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Family-owned restaurants are always the first place to check — they will almost always go the extra mile to make your wedding special and are generally more understanding of your particular budget needs. Instead of spending boatloads of money on flowers that will die shortly after the reception, keep it simple but elegant — for instance, a single rose for each bridesmaid and a very small bouquet for the bride.
If you know someone with a rose bush, you can actually make your own bouquets the day before the ceremony by cutting the roses yourself and trimming away the thorns. Another cheap wedding idea — go with fake flowers instead. With a quality home printer and some time, you can make very classy invitations on your own. My wife and I picked up a simple blank invitation kit on sale at Staples and made our own invitations to our wedding. No pictures or anything — just a very classic font and simple text. Rather than hiring a DJ, just use your own home stereo equipment, or equipment you borrow from a friend.
Choosing your own songs is a great way to personalize your entire experience. Instead of opting for a full open bar, for instance, you can save money offering just beer and wine, or a free cocktail hour followed by a cash bar.
Look for a discount liquor store in your area, and stock up on the basics: If you want to offer a full bar, pick up the standard liquors like vodka, gin, rum, and whiskey, plus a few mixers and soft drinks like sodas and juice. Since this tends to be very effective advertising, many businesses will happily provide services at reduced rates in exchange for this opportunity. It can help them develop their resume and save you on this typically pricey part of your wedding. Meanwhile, you can also consider buying used centerpieces and decorations. Recent brides often sell their decorations on sites like craigslist.
Get them involved — they can take a lot of worry off your shoulders for a relatively low price.
If you want to save on bridesmaid dresses, try to avoid ordering custom dresses altogether. To minimize spats within your wedding party, you can also shop ahead of time and only have them try on dresses you already approve of. Another cheap wedding idea: Instead of buying new dresses, have every bridesmaid wear a particular color dress they already own. Unless you have a specific reason for owning a tuxedo and few people do , you should rent one.
Wedding bands are traditionally an important part of the marriage ceremony, symbolic of your commitment to each other. Titanium, sterling silver, and other materials are less expensive, durable, and can be personalized for even deeper meaning. Check out some affordable wedding ring options here. The venue also needs to be somewhere your suppliers can easily access with any equipment, so you must consider loading or parking space near by.
Your venue speaks volumes about the calibre of the event. When organising a banquet for profit, a well-known venue is likely to convert better in terms of ticket sales. However, you should also consider how the venue relates to your theme. If you are going for a opulent black tie theme, chose a venue that omits a sense of glamour and class. Likewise, if your theme is slightly out-there, find a more out-there venue to suit. This will impact your budget and potentially allow you to hit two birds with one stone!
If you want to make it a little more special , you can make a homemade buttercream frosting. But how do you pull off a truly spectacular banquet when so many of them are being thrown? Skip the groomsmen and bridesmaid gifts. Check Notify the neighbors. A reader writes in:
Many event venues provide a catering package, event insurance, hospitality staff and even an event planner! It can also make the budget easier to manage. Be sure to include a choice of courses, along with options for those with special dietary requirements. It is good practice to have guests RSVP with their menu choice in advance of the event so the right amount of each course is prepared.
You have some choices when it comes to choosing your catering. If your menu is a relatively classic one, the latter option can be safer as the catering team are likely to be more familiar with the kitchen. Oppositely, if you have a specialised menu that a particular catering team would be more suitable for, then look into outsourcing the catering team. Find out more about the Senate House catering services. Drink is as important to the banquet as the food, but the expense of alcoholic drinks can impact your budget.
New at party planning? Don't panic if you haven't the first clue where to begin. We 'll guide you step-by-step from the moment the idea first comes to mind to the. Menu Planner ~ Plan your party meals by filling out one of these menu planners. Read it . partying on a budget and a party planning checklist party ideas.
The venue or drinks provider can quote for a free bar where guests have unlimited access to soft drinks, beer, wine and single measures of spirits. For the ultimate guest experience, providing an unlimited bar is best. You can then provide a bar where they can purchase additional beverages. If your guests are paying to attend the banqueting event, consider absorbing the cost of the free bar within their ticket price. This allows your guests to pay for their drinks in advance of the event and will potentially attract more paying attendees.
This works very well for all event purposes, as it still allows guests to go all out on their attire, but maintains a formal feel if necessary. Be sure to re-iterate this further ahead of the event! The guest list will be determined by the purpose of the event.
Whatever the purpose, be sure to include a relevant group of people, offering plus ones where appropriate. Spend some of your overall budget showcasing what your event has to offer in terms of venue, theme, and entertainment. Using social media to target your preferred audience can have some great results, while advertising in local papers or newspapers and investing in event PR can also be a good avenue to explore.
Separately, you can offer external companies the opportunity to purchase tables in bulk or even get local companies to sponsor the banquet. Their job is to:.
Before, during and after the grub is served, your guests expect to be entertained. Entertainment can come in many forms, and depends hugely on your budget. Check Set the stage. Check Take inventory of cookware and serving dishes. Check Stock the bar.
Check Notify the neighbors. Arrange candles, put up theme decorations, etc. Check Check the medicine cabinet.
Check Set up clean-up stations. Check Specify a place for coats. Check Finish grocery shopping. Make a detailed cooking schedule for your remaining dishes. Check Set the tables. Check Buy and arrange flowers. Check Finish as much of the cooking as you can.
Check Give your house a once-over. Check Finish any last-minute cooking.