Looking for a venue -- 120 guests, $10K budget. Hors d'oeuvres only options?

If you're having a meal time wedding serve a meal. Hors d'oeuvres will actually be more expensive.

Hors D'oeurves can be more expensive. You could do beer, wine and a signature drink instead of a full open bar.

What time is your reception at?

If you're having a wedding during meal time (11-2 or 5-8,) you need to serve a meal. Seeing enough hors d'oeuvres to be sufficient for a meal will be more expensive.

Same as pp's, you need to serve a full meal if you are hosting a reception at a meal time. Otherwise, change your time/add a full meal.

Also is the 10k your budget for the venue, bar and food or is it your whole entire budget?

I went to a wedding at the Maxwell Room that did heavy hors d'ouevres instead of a full meal, and not only was there plenty of food for everyone, but it was one of the best weddings I've been to. The only reason I'm not choosing this venue is because a friend used it and many of our guests will be the same. I was hoping that there might be other venues like this one, but I'm not seeing many options.

Regarding budget again, I am aiming to be as close to $10K for the whole wedding as possible, but we are okay with it creeping to $12-13K if it looks unavoidable.

I love this style too, but if it's at a meal time, you have to have stations too; mashed potato, pasta, carving, stir fry. It's rarely less expensive than a simple sit down meal.

The type of heavy hors d'ouevres that would take the place of a meal will cost just as much or more than a meal. Reconsider this. You can do Italian buffet relatively inexpensively. You can also do a BBQ with the right venue.

Thank you all for your input so far. We are also exploring buffet options, which may end up being the better route to go. And venue suggestions for more traditional dinners are still welcome, if you have them! :-)

We're having a heavy apps reception but after lunch and before dinner hours. It's going to cost just as much as a sit down dinner. So it doesn't really cut any costs.

I'm doing a 7:30 ceremony with heavy hors d'oeuvres and an open bar. My cost per person ended up being 35.50 pp kids under 9 are free. I couldn't find an all inclusive venue willing to do just hors d'oeuvres though. It took some time and research to find a venue and a caterer to make it work. BTW I'm in Indiana but I would think you could find something.

Heavy apps will be about the same as a full meal. Look at buffet options. I really wouldn't do heavy apps at mealtime. People might hold off on eating because they're expecting dinner.

Be sure to compare a buffet meal to a plated option. In some instances, the buffet could be more expensive. Just do your research and don't be afraid to ask your caterer as many questions as you need to.

It is very possible to serve enough heavy hors d'oeuvres to make up a meal, so that type of reception doesn't automatically mean it's not a meal. However, it is generally not a cost savings compared to a buffet or plated meal.

I just checked on The Venue in Fort Lauderdale, the package is $9,500 for Friday and Saturday $12,500. If you want Saturday mid day $5000.00. I also heard about the Shane center in my Miami is affordable not really sure.

I'm looking for other venues under $10k if possible.

Christine, I live in Broward Co and searched a few venues. For 120 guests, thats not much money to work with on a 10k total budget. Check out Boca Joe's catering. They were the most reasonable when I was looking to DIY the wedding. You will need to find a venue that will take outside catering like a community center or park. But again, you will have to put all the pieces together, which can be affordable (more time consuming though).

I visited the Venue. It's actually pretty cool if you are okay with a club vibe. It smelled like heaven too! They have a cute bridal room for getting ready too.

Check out Gallupi's in Pompano. They have brunch, buffet, and dinner options. Only catch is the ceremony space is outdoor only (wouldn't recommend that for August). You can get married inside, but the guests would have to sit at their dinner table, not ceremony style. Volunteer park is nice and there is a Nature Center/park in Davie I think that was really nice if you like garden/nature vibe.

Great info 5starfuturemalcom!

A) you can absolutely not do an outdoor anything in August in Florida.

B) heavy apps is fine as long as its not at meal time.q