Trying to plan on a budget.. need some serious help! :(

Re: Trying to plan on a budget.. need some serious help! :(

• aimers1525 member

  

  June 2012

  You can have a beautiful wedding for less than $30. What venues have you looked at already? Did you look out in the suburbs? It's generally much more affordable than the city. What is included in the $30k? Do you mean w/everything (flowers, food, dress, hair/make up, alcohol, photographer, transportation, etc)? To be honest, you might end up spending a lot more money if you tried to bring own your own food/alcohol.
  
  There are lots of ways to cut down on expenses:
  -cut down your guest list
  -offer guests a signature drink/only beer&wine, etc. instead of open bar
  -don't have a large bridal party
  -have non-floral centerpieces
  -DIY your invites (Michaels sells nice invitation kits that you can print yourself)
  -have a buffett
   
  

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• LANAYJ member

  

  June 2012

  I would recommend assembling a list of "must-haves" for your venue (price, location, is it all inclusive? tables, chairs, linens separate? can you bring in your own caterer, etc.) These are all important factors that you must consider.  Call them or email them to see if they are at least potential vendors. 
  
  If they pass round one, then enlist two family members or close friends to visit them, take pictures.  If the venue does not allow pictures, ask them for a brochure or request where you can view photos online.  Most times, they will direct you to their website or Facebook.  I would also give family/friend(s) a list of things that I am looking for while visiting (i.e. cleanliness, decor, flow of space).  Tell them to ask plenty of questions as they see fit.  This way when they report back to you, it was as if you were there.  
  
  When you have narrowed down your selections to your top two or three, call and schedule all on the same day.
  
  Best Wishes

  PBslilchocgirl

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• kshah05

  

  June 2012

  I agree, it makes a huge difference if you're having it in the city or in the suburbs, the cost is definitely different.
  
  All the venues i was looking at were very pricey even in the suburbs, going from $20,000 to $30,000. But i did find 2 very nice venues that include
  
  - wedding cake
  - dessert
  - bar
  - wine service
  - linens
  
  and various other things.
  
  There is the Avalon in Elk grove Village, IL, and the total cost for us with everything for 200 people was about $10,500
  
  and then there was the Meridian in Rolling meadows illinois which was about $13,000.
  
  Also if you don't feel like doing DIY invitations you can go on Vistaprint.com they have really nice/cute designs for a very reasonable price compared to a lot of other places.
  

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• n3rdl3t

  

  June 2012

  If you look outside of the immediate there are some seriously cheaper options out there for a venue. I'm also on an extremely tight budget since my FI just graduated and is looking for a job and money is tight.. We were able to find a venue for ~$700 in Oregon, IL just west of DeKalb. This includes both the ceremony + reception site and it looks just stunning. Pretty much anything in and directly around Chicago is going to cost an arm and a leg, unless you start to look at parks, but those are risky to begin with since a lot of them you can't reserve =\

  June 2013 - July Sig Challenge - Venue

  
  

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• soccerash21 member

  

  June 2012

  Hi guys!

  
  

  First off, thank you all so much for your respononses! 

  
  

  After searching for hours yesterday, I think we might have landed on a place that will cost us around $7 grand. Still seems pricey, but the previous venues we were looking at were costing us around $20 grand, so I at least feel a little better about it! We are def. looking in the suburbs. We are from Naperville, so we're looking for something close to that area. Since we live in California, I am sending my mom to the venue to check it out. She knows what we like so I trust her input! Hopefully if it all works out we will have our venue picked! Now it's just a matter of how quickly we can save up money! (and living in California.. I'm not sure how long that will take-haha) 

  
  

  Thank you all again for all your help!!

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• Rosieradish

  

  June 2012

  The South Shore Club is beautiful (it's where President Obama got married) and cheap.

  http://www.cpdit01.com/resources/pdf-library/special-event-venues.south-shore-cultural-center/South%20Shore%20Cultural%20Center%20Pictures.pdf

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• ccasey621

  

  July 2012

  I feel ya!  I don't know what your budget/head count is, but I've done a lot of research on budget weddings and I found a few great options.  I had to go out to the suburbs to find better deals, but I was able to find a handful that were priced between $60-110pp including open bar: 
  
  -White Eagle Country Club in Naperville
  -Carriage Greens Country Club in Darien
  -Danada House in Wheaton (there were a few caterers that came in budget here)
  -Wyndham Hotel in Lisle
  -Cantigny in Wheaton
  -Patrick Haley Mansion in Joliet
  -Jacob Henry Mansion in Joliet

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• jls522 member

  

  July 2012

  Add Bartlett Hills Golf Club and Seven Bridges Golf Club to list from PP. We looked at both and they were very affordable. They both offer big discounts for getting married off season.
  
  Good luck!

  

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