Cheap Places for Wedding Receptions
A wedding reception can become a very expensive part of the celebration and the cost to rent a reception venue is one of the highest expenses. With a little research and creativity, you can easily find many budget friendly reception sites. Also ask friends and family for help. One of them might be a member of an organization and can get you a discount of the use of the site.
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Churches
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A church can be a cheaper location for a wedding reception, especially if you are just having a cake and punch reception. Many churches don't allow dancing but if you are sticking to a very simple reception that is just about saying hello to everyone and don't need dancing, this could be a perfect fit. Churches often provide very good deals. As a bonus, many churches have a kitchen that a caterer can work out of and, if necessary, you may be able to use the nursery facilities for younger guests.
City Parks
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If you want an outdoor wedding but don't have a backyard big enough, consider using a city park. Many parks allow you to use the grounds and facilities for free or a very nominal fee. You will need to make reservations and be aware that you won't have exclusive use of the site. You will want to check for policies regarding alcohol use, cleanup and decorating. Using a city park does take a little extra planning but it can be a beautiful and budget-friendly reception site.
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Backyard
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Your backyard, or a family member's backyard can be a wonderful place for a wedding. One of the biggest perks is that you can use your backyard for free. However, you will need to rent chairs, possibly a tent and landscape the yard if necessary. To keep the costs down, make use of the yard's natural setting instead of forcing the space to fit your needs. Also, consider having your wedding during the off season--usually October 1 thru March 31--to get discounts from rental companies. With careful planning, a backyard wedding can be a very economical option.
Organization's Meeting Hall
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Another option for a cheap wedding reception site is to use a meeting hall for a local organization. Groups like Kiwanis or Rotary Clubs often have recreation centers that can be rented for a much lower charge than other reception sites. These sites often don't force you to use an inhouse caterer or have a minimal alcohol purchase which can help keep prices cheaper as well. Ask friends or family if they are a member of the organization to see if you can get a discount on the use of the center.
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References
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