This is the next part in a 20-day long series. If you’ve missed any of it, you can find all of the tips in the category: Do it Yourself Wedding Plans.
These are all of the steps you need to schedule your time and budget for when you’re planning a DIY Wedding. The who’s, what’s, where’s as well as the when’s and how’s.
Time for a Party
Now that you’ve got the date set for the ceremony and a location selected, shop around and visit a few banquet halls and ballrooms for the reception party.
DIY wedding plans don’t happen in a weekend, but it is far kinder on your budget!
Take the time to meet with a few venues before sitting down to choose your favorite.
Take notes and pictures at each venue so you remember which one is which.
It might help to ask around, too.
We all know plenty of people who are married, take their advice!
Ask them where they held their reception and if they liked it.
Perhaps a friend used a local hall, but the service was terrible or someone else’s cousin might be able to get you a deal at a different location.
Again, take photographs of the rooms and get prices.
They may charge extra for the little things, like linens, top shelf drinks, lighting, vegetarian menu options, etc.
Their menu may be a wide variety of the standard wedding foods or only offer meals you don’t like.
Check to see how many guests the room will fit and how close the restrooms are.
Also, having a Friday or a Sunday wedding may be less traditional, but most places will have lower prices then.
Decide if having a Friday wedding is worth the money you save, which could be up to $20 per person!
Standard reception hall prices are per person, so remember that when you make your guest list.
You also will want to check to see how many people you can seat at each table.
You’ll need to know that when you make the seating chart!
Check to see their hours.
Will they kick you out before midnight?
How long will you have the room for and can you come early to help set up and drop off centerpieces and gifts for the guests?
Do they offer cake cutting?
Remember to ask plenty of questions while you’re there!
It may help to make a general list you can ask at each venue and write down the answers.
Shop around to find a place you love that is reasonably priced.
It does exist!
It may take a few visits to different halls, but it will save you a bundle while finding a beautiful hall where you’ll dance the night away as the guest of honor at your own party.
Remember, if you aren’t interested in spending a fortune on a hall, consider a more casual outdoor setting at a park or a relative’s house with a back yard large enough for a few tents and plenty of seating.
Summer weddings in beautiful gardens are always great locations for photos and there’s no one to send you home early or tell you what foods you must serve.
It’s all up to taste and so many people are going casual lately.
You’ll have to decide what’s right for you.
Be sure to check back tomorrow for the next step of many that you’ll need to attend to for planning your Do it Yourself Wedding.
