The average cost for a wedding is currently $22,000–for one day! So what do you do when you budget, like ours, is less than 1/2 of that? You start early, keep an open mind, and look everywhere for everything…

One of the, if not THE biggest expense (some say 50%) of you wedding budget is where you reception will be held. And since this is the place where you you spend the most time that day, not to mention eat, you’ll want to do your homework. Alot of locations have website, which is a huge help, because you can eliminate those not in your budget fairly quickly. But, a good number of them do not–so it requiring some calling and asking for information to be mailed or faxed. Some pricing packages took up to 2 week to arrive–some not at all. And some of the quotes I received knocked me over: packages starting at $80.00–for chicken! What could they possibly DO to chicken to make it cost $80.00??? Another place sold everything ala carte, and you had to have a minimum of $11,000 in revenue to book a Friday night wedding! Now, I know alot of people who paid that, (and even more) and I mean no disrespect, but that is certainly not in my budget…A couple places look promising, and the pricing was good, but then they add the dreaded “Tax and Gratuity” which could add up to an additional $10.00 a person!

After a ton of looking, we found a great place in Dalton, which is about 45 minutes from our home. I have been to 2 weddings at this location and both were great…. They have a beautiful outdoor gazebo and Pavilion so we can get married outside (which is what we wanted), and then a very nice banquet room at the same location. Best part of all? Everything is included–including the tax and gratuities! And because we are having a Friday night wedding, we received an addition 10% off the package. So we got their Premier Package (including Prime Rib and 4 hours of Top Shelf Liquor) for less than half of alot of the packages we looked at…So it is possible, you just have to look around…

Some tips to remember:

Saturday night weddings are the most expensive; If you are open to it, consider a Saturday a Sunday or a Friday night, often it will be significantly cheaper.

Consider something other than a sit down dinner: An afternoon tea, a brunch, a cocktail reception, the options are limitless…

Be open to alternatives; People have had receptions in parks, backyards, museums, courthouses, wineries-anywhere is possible, all it takes is some creativity and a little legwork.

All the old “rules” about what you “should” and “shouldn’t” are out the window…These are not your mothers/grandmother’s wedding plans! Be imaginative and enjoy!