As soon as you decide to get married, one of the first things that you and your partner will discuss will be where you would like to get married. This will in part be in relation to a place of worship versus a secular venue, and whether you will get married at the same place where you plan to have your reception.
If you are in the process of looking around for a place to hold the reception, you are probably shocked by now at the cost of the most popular wedding venues, and the lack of availability as well. Even if you can afford it (or want to spend so much money on this one day), you might not be able to get the date that you want.
If you are on a tight budget, which many people are these days, you might be having visions of just eloping to Vegas rather than be shamed in front of family and friends with a cheap, budget wedding.
The good news is that there is a happy medium between go for broke and penny-pinching. The most important thing is to choose an affordable venue that everyone will enjoy, and one which will suit your personality as a couple.
If you are looking for more affordable venues for your wedding, here are a few to consider.
Your home/back yard.
Many clergypeople can officiate right at your own home. If you are planning a small, intimate wedding and want just your closest family and friends, this can be ideal, and very romantic and traditional at the same time, as well as very frugal.
Your favorite restaurant.
If you and your partner have a favorite restaurant, that may be the ideal place to hold your wedding. Some restaurants have rooms set aside to rent, or are able to close off a section for you. For a smaller wedding, this could be a very comfortable and affordable venue. The one drawback is that you would have to order your food from the restaurant as well. If you had planned to save costs by catering it yourself, that won’t be an option here. The good news is, you know for sure that you will love the food they serve.
Community halls.
Your local community hall likely has a room or the whole downstairs that you could rent for your wedding at a reasonable price. If you are a member of your community association, you may even get a discount on rental. They will probably also have a small kitchen you can have access to for preparing and storing food, and some equipment for serving.
Local church hall.
See if your local church will let you rent the basement or hall for your wedding. Most churches have small kitchens you could use as well. You may also be able to have your wedding ceremony in the sanctuary and keep the entire event in one place.
A city park.
Check out your local city or state parks, or local beauty spots such as a scenic overlook and see if they can be rented for weddings. For an added bonus, look for one that also has a fountain, or a pretty walkway. Some parks even have gazebos for just this purpose. With a few decorations, these can be set up to create a beautiful atmosphere. Some of them might also have areas for eating, with shelters in case it rains. You will want to have the whole place cleaned and discourage too much finery being worn, but if you are an outdoorsy kind of couple, this can be ideal.
Your favorite place.
Forget where everyone else is going for their weddings. Be different and hold your wedding in a place that is special to both of you. If you love horseback riding, hold your wedding out on the trail. Did you two meet at work? Maybe stage your special event at your workplace. For avid hikers, a mountain trail might be a meaningful and fun venue.
Don’t let high costs scare you away from planning a nice wedding your family and friends will love. There’s no need to elope. With some research, creativity and flexibility, you can hold your wedding in a lovely location without spending a lot of money.
