Wedding Cookout Help?
September 30th, 2009
My fiance and I recently realized (took a while) that even attempting to pay for a modest ($5000-$8000) wedding is just impossible. Neither of our parents are able to help out and quite frankly, we just don’t think it’s practical to spend all that money for 1 day. GRANTED it is the first day of our marriage, but when we talked it over we came to this conclusion: having an $8000 wedding doesn’t mean we love each other any more than having a $2000 wedding. We’re also new grads with new careers and live check to check so again, attempting to save $8000 is too much to expect.
On the lines of a much cheaper wedding I think it would be more fun and more laid-back if we had a wedding cookout! Our idea is to ask his mom and sister if we can utilize their land to set up a big tent, rent tables and chairs, and have 75 people over for our ceremony and reception.
I’m going to return the dress I have and go with an elegant white dress from Old Navy or someone (as long as it’s simple, relaxed, and elegant). The groom and the groomsmen can all wear tan khaki shorts with any variation of a blue collared top. My bridesmaids can wear any variation of a blue dress they want.
As for food and drinks, we plan on doing traditional cookout stuff.
My questions: does anyone have any other ideas/suggestions? has anyone been to a wedding like this and if so, what did you think?
Update
We do have a professional photographer for free. We have a JP marrying us for free. We are not hiring a DJ and instead we made our song list on our iPod. I quoted a tent, table, chairs, and a dance floor for $900 including setup and breakdown fees. We plan on doing evite invitations. The favors are going to be a selection of framed pictures of ourselves that people can choose from. We live in NH so liquor is super cheap and we figure we’ll spend about $200-$250 on it – all top shelf. We are doing cupcakes instead of a traditional cake. We’re either having the event catered or we’re doing the food ourselves… and that’s about it until I think of something else.
Pick The Gender Of Your Baby
October 1st, 2009 at 7:43 pm
if you are doing it on land with some trees line the trees with white christmas lights so when it gets dark it will light up and be elegant. i also suggest getting a runner to walk on you can get one at hobby lobby for 15 dollars…you could also keep your dress wear it for the ceremony and then change into the other one…someone i know did this and it was an awesome wedding everyone had a great time…good luck
October 3rd, 2009 at 1:12 am
I think it’s a really fun idea. Just make sure you tell the guest it’s a more laid back wedding so they won’t show up over dressed. Also I just went to a wedding sort of like this a few weeks ago. It was at a mansion and it was really fancy (which made it kind of boring) but they had tents set up outside and they did catered food and an open bar. The set up was really nice. The only downfall I would say is being outside all dressed up kind of sucked. I agree with you though I think spending a ton of money on a wedding is not the best idea (unless you just have money to “blow”)…
Good luck to you!
October 6th, 2009 at 4:44 am
Yea, I had been to such wedding and it was really grand.Infact most of the guests later said the may adopt the free style.So, just go ahead your day! Its great that way.Make sure its gonna be organized well.Good luck
October 8th, 2009 at 9:10 pm
You can certainly do it, but be warned that the costs will add up. 75 people is NOT a small guest list, even for a cookout. So start doing the research and see what it would cost you: tent, tables, chairs, place settings, meat, side dishes and drinks, decorations, etc.
Then you have more decisions to make. Will you hire a photographer? Will you have music and dancing? Where is the ceremony, and where will people sit?
It is do-able, but requires very careful planning. Plan it before you invite your guests, because it if it is too costly you can cut your guest list to a smaller number. Good luck.
October 9th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
I love the idea, but look at getting enclosed tents that the sides can be rolled up. I don’t know where you live, but I suggest enclosed tents because it could rain. Also plan your date carefully. You don’t want it to be scorching hot or freezing cold. Also, tents blow away, so if you live where it is windy, I wouldn’t do it. I love the idea, i just worry about the weather.
October 11th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
you could save even more $$$ by skipping the favors. you’ll be surprised how many you’re left with at the end of the night because people forget them. then what are you goingto do with 50 framed pics of yourself?
I don’t like the idea of using evite. it’s a wedding not a surprise bday party. formal written invitations are best or you won’t get a good rsvp response trust me. people will totally blow off an evite.
definitely hire a caterer, you don’t have to serve a full meal if it costs too much. heavy appetizers is fine.
October 14th, 2009 at 8:14 pm
Wanna see photos of backyard barbeque wedding receptions?
Check out the links I posted here:
October 14th, 2009 at 8:54 pm
I actually was just to a wedding like this a month ago. It was nice.
They put on the invite
“ceremony at the home of X and Y 1 Main Street, Town, City, State
at 6:30pm
followed by refreshments and light fare”.
They served fried chicken, rolls, meat and cheese trays, salad, then served the cake.
They didn’t even have music and honestly – nobody missed it!!
The tent is a must, though. The wedding I went to had a 5-minute total downpour so everyone moved the party under the tent and when it dried out we were back to mingling in the yard.
October 17th, 2009 at 1:16 am
I have been to a wedding like this and it was a ton of fun. The bride an groom had a volley ball net set up, bocce ball, they own a ranch so they had dancing set up inside the show barn. It was tons of fun. Other than the fact that they owned the ranch they paid very little for the wedding and reception.
October 20th, 2009 at 2:35 am
Wow…..it all sounds great to me!!!
EXCEPT…..sorry, but I have a few comments.
Nix the favors. I am not trying to be mean…but really “framed pictures of you and your groom?” Slip in a picture of the two of you with your thank you note if you want, but don’t give out pictures of yourself as favors? That seems a little conceited.
If you are on a budget….totally skip favors. Really! No one cares or notices.
Cupcake vs. cake: Good idea, but make sure you are getting a good price. Sometimes cupcakes (because each one needs to be frosted) can cost MORE than a simple sheet cake. But….I DO love the cupcake trees!
Invites: I realize that this is 2009 coming up to 2010….but I would still prefer a mailed invite. You can buy a kit from Michael’s; Hobby Lobby; Target; Office Max for only $25 or $30. Yes, you will have the cost of the stamps, but if you are only having 75 TOTAL people….that will only be about 35-50 total invites. If you don’t want the formality of a regular invite, then just get the nice paper (Walmart; online) and type up your invite. Paper like this:
I understand you are trying to save, but it’s just so much nicer having some kind of paper invite.
Other than that….it all sounds GREAT! And, kudos to you (and your fiance) for realizing that you will be JUST as married as someone who spent $25K!