On a $4,000 budget

Ah ha ha ha no.

I know this isn't what you're asking but you will need to cut your guest list smaller to be able to stay in budget. I'm having 100 guests and the caterer gave us a price of almost $4,000 just for food.

That's too many people for that budget depending on what kind of reception you are looking for.

My photographer cost more then this.

Try google or the vendor tab at the top of this page

You want to have the ceremony and reception for $4,000.00 in NJ with 90 people? No.

Your backyard?

I am not sure 4K is enough to do all of that..

Forgive me- I'm on mobile and shitty computer- so I flip flop between the two.

Its NJ- everything's expensive. And for 4K- you can host about 10 people.

Well- at 35$/person- for 90 people you can do 3150. So I mean you CAN- but you'd have to wear your own clothes- and you could have to have a court house wedding.

Options-

Wait and save more.

Or

Cut your guest list down to 15-20 people and host them for 4K- THAT is reasonable and doable.

You could probably do a cake and punch reception for $4k.

I mean- if you lived in Milleville- you could probably do 30 people for 4K- but in red bank- no way jose.

That will get you a really lovely small ceremony with parents, grandparents and sibling and a nice dinner after. Something to consider

Ya more like 40 people for $4k. For 85 guests its a $15k wedding. That was with me doing some serious bargain hunting.

Good luck.

Jeanne's response kind of comes off as snarky but honestly that's a great suggestion for your budget!

That or you may have to cut your guest list sorry!

Do you have any equestrian friends? Maybe you could hold your wedding in a pasture, and since it is not a place dedicated to weddings you may be able to negotiate a reasonable price.

Another possibility is If you have a friend with a large back yard, good luck

A strict $4000 budget? Even if that was just for the venue, I seriously doubt it. If it's for your entire wedding, there is absolutely no way to host up to 90 people with that amount of money (especially with the annually rising costs of everything and almost 2.5 years between now and then).

You've got a couple of years to save. I'd suggest what other brides have done. Second jobs and cutting out life's extras (restaurants, happy hours, vacations, mani/pedis, shopping therapy, Starbucks, cable TV, etc.).

Do not be discouraged!!! Our original budget was $4,000 and I learned a lot of tips! Check with memorial buildings, reserved parks, someone's backyard! You don't have to have a fancy shmance venue to have a beautiful wedding! Make it at a time of day where you don't have to serve a full meal, light snacks and appetizers will be a lot more cost efficient! Budget SUPER well. I looked up percentages of budgets that people spend on most things. Leave out the things you don't need! Menus, save the dates ect. DIY and buy in bulk! Ask your friends if they have anything left over from their weddings! Pinterest helped me stay low budget (:

Cake and punch reception may be an option. A plated/buffet, NOPE.

Sorry to say that it will probably not happen for that budget if you want to properly host your guests. Cut your guestlist and be open to letting some things go. The ladies here have some great money saving and dyi ideas. However, you can't skimp on items like food so expect a huge chunk of money to go towards it.

What, specifically, are you wanting for your wedding? If you just want a simple ceremony and a cake/punch reception that may be totally doable. Without any context this idea doesn't seem feasible.

No way you can do that for 100 people. I'm expecting under 200, and my budget is 7.5x yours. Maybe you could do cake and punch? Or, only invite 20 people?