Empty wedding fund woes

Sounds like you should push the wedding back.

Also, https://www.weddingwire.com/wedding-forums/are-you-new-do-you-have-double-ring-avatar/02cf979dd936547a.html

I would either push back the wedding or have a small ceremony with immediate family and a few close friends, and go to a nice restaurant after.

Our only saving grace is that my parents are set on paying for as much of the wedding as they can afford (because I'm the only kid of theirs who is getting married within the next decade haha) We are currently waiting to hear from them on how much of a budget they can toss our way, so there might be a very small chance we can pull this off. I wouldn't mind postponing the wedding g until summer 2018, but both sides of our family practically revolted when we suggested it! We were also trying for 2017 so hard because FH'S only biological brother (who he raised from a very young age) is shipping overseas for a 2 year tour of duty sometime early 2018. Our budget so far is only $3000 so we can't really cut costs too much more without compromising everything we want in our wedding, so it isn't really feasible to downgrade. I'm just going to keep working hard for that money and praying and maybe 2017 will have some helpful surprises for us! GOOSFRABA

How many guests are you hoping to host?

Less than 50 people. Between just parents, siblings and our 2 best friends we have 41 people so we can't cut it down much without excluding the most important people in our lives

Sounds like JOP and a nice restaurant reception

41 people on $3000?

Yeah, no. Not happening.

Cut that in half, and yes, you CAN do it.

Actually at the places I have selected $3000 will cover food, alcohol, and venue, it is just my dress that goes over budget (which it is something I want to pay for by myself anyway)

Don't forget to factor in the price of the officiant and photographer.

What places are you looking at that will cover all that for $3k? We're in NY and catering and open bar alone is $150/pp.

They aren't Joe's Crabs Shack by any chance?

Where in the U.S. can you feed and provide alcohol to 41 people on 3,000

Our photographer is still a student  so she is doing everything for cheap (she mostly wants to boost her resume) and the officiant is FH'S best friend and he has refused to accept payment.  My top choice in venue is a country club that offered me major discounts since our wedding is on a Monday (cue the horrified gasps). The bar will only be open for cocktail hour with beer and wine and then it is a cash bar after that bc neither of our families drink to speak of)  It is only about $30 a plate  for prime rib and salmon since the venue is also catering. We live in Montana so the prices aren't as exorbitant as other states (woo for the midwest!).

Your guests shouldn't have to pay for anything at the wedding, including drinks, it would be a better plan to serve just beer and wine all night. The cash bar part is actually worse than the Monday night part. If you can't host everyone properly, cut your guest list.

To be honest, cash bars are the norm here in my experience. I have never even been to an open bar wedding before! We chose to do cash bar after conferring with our families because an open bar will cost more in base fees than most everybody will drink (like I said, nobody drinks much on either side) and our guest list is literally comprised of nothing but parents, siblings (and their spouses and children of course) and our 2 best friends...all people I couldn't see having our day without and would cause major family issues if we selectively excluded. ETA: Misplaced letters, S's everywhere!

It's considered really rude to pass the cost of your reception off to your guests in the form of a cash bar. Really really rude. Your situation is not unique, and not special circumstances.

If you don't have a lot of drinkers consider a consumption vary where you pay by the drink.

A consumption bar or simply beer and wine would be the best fit for your situation, not a cash bar. I am not horrified by a Monday wedding, if your guest list is that intimate and family I don't see a large issue with it. I do see a large issue with having people take time off from work to be in your wedding and then making them pay for a beer at dinner.

I honestly didn't know a consumption bar was an option! Like I said earlier the only kind of wedding I have attended always had a cash bar (is this a small town midwest thing maybe?!?)

It is a Midwest thing. I'm in Nebraska and have been to both. Usually a keg or two are provided, but the rest is cash bar.

We have a lot of people traveling halfway across the country so we're providing everything. They're already going to be paying for travel and taking time off work. I'm not going to make them pay for a drink when they get here.

Hold on a second. We're just going to skate past the fact that your friend "repaired" your engine and all of a sudden the tranny is cracked? I'd be questioning that.

I have been to more than a few weddings in my 47 years of life and honestly can count on ONE hand how many were open bar. I was cool with it either way. Some people will find it rude some people will not... You cant please everyone!

Youve said you want to pay for your dress and you have a friend photographer.... Just curious what about Flowers,( DIY maybe?).... your $3k budget seems to be for reception only.... I think you may go over that budget some because there is are those Miscellaneous items that will come up.... But a small wedding CAN be done for 3k.... you will have to cut alot of corners though.