people that cheap. Our venue, including all the fees, will be close to 4 k. I had a hard time finding places big enough.