So it looks like we may have a second local reception.....

Hi there Selena!

What about hosting a backyard ‘I Do BBQ’? This could be a super cost-effective catering option!

That is so great you can reuse the flowers. Is there anything else from your decor you can reuse?

I'm also doing two "receptions" haha. It wasn't by choice of course, but my fiance and I put a big, non refundable deposit down on our initial venue and then found out later that we won a "wedding" at a second venue. We were going to drop our first one for the prize until we realized how much each head costs at the prize venue, which would make it wayyy more expensive with our guest count. It isn't transferable so we couldn't really back out.

We decided to make the prize one a dance party/dinner kind of thing with enough guests to cover the entire prize and nothing paid out of pocket and then our actual, formal wedding in our regular venue with everyone who we want to invite (it's a much cheaper venue so we can invite a lot of people).

It kind of works out better for us this way because we will be having a dry reception due to religion/culture, so the "small" venue works out to be a place where my close friends and I can just have fun.

EDIT: as for the advice, I think it is entirely possible to have a beautiful yet cost effective backyard wedding. I would suggest DIYing a flower arch using flowers from the dollar store (having lots bunched up wont make quality matter, so you can cheap out on flowers, because you can't really tell what condition they're in when they're on the arch) I think this is a good way to really make the backyard thing pop out from the rest and give it a wedding atmosphere as opposed to a cookout feeling. Reusing your silk flowers is also really smart too! Honestly, I wouldn't complain if I was invited to a backyard wedding if the food was good, hot and had a fun atmosphere. All you need is some meat/protein, veggies, mac and cheese and some sort of dessert (cupcakes or donuts!)

That's wonderful and will be a massive help