Budget wedding in an alternative venue

Daeniseg

Anybody on a budget manage an alternative venue ?
Really don't want a hotel and am thinking marquee at a local restaurant,
Thinking 100 people for €7000
Any thoughts ..... my head is fried
Feel like we are going round in circles.
Small wedding plus big afters -expensive
Biggish wedding plus no afters -slightly better
If we have a big afters looking at 140+
But would we get enough in presents to cover the costs ?!!!?

freshpopcorn

When you say afters are you referring to the guests getting a meal and being invited early or just some sandwiches party food and being invite at 9pm/10pm?

Daeniseg

We were thinking a BBQ around 8 or 9 in evening
But now wondering if that's just gonna. Cost a fortune. Started looking into marquees today but the prices seem outrageous!! €3000 for a marquee to fit 100 people

freshpopcorn wrote: »

When you say afters are you referring to the guests getting a meal and being invited early or just some sandwiches party food and being invite at 9pm/10pm?

jlm29

If you're hoping to get enough in presents to pay for your wedding, then you can't afford the wedding you're planning. I'd scale it back a bit, or else delay it while you save up, rather than expecting your guests to pay for your party

freshpopcorn

jlm29 wrote: »

If you're hoping to get enough in presents to pay for your wedding, then you can't afford the wedding you're planning. I'd scale it back a bit, or else delay it while you save up, rather than expecting your guests to pay for your party

This times 1000!
You'll never know what your guests will give you.
If people know they'll only be getting a bit of a barbecue. They might scale back on their present.
Would you have a problem with a small family/close friends wedding?

Toots

My advice always is budget as though you're going to get 100 toasters. That way you won't be stressing about getting enough gifts to cover the cost - realistically most venues require payment in full before the day so relying on gifts isn't practical.

As you've already found out Marquees are one of the more expensive places to hold your wedding. Maybe check out venues like inns or restaurants that you could book out instead. If you tell us what part of the country you're in people could come up with suggestions. Is the €7k the budget for the reception, or is that the whole thing, including dresses/suits etc.

Daeniseg

Hi 7k is just for reception including music hopefully

Toots wrote: »

My advice always is budget as though you're going to get 100 toasters. That way you won't be stressing about getting enough gifts to cover the cost - realistically most venues require payment in full before the day so relying on gifts isn't practical.

As you've already found out Marquees are one of the more expensive places to hold your wedding. Maybe check out venues like inns or restaurants that you could book out instead. If you tell us what part of the country you're in people could come up with suggestions. Is the €7k the budget for the reception, or is that the whole thing, including dresses/suits etc.

baby and crumble

You'd be surprised what you can get for 7K, if that's only for your reception.

We looked at Dublin city centre hotels that, if you didn't want millions of bells and whistles, have packages starting at like, €40 per person. The Gibson is one such spot. They were super lovely, we ended up going elsewhere simply because of accessibility issues and the time of year meant we'd be caught up in Christmas work parties, but for €45 per person you get everything you need (including a DJ if you go for one particular package). 100 people at that price is only €4500. Not bad. They do an afters only package too, might be worth looking at.

Daeniseg

Thanks for that
Problem is ME!!
Never thought I'd be bridezilla but I am really struggling with the hotel -white linen /chair cover type thing it's really not for me
I'd be happier to have my reception in a barn but on a budget which is where we are struggling

baby and crumble wrote: »

You'd be surprised what you can get for 7K, if that's only for your reception.

We looked at Dublin city centre hotels that, if you didn't want millions of bells and whistles, have packages starting at like, €40 per person. The Gibson is one such spot. They were super lovely, we ended up going elsewhere simply because of accessibility issues and the time of year meant we'd be caught up in Christmas work parties, but for €45 per person you get everything you need (including a DJ if you go for one particular package). 100 people at that price is only €4500. Not bad. They do an afters only package too, might be worth looking at.

baby and crumble

Oh I know. When we were looking at venues we had what we called "the chair covers test". If a place had them, we ruled it out. Petty, maybe, but like you we didn't want the traditional hotel- it just wasn't us. We had looked into Mount Druid for like a camping mini festival thing but it was totally impractical given 95% of folks live in Dublin, and like I said we have some accessibility issues which practically meant that a hotel was just easier. We're going with the Morrisson who have been nothing but amazing and tbh are letting us do whatever we want to the venue to make it our own- it won't look particularly "hotel-y" when we're finished with it!

But if you want it in a barn, find somewhere. Have you been looking at the wedding planning sites like One Fab Day? The stuff can be very repetitive, but you often see people doing some really cool stuff. There's nothing stopping you hiring a local parish hall for the evening and getting local caterers, decorating it yourself whatever way you want. You could book out a restaurant for the evening.

Where are you based? We looked at some cool places in Dublin, but no point in telling you those if you're getting married in Kerry.

Daeniseg

Thanks so much , we are based in midlands so mount Druid isn't out of the question-I love the look of it waiting for viewing but I've already fallen in love with it - only problem is not sure if we could do it on a budget!!
I'm actually willing to sacrifice a wedding dress (not too pushed on a big white number anyway) if I thought the extra money would get me there
Problem is the venue fee
But actually your idea of a local hall mightn't be a bad one..... time to start googling again !!
In the Morrison are you hiring someone to decorate it or doing it yourself?!?
If I thought I could get a hotel not to look like a hotel on a budget I might reconsider
Aghhhhh

baby and crumble wrote: »

Oh I know. When we were looking at venues we had what we called "the chair covers test". If a place had them, we ruled it out. Petty, maybe, but like you we didn't want the traditional hotel- it just wasn't us. We had looked into Mount Druid for like a camping mini festival thing but it was totally impractical given 95% of folks live in Dublin, and like I said we have some accessibility issues which practically meant that a hotel was just easier. We're going with the Morrisson who have been nothing but amazing and tbh are letting us do whatever we want to the venue to make it our own- it won't look particularly "hotel-y" when we're finished with it!

But if you want it in a barn, find somewhere. Have you been looking at the wedding planning sites like One Fab Day? The stuff can be very repetitive, but you often see people doing some really cool stuff. There's nothing stopping you hiring a local parish hall for the evening and getting local caterers, decorating it yourself whatever way you want. You could book out a restaurant for the evening.

Where are you based? We looked at some cool places in Dublin, but no point in telling you those if you're getting married in Kerry.

freshpopcorn

This is a serious question.
Are you just inviting people to try and cover the costs?
This can really back fire on people.

baby and crumble

We're hiring stylists to do the setup on the day but we're making a lot of the props ourselves. We had a budget but luckily we were able to save on certain elements because friends are doing things like flowers, DJ and cake for less than we had budgeted for, and we're not getting a band. So we've been able to get the money together for the stylists who've talked us through our style and what we want for the day, done up a plan, told us what to make, and will come on the day to set everything up. It would've been a bit overwhelming to do everything ourselves tbh.

Daeniseg

No absolutely not ! budget is tight but would love to invite so many people but trying to whittle it down and do alternative on a budget just doesn't seem to be working

freshpopcorn wrote: »

This is a serious question.
Are you just inviting people to try and cover the costs?
This can really back fire on people.

GingerLily

Have you looked into Kippure?

Neyite

Maybe approach a restaurant that you like and that you think might have space for your guests and ask about an early bird menu. A lot of restaurants only start service about 7pm so if you were to sit down for 4pm and be gone by then.

I know someone who did this with 60 guests and their favourite restaurant. They had a set menu worked out with the restaurant then onto a pub back room for the rest of the night, with the pub providing finger food later on. And it cost them less than €2000 for the lot.

rob w

Neyite wrote: »

Maybe approach a restaurant that you like and that you think might have space for your guests and ask about an early bird menu. A lot of restaurants only start service about 7pm so if you were to sit down for 4pm and be gone by then.

I know someone who did this with 60 guests and their favourite restaurant. They had a set menu worked out with the restaurant then onto a pub back room for the rest of the night, with the pub providing finger food later on. And it cost them less than €1000 for the lot.

That seems incredibly cheap for 60 people.....less than €20 a head for a set menu in a restaurant and finger food later?

Neyite

rob w wrote: »

That seems incredibly cheap for 60 people.....less than €20 a head for a set menu in a restaurant and finger food later?

Sorry, that was a typo: It was 2k. 40 per head. Finger food was free provided by the pub and they brought sandwiches from home to supplement it.

rob w

Neyite wrote: »

Sorry, that was a typo: It was 2k. 40 per head. Finger food was free provided by the pub and they brought sandwiches from home to supplement it.

Phew!! ;-)

Im getting quotes from venues for a meal at the moment and I havent heard close to 1k for less people than that!

uck51js9zml2yt

We did a 4 course meal for 60 at 20 a head plus drinks

ShaShaBear

As has been said, do not under any circumstances rely on presents to cover the cost of your wedding. We actually got an extraordinary amount of gifts on our big day - frames with pictures of us and our kids already in it, a personalised and framed "wedding" plate, mugs, ornaments and gift cards. We had planned to use any cash to book a honeymoon, and we got enough to book a 5-day trip in Amsterdam and some spending money. The total cash gifts wouldn't have covered one-third of our reception, and that was on a budget lower than yours!

Have you thought about hiring out a local GAA club house for the day and getting in decorations and services yourself? Failing that, maybe try pub/restaurants with function rooms - you could have the wedding ceremony in the private function room and then head off for pictures while your family entertain themselves in the pub and then come back for a feed? You might even be able to come to an agreement to have the pub "private" for the night, if there will be enough people to make it worth their while!

CeilingFly

Firstly, a marquee will add to the cost no matter what. So forget that.

Secondly, contact local golf clubs. Most can cater for 100+ in their dining room.

pooch90

Station House in Kilmessan, Co. Meath is a small hotel but quirky and outdoor space is fab, especially if you do it up with fairylights and bunting.
They have package deals available that may suit your budget

appledrop

Our friends got married in register office with just their parents/ siblings + then hired a restaurant/venue for all their guests. One of the best weddings ever! Very laid back + lovely food so everyone was happy.