Venue Ideas
This is such a huge portion of any wedding budget, where do we start in finding just the PERFECT place? I know for me and my Beloved we want something old and antique, kinda like us. The place we are looking at is very pricey and I need to make the decision whether this IS the place or not.
We as brides need to make hard decisions. We plan our entire lives for this very day, how can we make it live up to our dreams??
Let's start easy, places for free. . .
You, your friend or your parents house - backyard- garden. With a house party, ALWAYS have a plan B. Especially if you are doing a backyard wedding. A little story, several years ago we had some friends that asked to use our house for their 25 wedding anniversary. They came over and set up in the back yard. We had white Christmas lights strung up around the grassy area of the garden. We had borrowed an arch and covered it with white tulle, lights and flowers. We had two patios and had tables set up on each along with some tables around the pool. We then had over 30 floating candles for the pool. I had made matching table centerpieces with candles for all the tables. It was going to be gorgeous!
Good thing I had a plan B, it was one of the rare days in the Valley of the Sun that was grey and raining. First part of plan B was to move all the furniture out of the living/family rooms. We set up the arch in our living room and placed the chairs on either side of it. Although we left some of the tables on the patios (for smokers) we brought in the tables from poolside. We lit a fire in the fireplace and had candles all around the house. It was so romantic and lovely. True it was not their first choice, but it was better than squishing around in the rain.
For a home wedding a few suggestions. . .
If someone is hosting the wedding in their house, DON'T take that for granted! Bless them in return, doesn't have to be money, but that is always nice. Tell them that you will cover the expenses that arise.
Hire a professional cleaning company to come in and clean the house. You will be very busy with other planning duties. Take the cleaning burden off the home owner and yourself.
Rent a UHaul if you don't have storage space for the furniture. Move out the furniture that is not essential for the day. You will thank me for this alone! You will have more people in that house than you know what to do with. Sure there may be a big comfy sectional, but at very most that sectional will sit 7. Now take it out of the house and put some chairs in it's place and you now have double the seating. You will be shocked and amazed at the room that you have once the furniture is out.
If you are having a garden/backyard wedding, invest in it now!!!! Especially if you are using someone else's house! There is nothing wrong with offering to buy bulbs or flowering plants in the color scheme for your wedding. Be extra special and offer to help plant them this fall. (More uses for this a bit later)
Be on the look out right now as fall is approaching for hanging baskets, citronella candles, tiki torches and fluid, candle holders in your wedding colors. All of this is going on sale right now. Be looking for colored party/picnic ware for your buffet tables. Always make the clearance isle your first stop in every store.
Your church - Many churches allow their members to use the church facilities for a nominal or for no charge. The churches I have worked with had set standard prices for clean up, set up and have many do's and don'ts. It is a perfect place to share with your church family.
Pro's to using your home church, they usually have the tables, chairs, linens. Most churches have someone on staff that runs the kitchen and this is ALWAYS a plus!
If you are not a church member you may need to pay a fee but if it fits into your vision, then pay the fee.
Now some not free but reasonable venue ideas. . .
Local restaurants - many have banquet rooms.
I did a wedding reception at a Sizzler. I can hear you laughing, I know the bride did when I approached her with the idea. They had a small budget, they put the money into the dress and wedding venue. She had 65 people and was able to serve steak and chicken, all the salad, veggies and drinks were included. This place had a separate banquet room that they allowed us to set up a dance floor and bring in the cake. After it was all said and done, the cost was under $700. Now when you add up the cost of purchasing paper plates, plastic serving ware, table clothes, food, beverages, not to mention condiments and clean up. $700 is an extremely wonderful price!
Here in Louisville, there is one restaurant that we are looking into. I'll keep you posted as to what they say.
Look at The National Registry of Historic Places, The Zoo, State and National Parks. Many of these have nominal fees and limited use but for the grandeur alone it is worth it!
Now for the more pricey Hotels, museums and sport fields. Honestly, I know you can do things at these places, but I specialize in making wedding dreams come true for brides that can't/don't want to afford these places.
Well, that should keep your mind busy for a little while. That is exactly what a budget wedding is, it is putting your creativity to work. God has given you gifts and talents, He has surrounded you with friends and family, time to start developing those ideas!
We as brides need to make hard decisions. We plan our entire lives for this very day, how can we make it live up to our dreams??
Let's start easy, places for free. . .
You, your friend or your parents house - backyard- garden. With a house party, ALWAYS have a plan B. Especially if you are doing a backyard wedding. A little story, several years ago we had some friends that asked to use our house for their 25 wedding anniversary. They came over and set up in the back yard. We had white Christmas lights strung up around the grassy area of the garden. We had borrowed an arch and covered it with white tulle, lights and flowers. We had two patios and had tables set up on each along with some tables around the pool. We then had over 30 floating candles for the pool. I had made matching table centerpieces with candles for all the tables. It was going to be gorgeous!
Good thing I had a plan B, it was one of the rare days in the Valley of the Sun that was grey and raining. First part of plan B was to move all the furniture out of the living/family rooms. We set up the arch in our living room and placed the chairs on either side of it. Although we left some of the tables on the patios (for smokers) we brought in the tables from poolside. We lit a fire in the fireplace and had candles all around the house. It was so romantic and lovely. True it was not their first choice, but it was better than squishing around in the rain.
For a home wedding a few suggestions. . .
If someone is hosting the wedding in their house, DON'T take that for granted! Bless them in return, doesn't have to be money, but that is always nice. Tell them that you will cover the expenses that arise.
Hire a professional cleaning company to come in and clean the house. You will be very busy with other planning duties. Take the cleaning burden off the home owner and yourself.
Rent a UHaul if you don't have storage space for the furniture. Move out the furniture that is not essential for the day. You will thank me for this alone! You will have more people in that house than you know what to do with. Sure there may be a big comfy sectional, but at very most that sectional will sit 7. Now take it out of the house and put some chairs in it's place and you now have double the seating. You will be shocked and amazed at the room that you have once the furniture is out.
If you are having a garden/backyard wedding, invest in it now!!!! Especially if you are using someone else's house! There is nothing wrong with offering to buy bulbs or flowering plants in the color scheme for your wedding. Be extra special and offer to help plant them this fall. (More uses for this a bit later)
Be on the look out right now as fall is approaching for hanging baskets, citronella candles, tiki torches and fluid, candle holders in your wedding colors. All of this is going on sale right now. Be looking for colored party/picnic ware for your buffet tables. Always make the clearance isle your first stop in every store.
Your church - Many churches allow their members to use the church facilities for a nominal or for no charge. The churches I have worked with had set standard prices for clean up, set up and have many do's and don'ts. It is a perfect place to share with your church family.
Pro's to using your home church, they usually have the tables, chairs, linens. Most churches have someone on staff that runs the kitchen and this is ALWAYS a plus!
If you are not a church member you may need to pay a fee but if it fits into your vision, then pay the fee.
Now some not free but reasonable venue ideas. . .
Local restaurants - many have banquet rooms.
I did a wedding reception at a Sizzler. I can hear you laughing, I know the bride did when I approached her with the idea. They had a small budget, they put the money into the dress and wedding venue. She had 65 people and was able to serve steak and chicken, all the salad, veggies and drinks were included. This place had a separate banquet room that they allowed us to set up a dance floor and bring in the cake. After it was all said and done, the cost was under $700. Now when you add up the cost of purchasing paper plates, plastic serving ware, table clothes, food, beverages, not to mention condiments and clean up. $700 is an extremely wonderful price!
Here in Louisville, there is one restaurant that we are looking into. I'll keep you posted as to what they say.
Look at The National Registry of Historic Places, The Zoo, State and National Parks. Many of these have nominal fees and limited use but for the grandeur alone it is worth it!
Now for the more pricey Hotels, museums and sport fields. Honestly, I know you can do things at these places, but I specialize in making wedding dreams come true for brides that can't/don't want to afford these places.
Well, that should keep your mind busy for a little while. That is exactly what a budget wedding is, it is putting your creativity to work. God has given you gifts and talents, He has surrounded you with friends and family, time to start developing those ideas!
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