Trying to find a reception hall and ceremony location within a budget!

Re: Trying to find a reception hall and ceremony location within a budget!

• hcorr34 member

  

  May 2011 edited December 2011

  How big is your guest list? 
  
  Check out some of the state parks for affordable outdoor locations.  Some places are cheaper if you live in that town (or know someone who does), and some are free.  I am getting married at Fort Williams/Portland Headlight and it only cost us $100 to reserve the Picnic Shelter for the entire day (my FSIL is a Cape Elizabeth resident and reserved it in her name).  If you have a smaller guest list and don't care about people standing (I am personally opposed to this), you only have to spend $40 and you can "reserve" one of the grassy areas for your ceremony.  The same goes for Fort Allen Park, Deering Oaks Park, etc. in Portland.  It's very inexpensive but you can't have chairs.
  
  I'm only familiar with what is in Portland since I didn't research outside of the city.  But most towns have some kind of public space that is available cheaply for ceremonies. 
  
  Here are some past threads that may have some useful Reception Hall locations for you to check out:
  
  http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_maine_venue-ideas
  
  http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_maine_venue-recommendations
  
  http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_maine_please-venue-ideas-mid-coast-area
  
  http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_maine_wedding-receptions-portland
  
  http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_maine_out-of-stater-looking-perfect
  
  http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_maine_inexpensive-wedding-venues-central-maine
  

  

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• jelenybeany member

  

  May 2011 edited December 2011

  I know keely the caterer doesn't charge a room rental fee, you just pay for the food. they're food is reasonable...i think between $18-$30pp. They were the cheapest I could find in the area, but I'm sure there are others.
  
  
  How many people are you expecting?

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• Debbie111111 member

  

  May 2011 edited December 2011

  Did you try Clay Hill Farm in York/Cape Neddick?  Beautiful setting for outdoor weddings (we were there Saturday!) and really charming inside.  Food was really good too!

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• shandorfml2

  

  May 2011 edited December 2011

  Clay hill farm is nice, I've been to a wedding there. Local parks are usually free. I've also been to a reception at keeley the cateror and that was nice as well. If you are going for inexpensive I'd try getting married in a park then reception at a hall that includes catering

  

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• nightspiritwings

  

  May 2011 edited December 2011

  Thank you everyone for all the advice!!! We checked out keeley's but unfortunately, the owner is retiring at the end of the year, so it won't be around for when we have our wedding, HOWEVER we were then recommended to check out The Italian Heritage Center, and the moment we stepped into the Columbus reception Hall, we were sold. It's beautiful and rather inexpensive. Thank you everyone for the advice...now to find a place to hold the ceremony itself!

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