Considering having our own outdoor reception.... need help!

pcslindsers06

So my fiance and I are having trouble swallowing the extravagant amount of money we would have to spend in Minneapolis. We're considering having an outdoor reception at his cabin about an hour north of the cities. It's spacious, with a lot of flat land. We'd be renting a tent, linens, a dance floor, and everything else. Our budget would be about 10k-12k for the whole reception. Help! Do you think that would be possible? What are good rental companies? I've heard of Apresparty.com... are they affordable? I need any opinions because this is a really new idea to us. Thanks!

tpender13

That sounds like an awesome idea! I went to a wedding at someone's family cabin out in the boonies in central MN, and it was great. I'm no help about recommendations or prices, but it seems doable w/that kind of budget.

LolaBelle515

Especially since you have a special place to hold it, it sounds like a lovely however.

One word of caution however: I am attending a friend's wedding this September that she is hosting in her large backyard.  The tent, chairs, and linen rental is costing her over $6000.  Whether you get married in your own backyard or at a traditional wedding venue, those rentals are REALLY extravagent.  In the end, it isn't really saving her any money to have her wedding at home.  So, if budget is your only reason for having it at home, make sure you do lots of comparison shopping...and don't forget to figure in the added stress of having it at your own cabin---ie. cleaning and prepping the week before, having enough bathrooms for everyone, etc etc.

Good luck with whatever you decide--it will be perfect no matter what you do!

ogrady88

We are having our wedding on our family farm in the eastern suburbs, I believe our tent rental, tables, chairs and linens came out to around $3000.  I will double check that tonight.  The thing to remember is that you need to rent, buy, or borrow pretty much everything you'll need.  If you are having a lot of guests keep that in mind.  Also, bathrooms...consider the bathrooms.

EmilyCMN

We were going to do the same thing at my FI's parents house but I finally decided to not go thru with it because there was no lodging and the costs were getting to be just as high as the reception sites in the cities. We are now doing a north shore destination wedding! We chose Grand Superior Lodge but ever resort we visited would have worked. We are getting a 100 person reception (2 entree dinner buffet) all the linens, dance floor, ceremony site on lake superior, and so many other extras for $5000. I don't think I could have done one at home for much less... don't rule out the commercial sites. There is a lot less to coordinate and keep track of and then you will have accomidations for all of your guests and someone else to clean it up for you. HTH. I am still in love with the idea of doing it at home for next to nothing but I don't think it is worth the stress. I only want to do this once so why not pamper ourselves a little bit. Your budget is way higher than mine is so I think you can do your whole wedding with that kind of money. Just keep researching. If you need help just ask all of us, we have all done the research too.

janelle.boerger

My fiance and I are getting married (ceremony and reception) in my mom and step dads backyard northwest of the cities (Dayton, MN). We're renting a tent (holding approx. 200 people), tables, chairs, linens, and dancefloor - costing us $2100. Our budget is 10k and so far..looks like we'll make it. If we go over..it will only be slightly. Definitely doable. We're using G&K Rental out of New Prague, MN - we're getting free travel charges (saving about $200), because I know the owner's wife and was referred by her. So far..G&K seems to be pretty great.

pcslindsers06

Thanks so much everyone for all of your help! I really appreciate the comments. If you have any other advice or companies to use, please send them my way. The idea of coordinating everything IS a little overwhelming.... I just don't know what to do. We'd be having about 250 people to eat and about 300 for drinks/dancing. I don't really know how having a bar would work either. Maybe only have kegs or beer and wine? We'd really like to keep it AT 10k, because the point of doing all this would be to save money. I just don't know if it'll be possible with so many people coming.  

I Want Cake

Apres is pretty good, but I only know them for their tents.  They provide all the big tents for the Pride festival, and I haven't seen any of them fall over yet, and I've been there in pretty bad weather more than once.  They're certainly not cheap, though.  Also, Midway Party Rental seems to have a huge amount of stuff available, but I've never worked with them before.

Your reception at the cabin sounds great, but, with it being an hour outside of the cities, people may want to stay over, so you'd have to either have enough space in the cabin or have nearby hotels, and with your amount of people, the catering cost can be pretty exhorbitant, although you can do anything you want since you'll be on your own land.  IMHO, it seems kind of a waste to spend so much on tents, dance floors, linens, and tableware when any commercial site that does weddings probably already has everything you need.  Our reception is going to be 120-150, and is costing us well below $10,000 and we get the entire place, not just a ballroom.  Then again, with your amount of people, it does limit where you can go and have a place for everyone.  Just remember that going OOT may not be cheaper at all and a way bigger headache.

kmr333

There are some really nice-looking disposable dishes out there now.  I think Target sells them.  Try using Google maps to search for tent rental near the cabin.  Tent/chair rentals are probably cheaper out of the cities. 

leahvdl

We are getting married in Walker, MN at my fiance's family land. Tables, chairs, table cloths and a tent are only costing around $500. We are using Masterpiece disposable plates that have the "look" of china but are disposable. We are also using Reflections silverware - same idea, they have the look of real silverware but are disposable. This is due to not having a dishwasher up there! We are also doing our own food. Our budget for the wedding is 6k and I know that we'll be very close to that. I purchased cloth napkins on linenforless.com for $50 bucks, which was about the price to rent. Although keep in mind we are only inviting around 125 people.

In our experience, everything has been cheaper up north. Our DJ was very reasonable, and our photographer is traveling for a nominal fee.

brimaven

All Event PArty rental in Blaine. Just ask for Lori, She'll take great care of you, and they have a lot of options.