Campground Wedding

My FBIL / FSIL are getting married at the Lake Shore Village Resort in Weare, NH and it looks beautiful and they are also providing their brand-new cabins for guests to stay in. I also attended a wedding at Camp Kiwanee in Hanson, MA which also had cabins, but they were like real camping - no electricity. Not sure the level of outdoorsy you're looking for LOL but both venues are beautiful.

I think if you keep your guest list small or pick a date that's not in prime season you may be able to stay within your budget.

No leads ... just be careful because a lot of DIYs end up being more expensive by the time you're done with all your vendors and rentals... etc.

$5000 will not host 100 people. It's just not realistic, no matter how much DIY you do.

It's deff different. I love camping, I'd be down!

It depends on how you're trying to host them, and what your budget includes.

Sorry should of been more specific $5000 for the venue/ceremony area. Everything Ive seen lately that really doesnt include much. But somewhere is that ballpark. Thanks.

Check out state parks. There are several in Vermont that a gorgeous in the summer and fall and have pavilions that would easily host that many people and often have picnic tables on-site, or you could put up a tent at many. They are also often free. Link below for Vermont.

https://vtstateparks.com/

You will probably have to get creative and go very basic on décor, etc to entertain 100 people for 5K, but you could get in done.

Edited bc: saw OP's clarification. The issue you might run into is finding a place where you can have accommodations for that many people (i.e., a place to sleep). I don't think the money is the issue, it's just the concept of putting up 100 people in an outdoorsy, camp type setting for a weekend that might be an issue.

Check out camps near you. I'm getting married at a YMCA Camp in Michigan and it's absolutely breathtaking. For 5000, we get the entire camp for the weekend and the cabins (not bunk cabins but nice cabins) for our guests. The problem I was running into with camp grounds was that some had alcohol restrictions.

Also there doesn't need to be enough sleeping arrangements for 100 people I would say maybe half of that would stay over.

This sounds awesome! Try state parks- they tend to have less restrictions than national parks.

Also look for a campground that has a big enough "main facility" area that all the guests can meet up in, especially in case of inclement weather.

Also look for conference and retreat centers.

Good luck!

I photographed a wedding last Saturday at camp in Rhode Island. The name of the camp is

Camp Jori

1065 Wordens Pond Rd,

Wakefield, RI 02879

It is on a large lake, with a large function hall and they rent out the cabins as well. The only thing is they are an active summer camp so summer weddings may be an issue. I have attached on photo lakeside for you to see the lake. I believe the cost was very reasonable too.

I was all about this idea too until I realized anyone over 50 years old would be kinda s.o.l. when it came to using the restroom or being comfortable.

Sounds like my wedding! I'm in California if you were over here I'd give you so many recommendations! But even camping and DIY came out to be way more expensive than expected. Just my wedding invitations alone cost me $500.

Mountain Camp Windsor in NH is nice.

ETA: I thought this was going to be STBWilliams again

Interlaken Inn in Lakeville, CT is one of my favorites. It's right on the lake, already has a permanent tent set up for receptions, and has on site accommodations ranging from individual cabins (I believe they have two or three), bed and breakfast type rooms, all the way up to executive suites with private hot tubs (hello honeymoon suite!). They also assist in hosting wedding weekends; rehearsal dinners, bon fires, brunch, and so on. If I had the budget, this would be my place! We are still considering it for a very small intimate wedding on a Thursday without all the extras.

ETA/ The only reason why I recommend this over a campground is it still has the outdoorsy feel and the water but will accommodate all of your guests needs without feeling like true camping. I'm not sure 50 - 100 people would all feel the same was as you and your FH about the love for camping!

I just recently did a camping wedding in Pennsylvania. They rented a YMCA camp for the weekend. All of the cabins, mess hall and pavilion were for them to use.

She had the Rehearsal/Welcome Party on Thursday Night as guest began arriving.

Then cookout, yard games, football and music on Friday.

Then Saturday they woke up and the girls went into town to get hair and makeup done. They got married by the pond reception in the pavilion.

All the guests were put up for the weekend and they seemed to have a wonderful time!

$5000 will maybe MAYBE do the food for 100 people. Need to up the budget, cut the list, or maybe have a post dinner (9pm-12am) wedding with a few late night snacks-- and I could still see that being more than $5000.

The poconos in pa can be really affordable. I wish I had more advice but find like a sleep away camp god that would be so much fun

Is the $5000 just for the campground or is that also for food?

Our originally plan was exactly this! However after touring a bunch of both sleep away camps and day camps in the Poconos, Hudson Valley and NJ and breaking down all the cost, we realized it was going to be AT LEAST as expensive as a more traditional venue and we would be required to put in a ton more work. My good friend got married at a YMCA camp this past June and the reception was held under a covered pavilion. It rained and was SO HUMID and many guests refrained from dancing because he heat was stifling. They did a BBQ buffet for about 100 guests and bought cases of wine and beer. Just to give you a rough idea, she told me their reception cost $13,000. I know their florals were $1000, not sure about DJ or photographer but they were both friends of theirs. She spent the whole day before cleaning, the morning and early afternoon setting up, and did all the clean up the next day. They loved it, but it Def didn’t save much money at all. It’s an awesome experience and I wish we could have made the weekend camp thing work but it would have cost upwards of $30,000 JUST for venue and feeding everyone, not including DJ, decor, photographers, etc. Kudos for you if you figure it out, I’d love to know how as I daydream about it sometimes lol!