Trying to plan on a budget...a tight budget!

meranda947

My fiance and I have been engaged for almost 2 years and are really wanting to get married. Every time we start planning, something happens and we have to put it off or wait for one reason or another. We have about 2500 that we are able to put towards our wedding. It is all going to be out of pocket and paid for by ourselves so we really have to stick to our budget. We have a guest list (inlcuding us and the wedding party) of 88 people. We have tried to cut it down as much as we can and that's about as low as we can get it. This cost will not include my dress or the tux or rings. Just the cost of the wedding ceremony and our reception (plus things associated with the two)!

I've looked over the boards and used the budget tool to get started and just feel frustrated and want to give up! I feel like it's not going to be possible! I am willing to make things myself and am very crafy, I just feel like I'm stuck not getting married because we don't have enough to even start with!

Our friend is going to be the one marrying us. We would love to get married at the same place as the reception instead of a church. I want the wedding to be next March (to celebrate my mother's life since she passed away last year when we were planning on getting married). I would love something downtown on a rooftop for the ceremony and then indoors for the reception.

We need something to include catering, drinks, photography, and every thing else that comes along with it.

Any ideas for me? And is it tacky to try and bargain with everyone for the reception site and other vendors?

econner42

Hmmm...well I'm not sure about downtown, but there is a nice golf course in Latonia, KY that you can have the ceremony & reception in that is very nice. It's Twin Oaks Golf Course/Plantation. The grounds are very pretty and the prices are very reasonable. We looked there before we settled on the Embassy Suites in Covington. 

Here is the link to their club house w/ pricing:

http://www.golfattwinoaks.com/index.cfm/2010_-_2011_Wedding_Traditional_Buffet

The only thing you won't get is photography, but you can find inexpensive photographers either in college or right out that should be sufficient? Just not sure what you are looking for. 

You can make it happen...

afloggie

Use Vistaprint or 123print.com for invites. I recommend Adrienne Beth for photography, she is a great budget vendor. For cake I can recommend the girl we are using. We are getting cake for 120 for around $200. You can also get a small 1 or 2 tier cake and then use a sheet cake to cut for the rest of the people. Skip favors.
DIY Flowers are very do-able. Private message me if you need any other ideas. I am planning my wedding on a tight budget (not as tight as yours) but yours is very do able.

jollygreen

If you need some inspiration, there was just a post on budget weddings at http://apracticalwedding.com/.

mahoganieyes

Check out Amanda's bio. Amanda is a Cincy Knottie too!
http://www.projectwedding.com/biography/list/amanda6033

bettywhite2010

check out Mulhauser Barn, in west chester, you can do your ceramony and reception there i think for like $500

schroead

It will be tough to get enough food for 88 people with a $2500 budget. What type of food were you wanting to have? You can still have a beautiful wedding with that amount of money. Also remember, DIYing a lot of things can actually be more expensive than just buying it!
I say:
Forego favors
Try to bargain with vendors, it does work, especially in this economy
Use your ipod for the reception perhaps? Make a play list!
Mix real and faux flowers. This way it doesn't look completely fake, but isn't the cost of real flowers either!
..Hmm... it's a little late but I might think of a few things later!

mrs.dilligaf

I'm not trying to be mean when I say this, but $2500 is not a lot for an entire wedding (even without rings and attire).  It is doable, but it will probably take a lot of work.

The good news is that you are getting married in March.  It is not a popular time for weddings, so you will probably find vendors who are more willing to work with you on pricing. 

Consider this.  You need $2500 to cover the reception, which includes DJ, cake, food, drinks, decorations, photographer, flowers.... it goes on.  You could do an ipod reception and have a friend emcee.  Cake, well, about the cheapest I've seen it is $1.75/slice, and I haven't seen that in a while.  Without decorations or a delivery fee, it is probably going to run you $200.  You can get a cheap photog on Craigslist, but even that is $600 with no guarantee of great pics.  If you can have a friend do them, you are back up to $2300.  Flowers you can do yourself if you're crafty.  For roses, plan on spending at least another $150.  You can do silks, but it's not going to be that much less.  You will probably want some decorations, so just plan another $150 on that and misc. items (cake server, toasting flutes, whatever floats your boat). 

That would leave you with $2000 for the reception.  If you decide to go with a reception hall, you will have roughly $18/pp (add an 18-20% service charge for those places, plus tax).  You might be able to find something at that price because of March, but you'll really have to look.  Have you considered doing a brunch reception?  You could do mimosas.  I would look at Receptions or the Madison.  You could also check out the lodges at the Hamilton County Parks.   Rent a self service lodge and hire caterers.  Unfortunately, Mulhauser Barn is closed until April. 

I don't mean to be a downer, but hopefully this helps with your budget.  The girls here are great with advice.  Good luck!

amanda6033

thanks mahoganie! your super sweet.

  You can defiantely do it. First off, you need to find a reception place that will let you bring in your own food and drink. Lots of civic centers, etc. I looked for places downtown and it was impossible to find anything around that price. There is a building by the 471/71s bridge with gazeboos on it. You may want to call and ask them. Baring liability, you could get that pretty cheap I bet, i just couldnt get ahold of the man.

muamanda18

I am getting married this upcoming March and since it is wedding "off-season" you can get some great deals. Don't be afraid to negotiate with vendors or tell them what you are able to spend. You'd be surprised how many people will work with your budget!

Good Luck!

meranda947

Thanks so much! You ladies are really helpful! I found a place that might be within budget and is really what I'm looking for. I just hope they respond as soon as possible!

We also found a friend of the family who has been djing for years who is going to do it for 200$!

Again our best friend is going to be the one marrying us!

So I'm working on it!

Leenie2

Garden Park Unity Church

3581 West Galbraith Road
Cincinnati, OH 45239-4055
(513) 385-8889

Beautiful sanctuary and also a remodeled banquet room downstairs. Perfect for your numbers. You can bring in your own food ...
check out the website.

www.gardenparkunity.org

Leenie2

THE FARM is also another place to look at.  www.theplacetohaveaparty.com

239 Anderson Ferry Road
Cincinnati, OH 45238-5638
(513) 922-7020

marywillmarry

Check out the Hamilton County Park lodges like someone else suggested.  Lakeside Lodge is gorgeous and it's only $550 to rent.  It's self-service so you can bring in your own food + alcohol.  It has a small kitchen where you can store food and heat stuff up if needed.  My fiance and I would have used that lodge if we had a smaller guest list.  Our plan was to order food through Kroger - fried chicken and all the trimmings.  It would have put us at about $4 a head. 

brideofnocero

Do you mind telling me what venue you chose?? I too am on a budget and am looking for venues in the area... Any help is much appreciated!!! Good luck!

brideofnocero

WOW Under 3,000 @ the Madison??? Not the same quote I received lol! Receptions was cheaper and that was 4000, with out cake, Dj, or photographer, nor the ceremony or attire.... Any advice..please send my way !! Thanks!!

mahoganieyes

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_ohio-cincinnati_trying-plan-budgeta-tight-budget?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:108Discussion:611bc2b3-7068-4b40-a121-185a39fc191fPost:f82bb0cd-41b5-41f6-bd33-eeff6d3e764f">Re: Trying to plan on a budget...a tight budget!</a>:
[QUOTE]thanks mahoganie! your super sweet.   You can defiantely do it. First off, you need to find a reception place that will let you bring in your own food and drink. Lots of civic centers, etc. I looked for places downtown and it was impossible to find anything around that price. There is a building by the 471/71s bridge with gazeboos on it. You may want to call and ask them. Baring liability, you could get that pretty cheap I bet, i just couldnt get ahold of the man.
Posted by amanda6033[/QUOTE]

No problem! Your wedding was beautiful!

mrs.dilligaf

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_ohio-cincinnati_trying-plan-budgeta-tight-budget?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:108Discussion:611bc2b3-7068-4b40-a121-185a39fc191fPost:7f28645d-f7c2-466e-8abd-c8a0de050970">Re: Trying to plan on a budget...a tight budget!</a>:
[QUOTE]WOW Under 3,000 @ the Madison??? Not the same quote I received lol! Receptions was cheaper and that was 4000, with out cake, Dj, or photographer, nor the ceremony or attire.... Any advice..please send my way !! Thanks!!
Posted by brideofnocero[/QUOTE]

October is a MUCH more popular time than March.  Also, how many people are you having?  Considering even 5 more people on a low budget is $100, that adds up fast. 

TheSopers

My wedding and reception was under $3,000 at the Madison because we are getting married in April which is the off season, so we saved a ton of money! Plus, we only are having about 100 people there for both the wedding and reception! We decided on the cheapest meal, which is a buffet. I can honestly say they were the cheapest spot we found considering we were able to bundle everything except the photographer, and bakery!

If you go to Michael's craft store, you can make your own wedding stationary! It is a lot cheaper! Also, you can make your own reception favors! Michael's and JoAnn Fabrics has a cute selection of bridal things!

I lucked out with a DJ because I know one, make-up I am doing myself, hair I have a friend to do it!

My photographer is Cincinnati Digital Photography, and his prices are extremely competitive. He is on facebook!

I can give you a hundred and one ways to make your wedding work in your budget! I am doing a stellar job myself!