I posted this under the budget weddings and a very helpful person suggested I come here.
We are planning a simple outdoor ceremony at a hotel in Las Vegas (most likely Mandalay Bay) and are expecting about 40-50 attendees. We plan to have a local reception when we get home with about 150 friends and family. Since we are planning and paying for the local reception, we are limited with what we can do for those that WANT to come to Las Vegas to see the cermony. (We were planning on bridal party and family... but people have expressed wanting to go so here we are...)
We are looking at casually inviting everyone to a bar/restaurant after the ceremony and buy the first round of drinks as a thank you? Maybe appetizers. The ceremony is at 7 so people can eat before and will most likely just want to socialize and have drinks after and not need to eat necessarily.
I realize that in a perfect world I would feed and drink everyone after but that isn't something we can afford. ....
Does anyone have any ideas of a good place to go who is familiar with Las Vegas? I have been there quite a few times but can't think of anywhere other than maybe the house of blues at mandalay which is one of our ceremony options.
I am open to ideas and suggestions for low budget receptions, I have done a lot of research and everything is $80/head for food and drinks.
Thanks for your help!