Big weddings can be a lot of fun, but they can also cost an awful lot of money. When you want to invite everyone to your wedding, but do not have a big budget, you will need to put on your thinking cap. Check out these great wedding planning ideas for how to plan a big wedding on the cheap.
One of the most important things to do is find a venue that is large enough to accommodate your crowd without breaking your budget. You will be glad to hear that people do manage it. The usual ballrooms, private clubs, and historic mansions are usually too expensive for those working on a budget. In every town there is someplace that can host a big group affordably. Investigate places like Grange halls, meeting spaces in public buildings, and church basements, just to name a few. Getting married outside is often a good option, as long as you are fine with keeping it very simple. Renting a tent can easily run into many thousands of dollars. Here’s a good piece of advice: find a site that has adequate public restrooms handy. It’s not like you can go without bathrooms, and nice portable ones are expensive to rent for the day.
The next big thing you tackle should be the food for the wedding. Hiring a standard caterer for 200 or 300 guests will cost an arm and a leg, yet it is crazy to try to cook for that many people yourself. There are a few good ideas for putting together a huge meal without spending a lot. One good idea is to check out the menu for platters at a supermarket. You can get a nice variety of hors d’ouevres and main dishes. Simply decant into attractive serving dishes, and the catering will be done. Of course you will still need to have adequate staff around to supervise the food set up, serving, and clean up. College students are always good for this sort of work.
Some couples have very good luck hiring a restaurant to do their wedding dinner instead of a regular special events caterer. Chances are good that the restaurant catering service will be far less costly, and you will already be familiar with their food. Italian food is always a safe bet, since nearly all of your guests will enjoy it, even the vegetarians. Many couples have had very good luck buying their cake from a supermarket and just dressing it up a little. Add some beautiful fresh flowers, and it will look great.
There are plenty of other helpful wedding planning tips to allow you to have the guest list you want at the price you can afford. It is easy to find bargain prices for flowers on the Internet. Do not waste your limited budget on extras like wedding favors or programs. When you are clever about it, you will discover that you can have a huge wedding on a tight budget.
