Beach budget

I'm in the same area. Have you tried the Lions Club? They are on the beach and inexpensive, but I'm not sure how inexpensive but I know you can bring your own booze. If you cater with BBQ and keep the guest list down it may be doable.

There is a company that rents a tent behind the Howard Johnson , or you can have the reception by the pool, and the menu is a picnic menu. I don't remember the name but it was a good price. You'll find it if you google Howard Johnson St. Pete beach weddings. I think it was $17 per person.

Good luck!

Thank you Deb, I will definitely look into both. I am in need of new and creative ideas on how to get my beach wedding

The struggle is real. I have been looking all over the Tampa area... all down the west coast beach line and am struggling to find anything to fit my budget. Does anyone have any ideas on how to get creative to afford a beach ceremony and simple reception of under 50 guests. I'm finding this to be impossible

You could host 50 for probably exactly 3000 (literally not a dollar under). Just have to decide what's important. Definitely go the public beach route. Have it at a non-meal time and serve cake/apps and punch. Or look up gourmet food trucks, or BBQ/Italian restaurants if you decide to have dinner. You probably be spending a lot on rentals (tent/umbrellas, chairs, tables) so look for good deals. Check groupon! That's all I can think of for now.

Thank you for your advice. It is definitely proving to be tough and even the public beaches are making it hard. I will look into all of those things you suggested.

There's a service in the st pete area that does beach weddings. You go and pick your decorations and things and they set it up somewhere in the sand. It was pretty affordable if I remeber corectly.

Google st.pete beach weddings.

Ill try to find a link for you though. Edit: gulfbeachweddings.com

Simple, as in I don't need or want all the bells and whistle of a wedding. We don't want a dance floor or dj, we don't need toasts or bouquet tossing. I would love to have some party games ( jenga & cornhole). We would be fine with cupcakes and drinks after a ceremony but my sister and others have told me I can't have people come to a wedding without feeding them. I can find the ceremony I want on most beaches through sites similar to gulfbeach weddings... my problem is figuring out the "reception" I guess. Fitting it all into my tiny budget and not completely jipping my guests.

OP, yes...guests will expect some kind of food, but how much and of what variety depends on the time of day you have it. If you want a beach wedding, you're probably going to want something during the day which means you're looking at a brunch, lunch or dinner. If you do it quite late, you could possibly get away with desserts and drinks, but I don't know how late the sun sets in FL in March....

April sunset in the tampa area is around 7:00-7:30 we plan for it to hit right around dinner so id say the same time for march.

Good point meaghan, most of the places I've emailed I have stated I am open to options. I know I can't do the classic wedding on my budget. I just can't figure out how to do it or what my options are. Most paces are telling me I need a bigger budget and that's just not feasible for me.

@op check into the people i linked. There are reception options for around 900 that look very pretty. Then you can take your family to a nice dinner.

Melody I am looking at them now and it's very nice and similar to a few others I have found. Would it be acceptable to just go to dinner after... or... I don't even know how to go about it. Take all my guests out to dinner after. I will continue to look into it

Yes. You can word it reception to follow at "resturant name" on your invites. you should easily be able to do food and drinks for a small intimate family wedding with your budget. Many people do this with court house weddings but I thought id share a resonable alturnitive since you mentioned beach weddings.

Not sure about swinging 50 people though sorry just read that part. Youd habe to do your research on differnt resturants or possibly cut the list a lot more.

If you literally don't have the money you don't have the money. I think people would understand particularly a group that small. Whatever you decide just make it very clear on the invitations what meal you are or aren't serving, and both by word of mouth and in your heart be okay knowing some people may just not make it.

I have also been invited to a picnic wedding this year where, if guests have a favorite dish or special one they like to make, they are invited to bring it. Could be a good model! Don't know how many people will, but you could tap some folks ahead of time. The bride and groom for that wedding are also on a very tight budget, as they are doing LD internationally and can only move once they're married.

Yes, Melody, I emailed gulf Coast inquiring and I will just have to keep searching. We have only written down on a list of guest our immediate family and very close friends. I have told my fiance I have half the mind to take his parents and siblings and mine and go to the beach and that's it's.

Nora, I think that's what's making this so hard. The small budget and I would have been fine with just the ceremony on the beach and the PICTURES with cake and drinks after. That's all I honestly want and I guess need to consider what I really want again.

^Thats totally an ok option too! As long as its made clear that a cake and punch reception is to follow and its not at a typical meal time!

Have the wedding you want! Not what you feel you are supposed to have

Do a pretty, small ceremony on the beach, hire a photographer and have cake and punch with your family.

Melody and everyone else who commented, thanks for listening and trying to help me come up with options. I am still going to see what I hear back from some of the places I've emailed today if they are possibly in my budget. If not then I plan to convince my family what I really want and to deal.

Good luck! Im sure whatever you find will be beautiful!

Also, Google "elopement photos" or "elopement ceremony". You could have a tiny guest list and make it more of a "join us as we get married" rather than "come to a wedding where you may expect a meal and alcohol"