so the kids wanting to get married sept 09. Shes talking 100-150 folks. for the beer and pizza type person, whats it cost for a reception? Say we knock it down to 100 bucks. I personally think these places that cater to weddings are about as bad as funeral parlors.
Im trying to get some alternative, creative, ideas. I was told about 25-30 per person for catering. + music, photogs, etc. plus other stuff I cant imagine. I see it hitting 6-7000 bucks real quick. Id rather see them do it simple and save the extra for a down payment for a home, furniture. cars are paid for.. Jim

My wife and I went the DIY route(like you'd expect any different? :D)

She made the cake and all the decorations, my buddy donated his time and '37 Caddy limo, and my new father in law did a pig roast for us in their backyard.

The only thing we really paid for was a professional photographer and we ended up getting a deal there too because he was breaking in a new partner so we got a full set of color and B&W pictures.

After all that, we still paid about 10 grand. And I don't know that many people, it was mostly her family. Trying to do it for much less would be somewhat difficult. You could probably do it for the 6-7000 you are imagining.

I had a buddy who "broke even" on a $25,000 wedding! I'd say he's a dope but he's a school principal making six figures now so it's tough to rag on him :D :(

IDK about the catering but I've seen ALOT of weddings that have professional photos take of the bride/groom and then with the brides maids/groomsmen. Then they go and buy the cheap toss away cameras and put them on every table for the guests.

I have seen this at about 4 different weddings in the past 5 years and from what I hear, the pictures always turn out to be not only great, but have alot of stories behind them:thumbsup:

We didn't have a pot to pee in or a window to throw it out of when we 'jumped the broom', and between the both of us we had lots of friends, so we decided to have as many people as we could and keep it casual as opposed to a few people and formal. We used my mother-in laws place, and rented as big a tent and dance floor as we could. I worked on an old Willys jeep for a guy who was in a great band, and had to force them to take some money; we bought all the raw food at BJ's and lots of friends pitched in and prepared it, like roast beef, ham, turkey, my aunts made trays of stuffed shells and baked ziti, we bought kegs of beer, booze and wines by the case, rented plates and silverware, served the food buffet style, a couple of friends helped out bartending and we hired some college girls to help serve and clean up. We had over 200 people and did it under 6 grand, and got way more than that in much appreciated gift money. That was eighteen years ago and people still tell me it was one of the best receptions they'd been to. It was a lot more work than doing the hall and caterer deal, but it worked out great for us.

We didn't have a pot to pee in or a window to throw it out of when we 'jumped the broom'

Pretty much the same here. We went down to the courthouse, got married, my brother gave us a set glassware, and we went home. No reception, no honeymoon, nothing. But we've made it 20 years as of today. :yes: :hurray:

I've been to a few $30k weddings over the years. I'm always happy with our choice, though. It makes the anniversaries a lot more low key too, as anything we do trumps the wedding day. :D

For my brothers 3 wedding receptions we (family and friends) did all of the decorating, and setup. We rented one of those BBQ trailers and BBQed tri-tip/chicken. WE bought most of the food at Costco and other low cost places. The "wedding" cake was small, the rest of the people just got sheet cake that my (now)sister in law made on her own time. We also had the local Nat'l Guard Armoury to host the reception as my dad and brother were in the Guard, no cost. I have no idea how much it costs, but it sure beats paying a caterer. Not to mention plenty of beer drinking and guys being guys around the BBQ while cooking.

I did the same thing with my wife I think it cost us $500.00 total including the limo and the 2 day stay at the Omni hotel in Jacksonville on July 4th..
Now I cant even believe that we spent around 20-25K for each one of her daughters for their weddings:clonk:I tried to talk them into doing it the same way my wife and I did it 13 years ago. I think most of these kids now a days want all the bling bling crap, dont get me wrong both of my step daughters we had one hell of a wedding for both of them and the food was out of this world. I like the easy way Keep it simple stupid =KISS method works best.:yes:

My youngest son (Zac), many of you know him, is getting married in 2 days (Fri, Aug 8). Sort of kind of a last minute deal (well, almost). The whole event is going to be in my cousin's back yard just before sunset. HER parents (they live across the street from us) are basically doing nothing (it'll be interesting to see how neighborly they are after Fri!!!!!!!!). Soooooooooooo, Janet and I are essentially doing it all with a LOT of help from my cousin and his wife (her and my wife grew up together and are lifelong friends).
We are doing a SERIOUS DIY, ultra low budget ceremony. Another neighbor will be the photog, and we've limited it to 50 people (as we decide to invite one more here and one more there). Everytime I turn around, my wife has bought this, bought that and STILL has more to buy!!!!!!!!!
I don't care how you slice it-------------------IT AIN'T GONNA BE CHEAP!!!!! So, just enjoy the moment, and figure out how to pay for it tomorrow! :thumbsup:

Although----------------there is a silver lining coming soon.
NEXT Fri, Janet and I are leaving for Cancun---------------------JUST THE TWO OF US, for a week. First time ever we have taken a real vacation without a kid!

Congrats to Zac, Tom! That's great!! :thumbsup: Please shake his hand for me!!

If you wind up with more folks than planned you could always break out the CB trailer and do up some burgers & beers. They are the best! :yes:

Enjoy your Cancun trip with the Mrs.

Andy

I'd get them in a room and propose "Tom's solution" for the wedding and, if you want, contribute say $5k or so to a "House Fund" at the bank. You'll see real quick if they have a clue about finances..............

hand them tickets to Las Vegas and tell them to elope! That is what my wife and I did, cost us like $2000 to get married. No dresses, no tuxes, no food, a little gambling money in the pocket, 36 hours, and been married coming up on 22 years.

here's some alternative and creative ideas. :D
http://www.cmt.com/shows/dyn/my-big-redneck-wedding/series_videos.jhtml

Elope is the way to go. My wife and I started planning a big wedding and were soon in the $20K range. We decided to forgo that route and get married in Mexico. We sent out invitations to all our friends and family and requested they attend if they had the means to do so. We had a small wedding on a beach, with our families and a few close friends (That is all that really matters when you look back at it). Our entire honeymoon and wedding was under $5K. We had a professional photographer, Mariache band (SP), Cake and a wedding coordinator. We used Palace Resorts and loved it.

When we got back we had a BBQ at the house with a beach theme.

I could not be happier with our decision - we saved money to build a new house, have great memories and received all the same gifts we would of had if we had a local wedding.

We went the El Cheapo route - judge's chambers, nice weekend trip to Eureka Springs. I think it cost us around $1000, including the license, gas, hotel, food, and donation to the animal shelter (per the judge's request).

Can't expect kids to want that though. Young women always want that big to do, for some silly reason.

Funny, both of us were married before, big party for each one, probably $10K+ for mine at least. My marriage lasted 4 years, hers all of a year. 4+ years now, and she hasn't killed me, even after dragging home a rusty Healey and making her drive the van home all the way from NW Arkansas while I drove a cool muscle car, which she hates :) . Hmm, she has her faults, but this one might be a keeper :D

I sometimes arrange food here at work for large groups when we have out-of-towners in for meetings, and I've found that one of the cheaper ways to get good, edible food that most everyone enjoys is to have one of the local BBQ joints cater it. They put out large pans of pork, chicken, beef, beans, slaw, sweet tea, etc. and we do a buffet. Seems like a lot of successful mom & pop BBQ joints are successful caterers.

When the bride and I got married 28 years ago we had over 300 people and it probably cost under 2000.00. We were married in our church, didn't cost us anything to use the church. The minister was 25.00 and the two ladies who sang were 25.00 each. My wifes dress was 400.00 if I remember correctly and the tuxes were around 300.00 for all. Our reception was at our church and consisted of cake(wedding and sheet) 200.00, mints 20.00 and punch(7UP & ??) 100.00. We served no alchohol. The flowers, candles, etc.. were around 400.00. Our honeymoon was at the Marriott in KC for two nights 150.00.

Both my sisters had the big $$$$ weddings and I've been to several $$$$ weddings and just don't see the point. My wife and I go to the wedding to see the people we care about get married. We don't go to the receptions anymore because we feel the purpose of what the day means has been lost plus the additional expense to the families for something that we really don't enjoy. It seems like everyone trys to out do each other. Senseless in my opinion. Pete

ok, i just went threw this last sept. go down to smart and final, buy a few bags of tri-tip, and a big container of montreal steak seasoning, get several cases of mixed soda and beer, buy the big red tubs for drinks. lots of red cups and a few of the tri packs of condiments. a few of the huge bottles of salad dressing.

reserve chairs and tables NOW! don't forget table cloths, and these places usually rent utensils....

start asking now, who can do a cake?

go to local supply warehouses and find fish bowls and colored rocks and flowers for center pieces. get a crap load of throw away camera's, tons of crepe paper, and table decorations, this really bonds the girls before the wedding.

get over to the local florist or have somebody you can trust do the flowers. even if you don't do a bunch of flowers, make sure the bride has a boquet....

get somebody you trust with a digital camera. ask around, somebodies kid is a aspireing d.j. and needs a gig. or look in craigslist.

start calling all the aunts and neices to bring thier famous side dishes, call uncles and nephews and have them bring beer and plenty of ice.

get over to your church and make sure the vicar is available. get them over to the court house now, sometimes they only give wedding liscenses on certain days.

you have a short time to put this together, but the most important thing is the party. if the party is good, then the bride is happy, and it is her day. have a talk with the young men, this is not a day to get stupid drunk and ruin your girls big day, tell them it's the day to be adult, and help where needed. keep an eye for trouble and cool it before it escalates. again this is your girls day and she wants to have fond memories, not the day uncle ted was dragged out by the cops....

you have a lot in front of you, and time flies quickly. this is your girls day, don't let anybody ruin it, if you can keep, the boys low key, and the drama queens quiet, you'll be the hero, it's time to step up, and show your girl, just how much she means to you. weddings are for the girls, but the bride is usually thinking about thier dad, be there, and everything will go fine.

the p.o.s. my s.d. calls a dad, left two days before her wedding, luckily the wife and i left nothing to him, we made sure everything went without a hitch.

heres a good piece of advice, find the youngest nephew with a liscense, have a pocket full of 100's, if anything comes up short, send the kid after it. he will think he's important (he is) and probably not drinking.

drinking can cause the biggest problem, the grooms group will see this as a time to party, but you don't want them sloppy at the ceremony. i wasn't popular, but i made it clear, no drinking till after the ceremony, which worked out, because it was so friggin hot, a few of the guys almost passed out, imagine if they were drunk?

my s.d. came to me and thanked me for the day, this was big, because my s.d. and i have not got along, and now she calls me 4-5 times a week asking for advice. her mom gets pissed because she only calls her 1-2 times a week.

be a father, be a dad, be a hero. get in there and get it done, we're all rooting for you...

Weddings are like restoring a car. Come up with a number and double it.

We had ours 3 years ago (to the day :) )at her aunt's house on the river, so that was free. We still spent $9K or so and that was with 80-90 people.

Glad both my kids got married a long time ago, I think we spent about 5K each for the complete weddings....reception was punch and cake at the wedding place; then a BBQ at my place for those that wanted to eat and drink more.

I just got married last year... Tried to keep it small, around 50 people- but the location/food, ceremony, flowers & decorations, cake, photos, had the total around $10k :eek: and that didn't include her dress.

I can't even imagine trying to do it with 100+ people. I'd have a heart attack. Even with 50 people i barely remember it or who i talked to.

While we both loved it all- Tracy and I both agree now that we wish we had just kept it down to only immediate family in someones back yard, and spent the rest on the honeymoon.

I remember after getting engaged thinking that i'd be able to pull it all off for around $5k. LOL. Boy was that a stupid thought!

hand them tickets to Las Vegas and tell them to elope! That is what my wife and I did, cost us like $2000 to get married. No dresses, no tuxes, no food, a little gambling money in the pocket, 36 hours, and been married coming up on 22 years.

I agree. My parents did the courthouse thing. Just a couple friends were there. Still happily married and get along great 48 years later. My cousin, a couple years ago, got married with costs upwards of $40000 and was seperated 8 months later. Now divorced! :eek:

Here's an idea for a wedding cake that won't break the bank.


http://members.cox.net/davoaz/rnwedcake.jpg

I'm two months from tying the knot. Invited 150, probably have 120-125 at the reception all said and done. Ceremony at a church. The church wants $1200+ or -, can you believe that! I nearly fell out of my chair. Reception at a nice "members only" type club, but they open it for special occassions. Hosted bar for cocktail hour and then $1,000 host bar from the end of cocktail hour until the $1k runs dry. We're in it pretty deep. My mom and stepdad are paying 1/4th, my dad and stepmom are paying 1/4th, and my fiance and I are coming up with the other 1/2.

Honeymoon to Hawaii (Maui) is free due to airline miles and Marriott points. Those miles/points alone are saving over $5,000 as we're staying seven nights at the Ritz Carlton Kappalua.

I tried my best to get my fiance to do a simple wedding (not all her fault, I wanted something nice as well). Even said the vast majority of people I talked to that spent big money wish they hadn't. At least we are able to do this without going into debt.

look, good for all those that were married in front of 10 people and are married for 100 years, i truly respect them, and wish them another 100 happy years.

i said it once and i'll say it again, weddings are for the girls, it's the one time in thier life that they get to be the center of attention, to be the princess. look... we'd all not even blink to spend 20k on the right sheet metal, and it could be wrecked in a heart beat, and we all know if diamonds and gold are so rare, why are there more jewelry stores than starbucks? it's to make her feel special....

if you got a girl who'll get married in front of a keg and a pot of macaroni and cheese, i'm all for it. but if you care for your fiance, or daughter, and you can keep it resonable, then i say throw one hell of a party, and have a great time.

heck! look at what most of us throw at a b.b.q. or a party....just look at it as the biggest party your going to ever throw, and do the best you can with the budget you have. if people kick in thier talents, things come together, and you'll have a blast...

We did ours vows at the courthouse and her mom did a small dinner party, how much? Probably under $300. On our 35th wedding anniversary, we threw our own party, my wife searched for the best prices by phoning all the local places and our florist did an amazing job with the flowers and a friend did the cake for $50 and our DJ was 200, the whole shebang at the local Holiday Inn came in at 3500. We asked 125 people, 85 or 90 showed. How's that?

My wife and I got married 38 years ago(been together for 40) by the Bishop of the Church of the LDS for free. Only the immediate family was there.
It doesn't matter how many people are there, or how much is spent.
What matters is making the marriage work.

Topic title says it all...
"Wedding Budget"
Yeah right...ain't no such thing! :)
To this day I don't know how much my daughter's wedding cost us and it's been 11 years ago this month.
AND, I'll never want to. :D
I pleaded for the quickie Vegas deal and was laughed at.

Jim, here's a frugal suggestion, they have a good size menu with a choice of surf & turf and chicken.l:)

OH man it's been about 20 years since I had a slider.

We had a outdoor wedding. There was a gazebo in the local town that they set up for concerts. We got permission from the town to use it. When my wife asked to use it for a wedding, they had never thought of that. They mowed the grass and cleaned it up the night before. They didn't charge us a penny. We used potted ferns from a friend's front porch for decoration and borowed chairs from the local church. There has been serveral weddings there that I know about. The reception was at her mom's church and they didnt charge us that I know of. We had a picnic style food. Potatoe salad, baked beans, sandwiches and Lemonade. One of my wife's friends provided the food as her gift. A wedding can be done for $5000 but you have to be creative and so. Find out who wants to help or see what they can do for the gift to the bride and groom. Now my brother-in-law's wedding, that is a different story.

A few ideas. :D

http://boortz.com/more/funny/redneck_pics_weddingcake2.html

http://boortz.com/more/funny/redneck_pics_weddingarch.html

http://boortz.com/more/funny/redneck_pics_reception.html

http://boortz.com/more/funny/redneck_pics_getaway.html

http://boortz.com/more/funny/redneck_pics_weddingcake.html

http://boortz.com/more/funny/redneck_pics_weddinglimo.html