Anyone have a big backyard in NJ/PA we can borrow for cheap?

Are you looking to do a dinner reception? Perhaps a brunch or lunch reception would save you money. We did a brunch reception and it was much less than a dinner reception would have been. We also got married on a Sunday, so ask about off-peak days. Summer is peak wedding season here, so perhaps if you're willing to change the date, you can find some savings in a different season.

Can you cut the guest list? Less people is less costs.

Stroudsmoor Country Inn in Stroudsburg, PA has great prices for off season and/or Fri or Sun discounts. They have pricing packages on their website and a few more options in person. They also waive the ceremony site fee for off season if you decide to have it there.

I'm not sure how much catering would be, but check out Morven House Museum & Gardens (Princeton). The site is really pretty and I don't think they charge an outrageous rental fee. Also try Mountain Lakes House (Princeton) - not sure how many people you want to invite, but both have 120ish limits.

Both places charge a site fee and then you can use whatever caterer you'd like. That's where you can save a lot of money using Reenski's suggestions above.

Social halls are typically less expensive. I did a very cursory search in Bucks and Montgomery County, and this one came up (they do have a full bar). It's not terribly fancy, but it can certainly be decked out to look great for a wedding.

http://www.theshamrockroom.webs.com/

Good luck. Try social halls, Fire Houses, VFW's, and community centers.

Reenski, yes, we're planning to do a dinner reception. We're planning on a Friday wedding, but haven't really found any great discounts anywhere since it's in July. We are planning to get married on the 5 year anniversary from when we first met.

Our guest list has been cut down as far as we are comfortable going - 120 is unfortunately our minimum, unless we decide to elope.

This is supposed to be one of the most special days in our lives, right? I know social halls are less expensive, but I don't see them as special... Thanks for the idea of the Shamrock room, Centerpiece, but places like that make me want to die a little inside...

Dana, Stroudsmoor Country Inn might be doable. Thanks for the suggestion. Seems like there would need to be a bit of negotiating though.

Heather, I am planning on attending an open house at Mountain Lakes House this Sunday. We'll see how it works out. I hadn't considered Morven, though. Thanks for that idea.

I don't know those NJ counties, but Bucks and Montgomery are some of the most expensive (generally speaking) around. I would try fire halls as well.

I'm from Bucks county and happy to help! Let me know where you've already looked and I can make some suggestions. Also I'm on my phone so I can't see your wedding date, but that would help too!

ETA: just saw Friday in July.

Mountain Lakes is beautiful; we've been there many, many times. There is a firehouse in Moorestown that is nice, but it looks like a firehall.

One of my colleagues just booked me to officiate at Valley Crest Farm and Preserves in Lebanon, NJ. Look beautiful! The Chauncey Conference Center, in Princeton is great, as is the Prallsville Mill in Stockton.

Julesie/Celia, we have either visited or looked online/emailed SO many places, including: Ash Mill Farm, Chimney Hill Estate, Prallsville Mill, Valley Green Inn, Woolverton Inn, Morris Arboretum (not too much info out there though it seems pricey), Centre Bridge Inn, The Fuge, Adventure Aquarium, Fernwood Farm, Mercer County Boathouse Marina, Bridgetown Mill Hotel, Pennsbury Manor, Cairnwood, Unionville Vineyard, Crossing Vineyard, Graeme Park, Triumph Brewpub in New Hope and Princeton, Barley Sheaf Inn, Stockton Inn, Hageman Farm House, Bayonet Farm, Smithville Mansion, Normandy Farm, Grey Towers at Arcadia, Laurita Winery...

Wow... I'm tired just going back through my email to find all of those! And there are still some others I'm sure I haven't included. It's nutty...

Oh, and I only considered Chauncey for like a second because I actually work for the company whose campus the conference center is located within... :-/

Look into Robert Ryan Catering (email them and they will send you pricing) - they own our venue and two others in Montco that are definitely not typical ballrooms. For our venue they give a big discount for Friday weddings and have been very flexible with negotiations on pricing for other things. We have 110 guests and we are coming in just under 11 and that includes: site rental, ceremony, catering, alcohol, cake, all tax and gratuity on a Sat night.

Warrington Country Club also has super affordable packages that include a ton. I've been to 2 weddings there! It's a little more traditional, but worth checking out.

Sorry to keep adding - I've also heard good, affordable things about Occasions in New Hope, but I don't have any personal experience with them.

We've got .5 acres in Williamstown, NJ if you are interested

Julesieee, which of their venues is your wedding at? That sounds like a decent package. Though, it looks like all of their venues seem to be in Chester county. That's a little further out than we would like, but if the price is right, it's worth looking into, right? I'll look into the others as well.

Lizz M. - Do you have more information...?

We're at the Barn on Bridge - it has a Collegeville address, but it's really north of Collegeville closer to Schwenksville and Skippack.

We are getting some discounts b/c we're an off season wedding, but I know they do Fri/Sun discounts as well.

http://www.barnonbridge.com/

Try landis valley museum out in lancaster- i was looking there before booking elsewhere. its about $2,500 for a saturday- cheaper on fridays. its a big barn that can fit i think 200 people. they also have their availability posted on the website and rules