Reception for under $3k. Help please!!

Do a late morning ceremony with cocktails and hors' afterwards. Let people know on the invite that you're not serving a meal. And cut the guest list.

I think the ceremony will be a different day from the reception. Only a few people will be at the ceremony. Any suggestions on places?

I would do a lunch. You can get away with no alcohol at a lunch easier than an evening reception. I would seriously cut the guest list.

Honestly, I cant see what you are describing being possible with $2,000-$3,000 without cutting the guest list or changing it to a non-meal time with apps or cake and punch. My bar tab alone is budgeted at double that for 200 people. Maybe push the party out a bit further to save more.

You'll have to do some research on places specific to your area. Find out of you can get things done cheaper on a Friday vs a Saturday, or with a morning/early afternoon reception instead.

Besides Friday/Sunday being less expensive, October is a busy wedding month. A lot of venues here discount in the off season, Jan-March.

$3000 for 100 people...it means $30/pp and you want it to include alcohol. Maybe if you inquire personally at local restaurants they may accomodate that budget?

It may be hard for you to find reliable catering services that will work for such a thin profit margin. (imagine: 1 server per 20 guests + clean up crew = 7 employees. If you pay them just $100 each + tips they'll already eat into 1/3 of your budget)

Do you have a friend who have access to party rooms in an apartment, Or a local business hotel with a meeting room to rent? That way you just have to get a temp liquor license and serve take-out party trays of food.

It doesn't have to be a traditional reception. A brunch that includes mimosas could work. I 100% want there to be mimosas and/or bloody mary's, no other alcohol.

I think I could get it down to 80 people. I don't need any of the traditional things at a reception like cake, centerpieces since I figure a restaurant will already be nice enough.

And Annie, I was just trying to see if anyone knew of any nicer brunch places that include mimosas that can accommodate 80-100 people. I can always call around based on that!

Ok, let me explain it in more detail. You have 3k or 30.00 per person. You need a room big enough for the 100 people. Now, Baltimore is probably close to Philly pricing, so that means looking into an alternative place as most venues in busy October are going to run close to or more than your entire budget. Most state/local parks won't allow liquor. So you have to look outside the city areas. Maybe an American Legion or VFW (which tends to mean that you have to use them for alcohol). Say they charge 500.00, you have 2,500 to work with. Now IF they have tables and chairs, you have to provide a covering. Let's say you have 10 people at a table, that's 10 tables. Even at 15.00 a cloth, that's taking another 150.00 out of your budget, leaving you with 2,350. Now you need something to serve food on, nice disposables would work. That's going to run you (give or take) 300.00 leaving you with 2,050.00. Now the food. Let's say that someone gives you basic lunch food at 10.00 a person (that's on the low end for lunch). That's another 1,000.00 leaving you with 1,050.00. You need to have staff there. Again, going on the low low end, you need at least 3 people, which I won't pretend is going to cost less than 100.00 per person, but likely will be more especially if they are providing the liquor liability. That's got you down to 750.00. You want alcohol. Say it is 4.00 a drink, probably average price there, that's That's 400.00 leaving you with 300.00. Liability insurance is likely going to take half of what you have left, leaving you with 150.00. You have no photography, cake, music, decoration so you would need to fit everything into what you have left.

If you absolutely must have 80-100 guests, I would go with cake and punch.

Like I said, I am looking for something a bit unconventional. I think I can find a brunch somewhere that is around $30 a person and maybe cut my guest list down to 80 people.

What you are talking about is finding a restaurant. That still means finding one that has enough space for your group. Restaurants depend on a lot of turnover of tables, so they have to have a room that is separate. If you find one and you have plated service, not buffet, you are still looking at a good 20.00 per person for food and 1 mimosa. Add in other juices or coffee and it's more. Since you aren't going to have the staff that's already on, you have to pay for them too. None of that includes anything they may charge for renting the room, tipping, photography, music or decor or any sort. Even if you scrapped the music, without decor of some kind, what you really have is you taking 100 people out for brunch.

@crystal is on point here. When I go to brunch with FH with bloodys for him and mimosas for me it typically runs us +$45, that is before tip at a local supper club in Madison WI which is much less expensive than Philly. Start googleing now and be prepared to change your plans to fit your budget.

Check with hotels. Maybe the waterfront Marriott. They have brunch packages, etc.

we are having a brunch after our wedding for our OOT guests in Towson for $2K for about 60 guests. but that does not include music! only breakfast, center peices, linens and food. NO ALCOHOL either.

Also, Annapolis may be expensive, you may want to look elsewhere. October is very popular time in MD, so I would look into hotels and restaurants.

Thanks guys!

I think Kahler Hall in Columbia, MD would be a great fit for you (their website says they are 25 minutes from Baltimore). I remember one budget bride from a while back who held her wedding there, and was really surprised at the pricing. You don't need the larger and more expensive ballroom because you are only hosting 100 people. Their site says you can rent the social room (maximum capacity of 120) for $285 if you hold your event on a Saturday and the party is over by 5:00 PM. They do have an in house caterer, but you are free to use your own. The cost includes tables and chairs, but I'm going to guess linens are extra. In any event, with such a low venue rental rate, you're left with quite a bit of money to decided what kind of catering you want, and who you will choose (you do have access to a full kitchen, and beer and wine is permitted). Here's a link. Unless you go the public park route, I don't think you're going to do any better for $3K for 100 guests.

http://www.kahlerhall.org/

Http://www.idocelebrate.net/

i know they do stuff all over the country ! they have a 20% all receptions right now too!

I know they do stuff all over the country and have 20% all receptions right now

http://www.idocelebrate.net/