Need major help!!!

Lil Lar

I really need your help ladies!! Both FI and my dad have lost their jobs and we have to come up with several thousand dollars we'll now be short on for the rest of the wedding expenses. We are trying to think of alternate reception locations that are less expensive than the scottish rite where we were planning on having the reception at. I've tried contacting the Lakeside Center in Ankeny and Jester Park in Granger but they are both booked for our day.

Does anyone know of any inexpensive place that I could try?? I'm afraid we'll be cutting it too close since the wedding is this July and things will be all booked but we need to at least try to find somewhere else. Idealy we would like to not have a caterer restriction so we could bring our own food, but if not then thats ok. My main concern right now is finding a decently priced reception location..preferably one that would be under $1,000 to rent. Does anyone know of anything at all around the Des Moines area??? 

Please please please let me know. I'm desperate

BKane2B

Try local city locations, area high schools (to rent out their gymnasium or cafeteria area), try the AM VETS - they usually only require a good-faith offering. Not sure if there are any Knights of Columbus locations down there or not, but also another option - except that they are a bit outrageous on their cost for food!

Our wedding is only 68 days away, and we changed our minds like a month ago on our destination for the reception (cuz we wanted to bring in our own food & Knights of columbus wouldn't allow it!) = luckily, i stopped by a city office, and the lady there was nice enough to call (all over the place) and find us a reasonably priced church hall, for less than what we were going to pay at KofC AND we can bring all our own food into the reception hall!

Good luck from a fellow IOWA bride2B! & Congrats on the upcoming wedding!

krysh2302

Did you try like the rose gardens in DSM? There is also the Capital Room in DSM, downtown.

That has to be tough for you two! I wish you luck!

isufans4ever

We are having our reception at the Mitchellville Community Center in Mitchellville...it isn't DSM but it is a $500 and a $500 rental fee...you get your $500 deposit back if the building is in good shape when you leave.  They don't have a caterer restriction you can bring in whatever food or drinks you want to.

mishy112

Check out Crown Point Community Center or the Simpson Barn in Johnston:

http://www.cityofjohnston.com/departments/parks/facilityuse.php

Neither one has catering restrictions. Good luck!

Your wedding date is the same date as our reception (we're getting married May 5 in Hawaii, but holding a local reception).

mishy112

Oh, also Hickory Hall in Ames is on the inexpensive side I believe, as well as the Ankeny Golf and Country Club:

http://www.hickoryparkames.com/banquet

http://www.ankenygolf.com/banquets.asp

I think they may not charge a rental fee if you spend a certain amount on food, but I can't remember for sure.

farmgirl8806

A park.

ltyka

Try Walker Johnston Park shelter.  It's huge - I attended a wedding there a couple of years ago.  It has a full kitchen and is nice.  It's in the middle of a very large park.  It's only $160 for all day and all night!
http://www.urbandale.org/rentalfacility.cfm

Lil Lar

Thank you sooo much for your help ladies! I have been calling places like crazy!!
Thank you for all the great ideas!

EJPint

Raccoon River nature lodge is really nice!  It would be under $1000 - we looked at it, but decided on another place - the only thing you have to get past is there are stuffed animal displays in the lobby, but maybe they can take those down:)

mlkjas

I don't know if you would want to drive that far....but there is a place in Story City called the Fairview Lodge.  It's next to the carousel.  It's really cute and I'm pretty sure the deposit is very little.  You are allowed to bring in your own food and beverages and I think you get your deposit back if the building is in good order.  The number is 733-2121.  Good luck!

mlkjas

More info on Fairview Lodge in Story City.  It only holds up to 80 people-not sure if that would work for you.  I did find out though that the deposit is $225 and you I believe you get $200 back after you clean up after the reception.  And again you can bring in your own food and beverages.  Hope this helps!

Lil Lar

our guest list is pretty big FI just couldn't cut down his family list *sigh* 80 def isn't big enough. My mom is going to look at the Events Center West tomorrow and send me pics to see if we like it or not. We can bring our own caterer there and its brand new so we don't have to worry about old chairs/tables which is nice and its less expensive than the original place we are at now is so thats good. Hopefully this works out...I'm just ready to be married haha im tired of planning!!

ltyka

Let us know what you choose!

babygirl7727

I don't know if you are still trying to find a place for the reception or where your getting married but if you are getting married in a church have you checked to see if they have a hall you can rent.  We had to change our reception location because of finances and we can rent the hall where we are getting married for like $500 (that's with the deposit) because I'm a member of the church.  They also have no restrictions on catering so we are bringing in our food to save even more money.  Just a thought for you check out.  Good luck and I hope you find something.