Minnesota-Minneapolis and St. Paul

200+ wedding for under $20K??

Can it be done?? I've put together or gotten quotes for more than 10 venues and I'm not so sure. Most estimates are coming in at around $17-18k, and then there's the dress...invitations...flowers...photographer... plus all of the fun stuff like photo booth, videographer, and late-night snack that we're not even considering because of the budget.

If you've done or are planning a wedding with more than 200 guests and kept it all under $20,000, I would love to hear how you did it...

Re: 200+ wedding for under $20K??

  • MrsBassPlayaMrsBassPlaya member
    First Anniversary First Comment
    edited December 2011
    I'd look at new venues and decide what's important to you.  It seems like you're looking at stuff in the middle of downtown or some really fancy venues.  It can definitely be done.  We have a list of 200 for less than 20k.  There are other girls on the board who have had significantly more than 200 for less than 20k.

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  • Mejacoby0590Mejacoby0590 member
    First Comment First Anniversary
    edited December 2011

    Hi, I am having a reception for around 300 people and it is costing around $10,000 minus bar tab. Where have you been looking? Try looking outside the cities if you can!

  • AETS26AETS26 member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Thanks for the responses. We started looking at some fancier venues (i.e. Carlson Rotunda, Calhoun Beach Club), but realized they weren't in our budget. We've looked at some hotels in the suburbs, the Profile Entertainment Center, some of the park Chalets (like Silverwood), the Plymouth Creek Center, and some public golf clubs. I'm getting discouraged because I feel like we're already planning for the lower items of the options, like a chicken dinner, $1000-$2000 for alcohol, no champagne toast, really simple cake.
  • FutureMrsS13FutureMrsS13 member
    First Anniversary First Comment
    edited December 2011
    I know profile event center is 14k.... wouldnt that work? hold 500...
  • aligrossaligross member
    First Comment First Anniversary
    edited December 2011
    We have a guest list of 325 and our budget is $10,000 - We are getting married in the St Cloud area BUT are using a lot of vendors from the cities and by no means are we going with a "cheap" look. I've purchased linens, ceiling draping, floral & candle centerpieces and a lot of fun extras. It is completely possible for you to do it under $20K just start shopping around and also see if you can't do an "off season" wedding (November - April)
  • AETS26AETS26 member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Our quote from Heather at the PEC for 225 people came to $15,800 with taxes/service charges included, but alcohol not included. We were thinking of $1000-2000 for alcohol, which could go a long way at a place like the profile (but, if you do run out, I don't think you can change to a cash bar - you're just out of drinks for the rest of the night). We could save ~$500 by doing a ceremony at the PEC, but we really want a church wedding. So, if we do a ceremony + reception at the PEC and spend only $1000 on alcohol, that brings it to just under $17,000. This is probably our first or second best option so far. It's just scary to think of all the things that add up on top of this, like photography, the dress, etc.
     
  • ktwagner21ktwagner21 member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Check out Royal Cliff in Eagan MN.  Bar prices are extremley reasonable as well as food.. And I know for a fact their food is amazing, it's made by the Italian Deli next door.
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  • Cackle6Cackle6 member
    First Anniversary First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Was your quote at the PEC for Casablanca Hall? I'm inviting 275 but expecting around 225 and we're having ours in the Diamond Hall, which has lower minimums than the Casablanca Hall, and can still fit 225-250 comfortably. Right now with everything I have budgeted out, our budget is coming in at right around 21K for everything except honeymoon. If you don't go overboard with all the extras at the PEC and just hit the minimums (in the Diamond Hall), I think you could def do it.

    I'm waiting to try and find my dress on sample sale or find it online on preowneddresss.com or recyledbride.com, sites like that, so looking into that could save you a lot on the dress. I'm also DIY-ing a LOT of stuff which will save a lot of money. There are some very affordable photographers in the area who are still very good, ditto florists. Search this board for vendors and I promise you will find some affordable options!

    ETA: Also, keep your eye out for good deals from Groupon, Livingsocial, etc. Deals for Vistaprint come up quite often, which could help save money on invitations, and there are Groupons for photobooths, photographers, etc. And once you start looking into vendors, "like" their facebook pages if they have one - most vendors will offer discounts and what not to facebook fans. Always search for coupons - Micheals, JoAnnes, and lots of online stores always have coupons online. I got $20 worth of fabric at JoAnne's for $3! You'll have to work harder, but you can save a lot of money by doing a little research! :) Good luck!
  • maybe984maybe984 member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    IMO, one of the best ways to save money without feeling like you're cutting corners or settling for second best is to find a venue that allows you to book your own caterer and other vendors. My wedding was at the Historic Courthouse in Stillwater, and it's kind of what I would call a rental-only venue (if that's not a term... I just made it up!) and they let you do your own thing when it comes to other vendors. My entire budget was between $10 and $12k and I received numerous comments that it looked like it cost 3x that.
  • colstj1colstj1 member
    Combo Breaker First Comment
    edited December 2011
    I am getting married near msp and I am having a wedding for 300 people with a 15K budget. It can totally be done. Maybe you need to look a little outside of Minneapolis. Like my venue is in Andover, MN. And I am still getting to do everything I want liek chair covers and late night snacks etc all under 15,000.
  • SSaltzman87SSaltzman87 member
    First Anniversary First Comment
    edited December 2011
    It definitely helps to look at venues outside the cities. Stuff adds up SO quickly, especially for your large guest list. Also, cutting back on other smaller details helps as well- like favors and decor. 

    My mom had me make a chart with columns titled 'i definitely want', 'things id like but arent required' and 'what i couldnt care less about'. Based on the things I listed, we went about the budget that way and have adjusted along the way. As time goes on, I think you'll find that you care less about certain things that you might right now.
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  • edited December 2011

    We invited 198 people & are under $10k.

    It's very doable.  I agree you also have to figure out what's really important to you & where you could cut corners, but still have the wedding of your dreams.

    What helped us, was that we made A LOT of the things for the wedding.  It was fun & it also adds that much more to your wedding, I think.

    Totally doable!

  • edited December 2011
    We were in Shakopee, so that may be wayyyy out of the way of what you want.  But at Stonebrooke Golf Course, we had about 190 people and it was probably around 11K for everything.  We had h'orderves passed, kegs, wine, an open bar, and dinner, and a beautiful venue.  I agree with the other ladies, it may be smart to look a bit further out of the cities.
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  • tlbattagliatlbattaglia member
    First Anniversary Combo Breaker First Comment
    edited December 2011
    My wedding is 250, and we're doing it for a little under $10,000.  Like others said, figure out what's important to you.

    For example, we didn't want a huge cake.  So we got a smaller cake to cut.  And then sheet cakes and cupcakes and other treats for the guests. The money we saved on the cake paid for the band. 

    Good luck.
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  • bemistobebemistobe member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    I just recently got married at Treasure Island in Red WIng. Yes, I know it's a ways out there but I was able to block as many rooms as I wanted for guests, so if people wanted to stay they could. Overall, having our wedding ceremony and reception there only costed us $6K. We had a buffet style dinner with two entree's and hosted 2 domestic kegs. To avoid a cake cutting fee, we got cupcakes. Our ceremony site was on a public beach at T.I so that was free - and our reception venue was free as long as we met the minimum food requirement of $2500. Did I mentioned I had 215 guests? It can be done, but you just have to shop around and maybe take a step outside the metro area to find the better deals. Another way to save money is to make your own invites. I made mine for under $300, and I got so many compliments on how professional they looked :)

    A wedding for $20k for 200 guests is very possible if you do your research. Let me know if you need any help! :)
  • edited December 2011
    Its definitely doable, I would agree with looking outside of the cities a bit. My wedding will be right around 20k with 200 guests. And I haven't had to cut anything out of the wedding that I've wanted so far.
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  • edited December 2011
    Try checking the refuge golf course, they were one of the more budget friendly venues we found.

    http://www.refugegolfclub.com/
  • graysquirrelgraysquirrel member
    5 Love Its Combo Breaker First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Lots of times the prices go up when you are getting a package deal. If you can find a venue where you can select your own caterer, buy your own alcohol, pick the baker, etc, you can often save a ton of money. All of the catering options at the packaged deal places were like $30 pp, but when we went to our "rental only" place like Maybe said, we were able to cut that number in half for catering! Try looking out of the box at places like historic venues that are not always for weddings-- they will often be much less money.
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  • edited December 2011
    I am doing my wedding at the Plymouth Creek Center on a budget of about 15K, and I think it should be pretty manageable.  Just make sure you use the Medina Catering if you do your reception there (it is the least expensive and actually the most professional of the three that they offer in my experience)

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  • Sarahsue1684Sarahsue1684 member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_minnesota-minneapolis-st-paul_200-wedding-under-20k?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:81Discussion:813a9fcd-859c-4930-856c-8570b2a82194Post:33e0c0e5-188b-4175-90bb-f9b79f79c2f2">Re: 200+ wedding for under $20K??</a>:
    [QUOTE]Try checking the refuge golf course, they were one of the more budget friendly venues we found. <a href="http://www.refugegolfclub.com/" rel='nofollow'>http://www.refugegolfclub.com/</a>
    Posted by amyMcD34[/QUOTE]

    This is where we got married this past July.....the place is amazing and Jami is so great to work with. We had a guest list of 225 and our whole total for everything wedding was around $12-$13,000. We did all decor DIY (from chair sashes, centerpieces, the whole 9 yards) It can very well be done!
  • edited December 2011
    The key is to prioritize! I'm having about 300 people, and the final numbers aren't in yet, but it will probably come close to $12,000. Going off-season definitely helps (mine is in January), but aside from that, decide what elements of the wedding are most important to you. Everything else doesn't need to be super extravagent. For example, fake flowers instead of real, DIY decorations, a smaller tiered cake and more sheet cake, etc. Also, I'd recommend cutting out the "essential extras" such as expensive favors and fancy guest books. Try to use shoes or jewelry you or a family member already owns (all of my jewelry is borrowed from family, and it's more special because of it!).

    Just remember you can still have a very nice wedding and reception without going overboard on all the details. Good luck!
  • AETS26AETS26 member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Thanks for all of the advice and experiences, ladies! (keep it comin'!). Here are some things we're already planning, that may be helpful to others:

    - DIY flowers - from farmer's market or Costco's, depending on month (our date is TBD)
    - looking into off-season dates
    - a friend is officiating
    - DIY invitations
    - cake centerpieces, so we won't need flowers or other centerpieces
    - bringing in some candles or lights so we don't need drape & lights
    - family friends providing ceremony & possibly social hour music
    - no party favors
    - photo email STD
    - borrowed wedding jewelry

    I'm going to try to look into venues further out of the cities, but I don't want to get much more than 30 minutes out because more than half our guests are from out of town. I don't want to add on even more travel time for them. I guess if we need to keep it in the cities, we might just have to suck it up on the prices or keep finding things to cut out.
  • FutureMrsS13FutureMrsS13 member
    First Anniversary First Comment
    edited December 2011
    I agree with  crackle6. Look look and look!  see what offers the most for the money ect!
     I hope u find something amazing and whta your looking for... when u do please update cause i know im curious :)
  • edited December 2011
    We will be under 20K with just about 250-275. My best advice is to price shop and go with vendors that are just starting out and have no over head fee.

    For example,
    My videographer is $500, after looking at 4 people
    Cupcakes will be about 300, after contacting 12 people
    Flowers about $1,000 after contacting 14 people
    and etc.

    Don't be afraid to email vendors and request quptes. You do not have to meet them all right away, but at least try and price shop and then meet people. My FI has been very patient with all the meetings, but it has really saved us money and allowed us to get everything we want :)

    GOOD LUCK!
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