Low Cost Wedding Reception Ideas

Most couples dream of an elaborate wedding reception - everything fancy, super stylish, and glamorous.

However, that does not come cheap.

It can be a challenge to plan a beautiful wedding reception and stay within your budget.

BUT, even though it will take a bit of planning, it’s not impossible.

It’s definitely possible to have a fun and memorable wedding reception without ruining your budget and maxing out your credit card.

So many Americans end up in debt just in order to pay for their wedding expenses, and there’s no reason to do that! Have a wedding that will make you happy, but that won’t make you broke.

So, I’m sharing practical and frugal tips on how you can cut back on wedding expenses without compromising fun and memories. These budget-friendly wedding reception ideas will amaze your friends and family, they will lower your wedding cost, and will make your special day even more amazing!

Low Cost Wedding Reception Ideas

So, here are inexpensive wedding and reception ideas that will help you have a wedding on your budget without sacrificing the fun and memories of your big day. 

Some of these 

Beach Wedding

A beach wedding can be both expensive and inexpensive, depending on where it is held. If you want to have a reception at a beach venue, that might be pricey.

However, you can rent a beach house, and have your wedding reception there! Some even have private docks, which will make your wedding day even more special.

When a professional photographer takes your photos at the beach while you’re saying ‘I do’ in front of your family and friends as you’re standing next to the ocean, the photos will turn out so breathtaking you’ll be happy you decided to plan a wedding on the beach!

You can serve food that goes well with the beach theme (such as seafood) and you can even have a wedding cake decorated in the beach style. 

Since you’ll be renting out a house, the wedding party will be insanely fun, since you won’t have any limits!

So, if you want to have a wedding on a budget and still have the event of the year (at least in yours and your loved ones’ lives), rent a house on the beach and have your reception there, while looking at the ocean and standing on soft sand - you won’t regret it!

Of course, beach weddings are usually best for summer weddings, or a time of the year when the weather is nice and warm, and the Sun is out. 

Backyard Wedding

Backyard weddings are definitely cost-effective. However, some people think they look cheap. But, don’t worry - a backyard wedding can definitely look expensive and bougie, even if it’s actually affordable. 

First of all - the backyard. If you or one of your friends or family members have a house with a gorgeous and big yard - great! You can have your wedding reception there!

If not, don’t worry! You can rent out a house! It will still be much cheaper than renting out an actual wedding venue, and you can still decorate it however you like and make it look super fancy and glamorous. 

Think about the decorations (hello Pinterest!), the style, and the theme.

The time of year in which you’re having your wedding can also play a part in the way you’ll decorate the backyard, and also in the menu you plan.

When it comes to food, think about the style of the yard, and the season the wedding is happening in. But also, think about the seating. Will the seating be fit for a full sit-down meal, and will you have anyone to serve it?

If not, you might do better with h'orderves and appetizers than with soups and full-on meals.

Since the backyard isn’t a theme in itself, the wedding cakes you have can be decorated in any style you want - but make sure you use the color scheme of the decorations, so everything goes with everything.

While backyard weddings can look expensive even though they aren’t, they’re better for a smaller guest list - we can probably assume you won’t find a backyard that will fit 500+ people comfortably. 

A huge plus in the ‘looking fancy even though it’s affordable’ department will be if the backyard also has a pool! 

Even though it (probably, at least not on purpose) won’t be used, it will make the whole thing look that much more glamorous, expensive, and fancy. 

You can put lights above the pool, and make it look extra good, and you can place the tables around it, so it becomes the center of the reception. 

National Park Wedding

This idea is definitely not for everyone, but it can be sooo cool and amazing.

If you’re an outdoorsy type, adventurous, fun, and love different things - you should definitely consider having your wedding reception at a national park.

Whether that’s a forest, a mountain, or something similar, it would be a wedding to remember.

You can usually always get permits to be there, they’re not that expensive, and if you have a smaller guest list, it can be the perfect thing for you and your partner.

If you prefer to have an outdoor wedding reception anyway, and you love to look at gorgeous nature views, it will be so special for you to have your special big day at a place like that.

When it comes to food, it will depend on the national part - if it offers enough steady room for full tables for fine dining, or if tables with h'orderves and appetizers would be a better option. 

Your wedding cake can be decorated in the style of the national park you choose, and it can follow that theme - both with the decorations and the flavors.

The decor of the chairs, tables, and overall decor pieces can also follow the theme of the place where the wedding is held - if it’s a forest you can include green color, a natural wine, and earthy tones. 

City Hall Wedding

City Hall weddings are usually only considered when the couple is eloping - but that truly doesn’t have to be the case.

You can have a great wedding reception at the city hall with your closest family and friends, and have an intimate special day you’re sharing with your loved ones.

Many city halls are placed in gorgeous historic buildings, with stunning steps outside and flower gardens.

So, even if the decor inside the city hall isn’t super special, the photos your professional photographer will take of you outside will be super gorgeous!

It’s definitely the most cost-effective option, and if you truly want to save on the budget, it might be a great idea.

You don’t need a fancy venue to have a great wedding! It’s all about you and your partner, the love you share, and your loved ones being there to share the moment with you.

Your wedding cake can still be nice and fancy, and when you show up in your stunning wedding dress, no one will even notice if the wedding is in an expensive venue or in the city hall.

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