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Outdoor Wedding and Reception--budget friendly and fun ideas?

Bunnybride79Bunnybride79 member
First Comment
in Rhode Island
Hi all! I'm a new "Knotter" and am newly engaged (yay!) and beginning to plan my wedding for spring or summer 2011. We are definitely into a casual, outdoor or barn-style wedding  and are trying to brainstorm ideas...on a budget of course.  We are still working out the final details, but our total budget not including honeymoon and rings will be under 12k. We are planning to have around 75-100 persons, if thats possible.

We're in love with Little Compton, Tiverton, and the Southcoast (Westport, MA) area, but aren't soley focused on those areas in order to keep all of our options open. We are looking to serve fun locally-based food like a pig roast or clam bake, and then local beer and wine options and perhaps have a"signature" drink. (no open bar). We would not be averse to bringing in our own booze, either. Our biggest goal is to give our guests the "Rhode Island Experience" and have a blast while doing it.

I'm looking for venue suggestions...I've been Googling my brains out lately and need a little help. I've been a little taken aback by some site fees....$2500 for Sakonnet Vineyards and $3300 for Sweet Berry Farms...and that's for nothing but the grounds! Yikes. We have also considered renting a nice farm-y/ beachy property summer rental for a week or so and having the wedding there...suggestions or advice for that welcome too.

THANK YOU in advance, and I hope to be able to share my experiences as I begin this new journey!
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Re: Outdoor Wedding and Reception--budget friendly and fun ideas?

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    RoyalOrientRoyalOrient member
    First Anniversary Combo Breaker First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Congrats! How about Bittersweet farm in Westport, MA? And the Meeting House in Tiverton? I think both locations are really affordable. 
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    anne.azanoanne.azano
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    I'm not sure if you're into a beach wedding, but I'm getting married (in 4 weeks, ah!) at the north beach clubhouse in narragansett... it's no frills, but cheap, simple, on the beach, fits 100 people and allows you to bring your own alcohol.  Some of our fun ideas are smores and a dels lemonade truck is gonna come up to the church.  You can also get a gelato stand from nana's ice cream I think.  There are a lot of companies that do clam bakes and pig roasts.  I think one of the less expensive ones is B and M clamcake company.   McGraths is a less budget-friendly option.  Have fun planning!
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    i2012doi2012do member
    First Anniversary First Comment
    edited December 2011
    what about sunset farms in narragansett. I think its only about 1000 to rent-- and its inside with bathroom etc. so you dont hae to worry about renting port a johns and insurance (which you will with a place like sakonnet)
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    i2012doi2012do member
    First Anniversary First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Sorry I mean Kinney Bungalow at Sunset farm
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    KB_RIKB_RI
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Kinney is more to rent than that, but it's still pretty affordable. I have prices at work, but they might be on the Web site, too.

    The Meeting House in Tiverton sounds like what you're looking for, but it's also not a super bargain when you add in tent and rentals. But it's really pretty there. You can marry outside or inside (we're doing inside), then have dinner under a tent and dancing back inside. We're using B&M Clambake Co. - again, not as cheap as you'd think, but you can make it what you want. We're still coming out to about $100/pp with dinner, their linens/dishes package, cocktail hour apps and open bar (you can't have cash bar there, but you can do what you said with beer/wine/signature cocktail. This is the case at a lot of venues we looked at.) But they have a lot of options and I have some other, less expensive ideas if you're interested. Our budget was about yours and we pretty quickly realized we were going to have to re-budget, but we opted to spend a good amount on a photog and DJ. You may have different priorities. 

    The rotunda at Easton's Beach is another one we looked at, and you can have a cash bar there. You can get married right on the beach there and the site fee includes an hour of carousel rental, which makes fun pics.

    The barn at Mt. Hope Farm is nice but there were a lot of rules and I think it was $4,000 to rent.

    Another inexpensive option is the carousel building at Goddard Park in Warwick, which costs $200 to rent for the entire day, but the downside is no alcohol because it's a state park.  

    There's an outdoor chapel at Colt State Park in Bristol you can rent for $15 for three hours, and then I saw a wedding reception under a huge tent when we were there one weekend last year. I assume the alcohol situation is the same there, though. 

    Lastly, I looked at Slater Mill in Pawtucket, which was really inexpensive but didn't really work for us. It was an interesting space, though.

    Page me if you want to see pics of Tiverton, Kinney, Slater Mill, the rotunda or the Mt. Hope barn.  I also have the Towers, Whispering Pines, Roger Williams Casino and Roger Williams Botanical Center as well as a couple of the outside only of the carousel at Goddard.
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    Bunnybride79Bunnybride79 member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Thank you for all the ideas! I'm very interested in the Meeting House...just gave them a call to get the details and set up an appointment to visit.
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    DiorAddictDiorAddict member
    First Anniversary First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Valley Country Club, beautiful grounds, outdoor deck, huge bar and the BEST FOOD!!
    Also, Roger Williams Park Botanical Garden
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    bellatsocanabellatsocana
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Pickles Custom Caterers....Connie will work with you to plan a very beautiful menu that is custom to your likes/dislikes and your budget for 2-200 people...She is great!...401-644-3647...please tell her that Nina referred you....thanks!
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