SUPER budget conscious

You need to cut the guest list and not self cater. That's going to be the advice you'll get, and I'd suggest listening to it.

OliviaP's avatar sums up what I was thinking right after I read this post.....

Kourtney is correct. Cut the guest list. Invite the people who matter. And only invite the people you and your partner know.

I'm sure there are people that start wedding planning with a similar mindset, but then they realize that 3k is far too little for 200, crockpot self catering is dangerous-and that the medical bills along with possible lawsuits will cost them more in the long run, and that if what they want is to spend more on their honeymoon then they should just elope, and do just that.

There are different forums with different feelings on what is considered to be acceptable when hosting.

WeddingWire will rip apart this post, because if you intend to host 200 people, it is expected that you feed them and get them drunk properly. Therefore, 3k for 200 people is an unrealistic budget for the standards of the men and women on this site.

You should expect to pay a minimum of $20 per person on food alone, but more realistically, if you want to host a wedding at any time besides 1p - 3p, then you should be serving a full dinner, which is about $30-100 pp = $8,000 on food alone.

Also, you will not do well here with self-catering statements.

Oh goodness no

We're doing $5000 for about 160, but we're having food catered in from Schlotzky's. We have friends helping us (you will hear negative feedback about friendors) and doing a lot of Dollar Tree shopping.

Oh...

I have a $5k budget but less than 15 people.

.

There are plenty of people on this site planning budget weddings. There have been some amazing BAMs showing how it can be done properly. That means catered and for a smaller number of people

I feel like your intentions are a bit contradictory. If you're more focused on the honeymoon and your lives together, why are you inviting so many people? I agree with previous posters about cutting your guest list in order to cut costs. My budget is also particularly small ($4K) but we cut down the list to 50 people so that we could offer them a better experience and so we could celebrate with those closest to us. Good luck!

Legit reading "dump meals" made me gag.

I'd elope and spend the money on your honeymoon.

Do you really need 200 people there? Why not just invite the most important people?

@Zuleima Is 100% correct! If you are so focused on your life together and honeymoon just elope! Hosting 200 guests poorly isn't going to be a great way to start your life together.

Elope in the same place you want to honeymoon, that way the budget can go to you two focusing on each other.

@Melissa I'm totally with you!

Have your wedding at a non-meal time and serve cake and some snacks.

Please don't do this. Just put that money towards your honeymoon and elope.

Oh ehmm gee.

Ok girl I got u..I'm also planning a cheap wedding..150 people and spending $7,000..that's more than u but still less than most..soo I think the main thing is make sure u have enough food for everyone..I would totally eat crock pot food ..not a big deal..but make sure u have enough alcohol..but domestic beer and cheap wine..u prolly can't afford liquor..no biggie..if u know someone likes something specific tell them it's byob too what the hell u know lol..the most fun weddings I've been to are the cheaper ones to be honest with u

"Tell them it's BYOB"