<p>I doubt you can find a wedding reception package priced that low, but I’m sure with a group your size you could find a local Italian restaurant that would do a luncheon at that price without alcohol. Look for a BYOB place, forget the cash bar and just have your champagne toast and wine at the tables. Don’t pay for things you don’t want. Most weddings I’ve been to lately have been overkill on food. No one needs a 12 course meal. Salad, entree, and wedding cake is perfectly acceptable. Get a friend to take pictures. Have another friend manage an mp3 player with speakers for music. With a small group you can have an intimate personalized party which is a wonderful thing, don’t feel that you are losing out on anything because you need to be careful with money. Best wishes!</p>
<p>I’d sound a strong dissent to the person who said, “Don’t hire a photographer, have a friend take the photos.”</p>
<p>When this is all over, all you will have to show for it is the PHOTOS. If they are lousy, you can’t re-create the day and take more pictures. (Obviously you have your marriage, your commitment and your husband, but I’m talking in terms of the actual ceremony/reception/event). Plus, it can be a pain to get people to stand still for photos. Don’t ask a friend to do it, pay a professional photographer and let them deal with the hassles. You’ll have the photos for life. </p>
<p>Nowadays many photographers will give you the photos on a disk, you choose which ones you want and what size to print. Some photographers will just charge a flat fee, give you the disk, and then you can either order prints from him or take the disk elsewhere (be sure if your photographer is ok with this, you don’t want any “copyright” problems). You should be able to find a semi-reasonable price for a small wedding.</p>
<p>When I got married, my dad warned me - the one place NOT to skimp is the photos. I’ve been grateful for that advice for 20 years!</p>
<p>I’d agree that it’s good to have a pro (or at least great amatuer) take your photos. It is quite a burden to put on a guest & you may get blurry photos or NONE due to some technical malfunction of glitch. Since you have some time, shop around & see what is available, especially around campus. Maybe yearbook photographers or your school paper photographer would be inexpensive & able to take quality shots.</p>
<p>Of course even with a professional you can get glitches. Our photographer managed to be changing film in the middle of our extremely short ceremony and basically missed most of it. Luckily his other photos were every bit as good as his portfolio suggested so I forgave him!</p>
<p>I would rather buy a nice digital camera for $300 and have someone with a steady hand take pictures than spend 2 grand plus on some professional.</p>
<p>Ophiolite,</p>
<p>If you find a venue that will allow you to bring your own wine/champagne, then you can get some good champagnes at Sam’s or Costco. Don’t forget some sparkling juice for the non-drinkers. Go right after New Years’ you might snatch a deal. I would get better champagne, and allow less. Another thought would be to get prosecco, it will be less expensive than champagne, almost as bubbly, and many people will prefer it - only the wine snobs will really know the difference.</p>
<p>Secondly, ask Mom and MIL for a price range for the hotel. Your group is so small that you will probably only use one hotel, and it should affordable for everyone. We stay at Hampton Inns a lot when we drive. The last time I stayed at one, there was a big group having breakfast on Sun morning, they were extended family there for a wedding the evening before. having that brekfast buffet was an extra perk for family members on a tight budget, and it gave them a venue to continue visiting the next day.</p>
<p>We’ve also liked staying at Hampton Inns & have not stayed at a bad one yet. Maybe you could even run that suggestion by Mom & MIL, with info about prices offered at that hotel (if it’s near enough to your events).</p>
<p>I’m a bit of a wine snob, but I like prosecco. It’s different, (more flowery), but very good. :)</p>
<p>Thanks everyone so much again!</p>
<p>I really don’t want to skimp too much on a photographer. I used to be very into photography as a hobby (and want to again after grad school) and am a bit of a photography snob. I saw the pictures from my friend’s wedding this past summer, and though they had a professional and paid a lot for him, the pictures frankly sucked. But I will check out the art department here as well as any technical schools in the area to find a promising student.</p>
<p>cangel:</p>
<p>Thanks for the tip on the champagne! I didn’t even think about that, but it makes a whole lot of sense.</p>
<p>I think we’ve figured out the budget on the food and what we’ll do about the alcohol. My parents will pay for the food (no more than $30/head) and if we want alcohol it will be up to my fiance’s family.</p>
<p>We were going to go for the Choice Hotels, as my mom’s boss can get us the friends and family rate, but there isn’t any hotels in the area that offer the discount, so I’ll check to see if there is a Hampton in a good area/price range.</p>
<p>23 years ago, H and I rented a private historical mansion for a song and had a catered dinner. We could have served less or more as we wished. Since the historical society that managed the home did not have a liquor license, we only needed to hire a bartender and purchased our own liquor. We had an open bar for 4 hours for under $200.</p>
<p>We hired musicians from the Berkley School of Music to play and they were wonderful. They were able to play classical pieces for the ceremony and rock the house during the reception.</p>
<p>You’re doing the right thing–holding a wedding you can afford. My only splurge at my wedding was to hire a reputable photographer figuring the photos would be around forever, but the day would fade.</p>
<p>Just figure out what’s most important to you and your fiance and make that your priority. You really won’t remember all the details in years to come, but you will remember how you felt that day so follow your heart and mind your pocketbook!</p>
<p>There’s a special feeling about weddings that are given from the heart and not purposefully from the pocketbook. It sounds like you’re going to have one of those the way you’re going. Its going to be great!</p>