Super small and cheap wedding

Food and alcohol are the things to focus on, though if your budget is $2,500 for everything (dress, photographer, venue, etc), you may want to trim your guest list or have a cake and punch reception.

It really just depends on the costs in your area. In some areas, it's pretty much impossible to have a reception for 50 for $2500. In some areas, it's doable if you find an inexpensive caterer and are willing to focus on a simple quality meal with drinks. Are there any local restaurants with a private room big enough for 50? That might be an affordable option.

Cut the list even more. We have a package we developed with an officiant, bouquet, bout, lunch, a solo musician wine and a cake. It's about 4000.00. For 35 guests.

What does the $2500 need to include? Back out of that price the officiant, at least a bouquet and a bout, a cake, and alcohol. And - I'd recommend a photographer for an hour. What's left is what you have to feed everyone.

It's do-able (you are hosting a 50-person party at a restaurant, or having it catered to your location), but something has to give. Contact a couple of restaurants that interest you, and see what they charge, and see how much alcohol is. That's how you'll decide. I've done a very nice holiday party luncheon buffet with a great, respected caterer, for 75 people, for about that price, including the very lovely park district hall (that truly is lovely!). That included hall tables/chairs and white linens, and the caterer decorated the buffet table. They provided non-alcoholic spritzers for beverages, and we provided all of our own desserts. Three hour hall rental with one hour set-up.

You just have to start looking and planning.

I'm a little confused. You say you want "the whole experience" but you aren't having dancing. So what does the "whole" experience entail for you? Right now you're planning on a Saturday evening wedding, but you could likely get better pricing for a Sunday afternoon ceremony and luncheon. If you're not doing the dance party that might be more ideal for you.

Choose afternoon and go for maybe a Sunday or Friday if you're not having dancing.

Yea I am doing a friday, I think i forgot to change it on here. By the whole experience i mean a ceremony and reception. Its my FH's second wedding so he would honestly be happy with Vegas and a nice honeymoon, so im compromising on a small wedding. The cheapest wedding venue i found was 1600 and thats pushing it... i think it might be better to keep it just immediate family.

I was also planning on having a photographer who is just starting out to cut the cost a bit.

There is everything good about a non-traditional reception. Many of my clients do that. Enjoy!!

I'm growing my own flowers, it saves tons of money! $2500 is my budget too and it's very doable if you diy almost everything!

I've been to the small, fabulous, memorable wedding. There were probably 15 people in attendance.

Was it a special celebration? You'd better believe it. There were sequins, gorgeous suits, and flowers. Was it a wedding? Without a doubt. After the exchange of the vows, we were all ushered into a private room in the back of the restaurant. It featured a long table that was beautifully set with white linen, china, stemmed glassware, flowers, and candles. None of us could miss the two tiered wedding cake in the corner -- and we enjoyed cocktails of every variety, delicious apps, and a multi-course meal. It was a wedding...a beautiful, photographed, sacred event that I will never forget.

You have a choice: lots of guests minimally hosted or a minimal amount of guests gloriously hosted. Believe me, the latter is the better choice. I've done both. One made me want to linger. The other had me looking at my watch.

Hi Emily,

How many weddings have you attended? What were your favorite parts? How much are you willing to do yourself or ask for help in doing to save costs?

I get that you want the whole experience and I think you are smart for keeping a small budget. I would make a list of all the things that you want and prioritize them by matter of importance.

Don't ask for help. Mrs. Johnson judges the size of balls by how much help you're willing to ask for...so that's something to remember. Please...do not self-cater. It's a rude, awful thing to do (because the lady in the white gown won't be doing the free prep, cooking, and serving). Seriously, cut your guest list to include those who truly mean something to you. Then, find a lovely restaurant with a private room, and let the professionals cook and serve your guests. Believe me, you'll have a day that you'll always remember.

Where are you located? Where I live, your budget is on point for a perfectly nice wedding for that number of guests... But where, for example, Celia is located, that's probably close to impossible.

I can't even take 20 people out to dinner, with wine, tax and tip, for 2500.

I live in washington near the tacoma area so its hard to find a venue for under 2000. I like the idea of having it at the restaurant. We have tons of water options around here so maybe do a small thing near there. Didn't think about that. And growing my own flowers is a great idea. Im already starting a garden so that could be an option. Just so much to think about.

Find a restaurant for sure. The place I work at just hosted a 25th anniversary party for 44 people on Sunday, a day we only open for party's 25+. It was $17.50 per person they had chicken Marsala, stuffed banana peppers, penne pasta l, spaghetti aglio e olio, sausage onion and peppers and salad. My boss definitely gave the hosts a discount because they come all the time but that meal would usually run about 20 per person. As for alcohol the beer and wine were on the couple but if people wanted liquor they had to pay cash. At the end of the night it was a little over $900. So try your hardest to either find a hall where you can bring in your own food, look for restaurants that have Togo catering, and diy the decor or just go to a restaurant. If it helps I'm located in Cleveland and while it's not expensive like NY, DC etc it is fairly pricey in some spots. You just gotta keep looking. Good luck.

Well this year would be perfect to grow a bunch and see what works well together!

I'm doing my entire 40-person wedding for 3k. And our food is almost half that.

I'd be happy to share my budget if you need more ideas.

$2500 is tough. Our buffet was $25 a person for 50 people so about $1200. Wine, beer, and signature drink for those of drinking age was about $800. So our food and alcohol was almost your whole budget.

I agree with others you either have to cut your guest list or do cake and punch reception.

Also many brides have talked about getting BBQ catered for $10 a person so that might be an option.