Paying for the Wedding ourselves

View Quoted Comment Okay well since you are so set on not having alcohol I think you should really consider having a morning or afternoon wedding, like a cake and punch wedding like others have suggested. Or maybe a brunch wedding. To be blunt, some of your guests will hate going to a dry wedding at dinner time. Many people will consider that poor hosting because a wedding is a nice event and most people want the option to have alcohol at a nice event, especially in the evening. This is not just my opinion, there are lots of posts on here about dry weddings where you will see that many others have the same opinions.

Thanks everyone for the advice. To be blunt....I don't really care if anyone at MY wedding thinks it's rude to not have alcohol. If they can't have fun with out alcohol then that's thier problem. That's honestly how I feel....... If they aren't paying for it then they have no say. There will be a DJ and dancing so...... As long as I marry my best friend that's all that matters. Not what others think

Cut the guest list. A lot. I'm having a brunch wedding which is cheaper and I'm hoping and praying to be able to keep it under 10k for 50-70 guests. A good photographer is 2k. A great photographer is 3.5-5k

Factor the officiant, dj, flowers etc and you are up another 1-2k easily.

You should have a morning or afternoon wedding and not have one at a meal time. You could serve brunch foods. I know you said no alcohol but you could serve mimosa's, tea and water. I wouldn't recommend doing it at dinner time unless you can really find an affordable caterer.

You can get your dress from David's bridal. The guys can wear black or gray suits that they already own. You can get a nice veil off etsy and accessories. You can use candle centerpieces instead of flowers or minimum flowers. You can get a lot of things from hobby lobby, Michaels and quick candles for decor. Keep it simple.

You will have to do a lot of research to pull it off but I would cut the guest list down to less than 100. You may find it more doable and may be able to save some money towards the wedding in between now your wedding day.

I would offer a buffet dinner with one entree, veggie and starch. But you may need to cut some items just so can feed everyone or up your budget a little. But that is enough money to feed 150 people. I wish you and your future husband the best and remember its only one day enjoy it.

I, too had to make the difficult decision to leave out aunts, cousins and uncles. I come from a very large, Cajun family. My venue was 1200 dolalrs with a max capacity of 60 people. I saved a ton this way.

Ultimately, your extended family will understand because they are not paying for wedding, you are. I agree w earlier statements of age being a factor in comfort with this difficult decision. You will come to a point in your life where you don't give a damn what family think unless they are forking the bill or contributing.
If you absolutely cannot widdle down the list, I would suggest considering a potluck. It's not tacky if you desire everyone to come. Assign foods and ensure people follow through. It's stressful but saves a ton of money. Treat it like a family reunion food buffet and you should be good. Best of luck!

If you don't want to cut guest list, you could find a cheap banquet hall, church with space or U.E Hall that can accommodate that many and also find independent or on the rise dj, photographers etc...

I hear everyone saying cut the guest list. But I think it's possible, our venue is $1600 we are inviting about 1000 people and running on your same budget.
I just called a local Mexican restaurant and for a ground beef taco bar it's 7.99 a person! Includes chips, salsa, mini chimis, beans and rice.
I would look into smaller local resturaunts, call and ask about catering options. Mexican food is especially cheap. And then for appetizers, buy some fruit and cracker trays to set out from Costco or pinwheel platters.
Definatly buying your own apps is going to cut the cost.
Good luck!

My budget is pretty similar! Hopefully you haven't found your venue yet (unless it's at your house), because that is going to make a huge difference. I've posted this before, but here are my tips. If you haven't picked a venue yet, I suggest Googling "[your state] state park wedding" and you'll find so many options for venues between $300-1000 where you can DIY it all. Same with community centers and fire halls. Often times they'll supply chairs and tables already too. Once you find a venue, I suggest pricing local Italian, Mexican, and BBQ places for catering because it'll be affordable and delicious. Join a fb group for wedding consignment in your area (usually named by state, i.e. Maryland Wedding Consignment). That's always a great option for decor and linens and such for cheap because it's second hand. Also thrifting is great. If you want flowers, buy them in bulk or from a grocery store like Safeway or Costco. Grocery store bakeries are also a great way for wedding cake or cupcakes at a fraction of the cost and just as delicious. I did invitations online through Greenvelope.com, which is eco friendly and a money saver, but there are other online invitation options that might be even more affordable. The most important thing to do is make sure you shop around. I hope this helps!

Also if you change your mind on alcohol, Pinterest has a lot of charts and recommendations for supplying your own. Kegs are especially economical.

View Quoted Comment I agree. I haven't seen one place that will hold that many under 7. It's a task to accommodate that load, understandably. OP, I was exactly the same as you when I started. I had 150 people for my ultimate awesome wedding idea. Then reality set in for me when I began research venues and food. It's okay. Breathe. No one should be offended if you tell them you're on a budget. They should understand. I found a venue for 1200 but the limit was 60 people. Do I want to break my bank and forget a honeymoon? Nope. My attitude is: if they aren't financially contributing, they really shouldn't be upset, you know? So for food, I asked my stepdad to smoke his amazing brisket. The smoker can hold enough to feed 42 adults and 18 children. Sides will be purchased at Sam's club. Using fancy paper plates and matching plasticware. Hopefully you have an option of a cook or two in that 150 person guest list?

Unfortunately, I don't have a budget to fit in hiring outside family and friends to help w wedding. All my chosen people have backup family/friends I have chosen for safeguard. You'll find a way. Don't feel guilty about anything. That was the hardest part for me to get over. Feeling guilty can be EXPENSIVE.

View Quoted Comment I second this

View Quoted Comment That's impressive! And I was patting myself on the back with my 180 under $8000 haha

Our guest list is about 140 right now and I don't think there's anyway to get a venue with food and alcohol below 10K.

View Quoted Comment Thanks for the ideas, cause my budget is around the same as well, it is definitely doable and can still have the look and feel to make it all you wanted plus more.

If all thy matters is marrying your best friend, have you considered eloping or having a small (like parents grabdparents and siblings only) ceremony and taking that small group out to dinner?

View Quoted Comment That's how I feel! No lies, it's a lot of work in terms of researching, but people do it all the time

Catering from a local restaurant is cheaper than catering from a caterer, in my area at least. We are catering from a local Italian joint that is modestly priced at $12.99/pp. A local meat shop/restaurant had catering for $8.99/pp (but without servers) but we decided not to go with them since they didn't have any vegetarian options (go figure).

A buffet is not always cheaper than a plated dinner, but a buffet was cheaper for us. You could save money by hiring servers separate from the caterer, providing drinks yourself, etc. Have you found a venue yet? You may want to go with a park or something else that's government/community owned. My venue holds 250 people for $800.