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Dedicated September 2021

Winter wedding shower venue ideas

Jennifer, on February 9, 2023 at 6:59 PM Posted in Planning 0 6

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I’m planning a wedding shower for my sister and she is planning to invite 60 guests. I’m thinking the shower will be in January (wedding in March) 2024 but I’m running in to the issue that majority of places will not fit a large group of that size without running the cost of the shower up dramatically. Unfortunately can’t do anything outdoors during that time with winter.

As far as I know, I’m the only one paying for it which is fine but I want to stay at a lower budget between $500-$1000 but I’m not sure how to do that with her inviting so many guests. I’ve mentioned this to her that I have a tight budget and she’s fine with something cheap but then also she told me she had guidelines: no reception halls or community center style places-which are places that I could possibly afford. I don’t know anyone with a large enough house either.
I do know some won’t show, but about 80% of the guest list is the grooms side of the family and she believes his whole side will attend. Our side of the family only makes up about 5 guests.
Any ideas on how to plan a large winter wedding shower on a budget?
Thank you!

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6 Comments

Latest activity by Paige, on February 10, 2023 at 11:17 AM

VIP June 2019
Hanna · on February 9, 2023 at 7:48 PM
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I'm sorry but your sister is out of line with her "guidelines." 60 guests is a very large number for a shower, and you can only afford what you can afford. Typically the bride only provides the guest list and the hosts handle everything else. For a shower as large as 60 people, on a budget, and in the winter, a community center or reception hall is the most logical solution. Or, since the groom's family makes up the majority of the guests, are some people from his side able to co-host with you? A shower for 60 guests at a restaurant would probably run you $3k at the very least, whereas you could totally pull off a shower for less than $1k at a community center or reception hall. Have you explained this to your sister? You're not an ATM, and she can't demand that you spend money you don't have. Hopefully she will see this and be willing to compromise--have a 60 person shower at a community center, or lower the guest count to somewhere around 20 if she wants a fancier venue. Good luck!
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Dedicated September 2021
Jennifer · on February 9, 2023 at 7:55 PM
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Thank you!! You said exactly what I was thinking and I appreciate you words of advise! I think I will have to sit down and discuss all of this with her. I appreciate your help!
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Super May 2022
Erin · on February 10, 2023 at 1:48 AM
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My eyes almost popped out when I read “60 guests”. That is unusually large for a shower. Is this a couples shower or a bridal shower? I think your sister needs to pick a certain circle (or 2) so that this scales down to a more reasonable size and is something you can afford to host.

I had both a couples shower and a bridal shower thrown for me, but the guest lists were different circles (with the exception of parents, siblings, and bridesmaids who were invited to both). The couples shower was only our church friends + wedding party + parents (28 total) The bridal shower was only female family members, close female family friends, moms, and bridesmaids (about 15 total).
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Champion November 2054
Jacks · on February 10, 2023 at 2:56 AM
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I visibly pulled back when I read 60 guests. That's very very very large for one person to host as a shower. I would ask her to go back to the beginning with the guest list, and hold the number at something like 15-20.
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Super June 2021
Bird · on February 10, 2023 at 5:31 AM
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You can consider a brunch? A restaurant near me does brunch events for $25 a person. That is $1500 total for 60 guests. Not even including any decor or games or invitations.

I wonder if she said no community center style places… is that because she doesn’t like the look of it? Maybe you can find a place that you can afford and show her pictures of it, possibly with another bridal or baby shower hosted there so she can envision that it can be cute even though it’s in a community center.

Good luck!!!
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VIP October 2022
Paige · on February 10, 2023 at 11:17 AM
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I agree with the other poster's advice here. If your sister is set on having that large of a guest list, I think the path of least resistance would be to show her pictures of venues you can afford when they're decorated for events and explain to her that you'll do your best to make them look nice, but that that's what your budget will allow for. I also think asking someone on the groom's side (his mom, an aunt, a sister, a cousin, etc.) to co-host would be a good idea since their side is making up so much of the guest list.
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