Large Wedding Reception Without Breaking The Bank?

(Minnesota, USA)

Having a large wedding reception is really important to us as we want to have all our family and friends around us. The problem is, most places require you to use their catering and the food is priced very high. My mom works in the food industry and could cater it if that wasn't the case.

Are there other options that we could consider that would be cheaper, still elegant, and wouldn't offend our guests? Around here people expect a dinner when they attend a wedding.

Also, having the reception near or in a hotel is preferred because of the guests coming from out of town.

Answer:

Large guest numbers are always going to push your costs up, but if you can cater yourself then you will save a fortune.

If hotels are too expensive, then perhaps consider public buildings such as museums, galleries, town halls or conference centres. If you went to college, perhaps you could use your alumni house? They often offer cheap wedding reception venue solutions. Sports centres, community centres and church halls are also good bets. You just need to find one that matches your style and expectation.

In the US, you can also use open spaces, so consider parks that have pretty details such as rose gardens, fountains and ideally a covered area too. Some also have cafes or restaurants that will cater for you as well.

There really are lots of options; you just have to get creative with your ideas and you’ll find something.

I hope that helps.