Illinois-Chicago

I am going to go insane looking for a reception venue.

Right now, we have no idea what our budget is. My parents just keep saying "let us know how much you need" but any option we've thrown out, they shoot down. So, we're guessing that our budget will end up being around $6,000 (ridiculous, i know). And our guest list is currently at 250, which only includes family, no friends. So, there's no way we can cut down on that number. Does anyone have any ideas of venue locations around Joliet that is very affordable and allows outside catering and preferably providing our own bar too? The wedding will be held in Elwood, so the closer, the better. Thanks girls!
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Re: I am going to go insane looking for a reception venue.

  • edited December 2011
    WOW. $6,000 for 250 people is a bit tight IMO. I don't know of any places out south that allow you to bring your own caterer, unfortunately, but hopefully someone on here will be able to help.

    Good Luck!
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  • edited December 2011
    Is that 250 including kids??  If you can live without it, exclude them and make your reception Adult Only.  $6000 for 250 people, in my opinion, is completely unreasonable.  When calculating per person, + tax + delivery and set up, its just not feasible.  You have to make some tough decisions -- lessen your list of invitees or increase your budget.  Perhaps ask your mom to help you find a venue, that way she'll get a better understanding of how much thing cost nowadays.  Good luck!
  • edited December 2011
    A friend of mine just relayed a story about a family member who's attempting the same thing (250 guests on $5K).  This individual and his wife will have guests flying in from all over the country to attend a wedding followed by a reception at which only cheese and crackers will be served.  No provisions have been made for music and dancing-- maybe an ipod?  Given the time, effort, and money guests are investing in his day, I think think it would have been far more reasonable to invite fewer people and give them a better reception.  In my opinion, the reception is your attempt to say "thank you" to all of your guests for attending.  Smaller, modest celebrations are wonderful!  Attempting 250 on a budget that size just won't allow you to treat your quests in the way I think you'd like to.

    "Family" is a flexible term.  Surely these aren't all grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings and spouses?  I'd sit down with mom and show her the numbers.  You can't feed 250 people a meal of any sort on a $6K budget.  I'm familiar with parental vagueness.  My own parents were more than willing to pay for the reception, but they were never willing to establish a budget.  In all honesty, this is because they're incredibly frugal and assumed that if they gave me a number, I wouldn't make any effort to stay beneath it.  Not having a hard number in mind made the search for a venue much more difficult because I didn't know what I should be looking at. 

    My tips:

    1. Re-evaluate your definition of family in order to treat those who are close to you to quality food.  250 isn't reasonable on this budget. 
    2. Consider a Friday or Sunday celebration, or a Saturday morning celebration followed by a BBQ or cocktail reception.  Consider a family members backyard (I've seen beautiful receptions done on folks' lawns).
    3. Contribute money of your own to the cause if there are truly family members you're unwilling to exclude (can't ignore those first cousins!).  Beyond this, if it's your folks who are causing a stink over Great Aunt Tilly, explain to them that it's very important to you that your guests receive a meal (or quality hors d' oeuvres, if you go the cocktail reception route).  Let them know (gently) that if they feel she needs to be there, they'll need to increase their budget.
    4. If you choose to serve alcohol (which I think is expected by most groups of people) consider wine and beer only, and bringing in your own bartender and wholesale-purchased drinks).
    5. Church function halls and VFW halls are often the most affordable spaces to rent when you're looking to have a larger crowd on a tight budget.  Often, these spaces can be a little plain and require more decorating on your part, but they can be a very economical option.
    6. You won't get 250 people there on your budget, but take a look at Birdhaven Greenhouse at Pilcher Park (Joliet Park District).  If you can scale back your number, it might be an option.  Beautiful spot.

    Good luck!!
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  • ladybug7485ladybug7485 member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I think that Ainslie touched on this but also keep in mind that your budget doesn't have to be only what parents can contribute. If you haven't already, take a look at your finances and see how much you can put aside each month towards the wedding.
    That being said, is there anywhere in the area where you would be able to do something outdoors for free? I know in smaller towns you can often have a get together in a park for free. My friend had her ceremony in a public park and I was a little wary about it but it turned out great and she saved a lot of money.
    I agree with PP, there are a lot of ways to cut back but ultimately you do want your guests to have a good time, I would opt for smaller guest list and more amenities if possible.
  • Sparkette19Sparkette19 member
    Sixth Anniversary 500 Comments
    edited December 2011

    Ainslie definitely has great advise. We had our wedding on a Friday to cut down on some cost. One vedor gave us an amazing discount, and it would have otherwise been out of our budget.


    Think about having your wedding during the "off" season, I think it might be January through March...I'm not sure. I think cocktail receptions are a great idea too. Think DIY a lot, that's a good way of cutting cost.

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  • Golfer09Golfer09 member
    Fourth Anniversary 100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I agree with the PP that the budget is really tight for 250 ppl.  I don't know of many banquet halls that would allow you to bring in your own food and liquor because of insurance issues.  If you do a tent, your savings on catering and liquor will get eaten up by chair, tent and other supply rentals. As someone who piecemealed everything together all of these charges add up fast!

    Definitely try VA halls or thinking out of the box, consider "renting" or using someone's home for a few days or a house that has been vacant/for sale to see if you can use that as your venue.
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  • platinumkateplatinumkate member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I don't have any additional advice beyond what the above posters have already written, but I have to agree that this is some great advice. You will be sacrificing your once in a life time dream gown, and even minimal flowers not to mention photos of your wedding day, if you have to feed so many people on a shoe string budget. I would be disappointed if I flew into town to go to a wedding and it was a wedding with no alcohol, light finger food, and just a bunch of people jammed in a hall with no music. I think you should push for a smaller wedding, or start playing the lottery :)
  • morgie44morgie44 member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011

    I think you need to have a serious sitdown with your parents.  If they don't like any of the ideas you are throwing around, they must have some sort of idea of what they want for your wedding. I know my parents expected me to have a wedding similar to what they and my older cousins had:  simple, VFW hall, ham sandwiches, potato salad, and crepe paper streamers.  That was VERY different from what I had in mind.  It didnt matter for us, because we were the ones paying though...

    I also know that my parents were totally shocked at what things cost today for a wedding.  I think you should have a discussion about what they are picturing for your wedding day, then price out that idea with them so that they can get a reality check on what things cost these days.  Then you can also kind of reconcile what you want with what they had in mind. 

    OR, you can foot the bill yourselves, and have the wedding that YOU want.  

  • aimers1525aimers1525 member
    2500 Comments Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    I second what @morgie said. When FI and I started looking my parents had no idea how much a wedding costs today. After we reported back about the different options that venues had they gave us an idea (ie cost per person) of what they thought was reasonable and we went from there.  Collectively, my parents, FIL's, FI and I want to have a nice celebration but all are on the same page as to what is feasible and affordable.  There are a couple of "extras" that FI and I would like to have, but that I know my parents will think are unreasonable so we are prepared to pay for those things ourselves. 
  • edited December 2011
    This 250, though it sounds a little ridiculous, is strictly family. My father has 6 sisters, all who have at least three kids and 3/4 are married with kids. Then, his family, includes his father's side, mother's side, and step father's side, who is practically family to him since his mother remarried when he was so young. We're going to talk with Keri at Harrah's in a few weeks and she has told us she may find a way to work with out budget! Wish us luck!
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  • edited December 2011
    Lunch time receptions!  Affordable!!!
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  • edited December 2011
    check out www.mariosevents.com They have very afffordable buffets, etc.
    They can steer you to a place on the south side that allows catering and liquor.
    I'm fairly sure they have options at less than 10 per plate. They bring in all tableware, silverware, glassware, linens. I am using them for a plated dinner. They have meals in all price ranges. Good luck..
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