Need Help Planning Quick Frugal Wedding Reception!

[Staceyy]

My niece just called to ask if she can hold her wedding reception in two weeks at my house! She wants to invite about 30 people and she will pay for the cake, food and drinks. They decided to get married last minute. How can I pull this off frugally? I'd like to add some flair to the event. Ideas for inexpensive favors, appetizers, centerpieces, tablecloths, serving displays etc. are appreciated! Please bring me everything you've got!!! Thanks!

[LilMama23]

Start posting on Craigslist & Freecycle asking for free wedding decorations.
For appetizers, think easy and cheap. Start looking at sale ads for grocery stores and stocking up on ingredients - like piggies in a blanket (hot dogs are on sale this week, etc.).
Check your local thrift store for nice sheets that you can cut into tablecloths - the nice part is that you can cut them to the exact size you want.

Good luck!

[summersnight]

If she already has her cake picked out, this may not be an option but for our wedding reception we actually used the wedding cakes as centerpieces. Each table had a simple white round cake with fresh stargazer lilies on top as the centerpiece. We used white tablecloths and four mirrored tiles with the cake in the center and white votive candles in clear glass candleholders around it.

[vbactivist]

Originally Posted by summersnight

If she already has her cake picked out, this may not be an option but for our wedding reception we actually used the wedding cakes as centerpieces. Each table had a simple white round cake with fresh stargazer lilies on top as the centerpiece. We used white tablecloths and four mirrored tiles with the cake in the center and white votive candles in clear glass candleholders around it.

Oh - I love that idea - the cakes as centerpieces!!!

[daytripper75]

Ask around and see if you can borrow (second best) china from friends and see who has white tablecloths to borrow.
Costco sells 2 dozen roses for cheap, maybe buy a few packs of those to add to vases.
Get your village in action! Lots of people will love to help!

[SavannahK]

Here are a few ideas from events I've done in the past couple of years:

Decor: seasonal greens and flowers culled from your and neighbor's yards. Floral foam or crumpled up chicken wire works great as a display base. Garlands of wild grapevine or strands of english ivy wound with white christmas tree lights. Towers of seasonal fruit (apples, pears) held together with toothpicks. Lots of little white tea lights. Swathes of white netting (keep away from tea lights!)

Food: Think things in a pan that can be cut up and hold together well like spanakopita; or fruit kebabs; or little sandwiches; or things that are good cold that you can prep a day in advance like melon balls wrapped in proscuttio or veggie trays with some fancy dip served in a few decoratively cut rainbow colored peppers. Choose things that don't require spoons or knives to eat, as finger foods will make everyone's life easier. And things without a lot of immediate hands on prep time will make your life easier.

Drink: Borrow a few big punchbowls. Freeze water/fruit juice with edible flowers and fruit slices inside in smaller freezer-safe containers; float them in an adult-type not too sweet fruit punch/wine cooler -- lemonade/pomegranate juice/ginger beer/white wine mix; or sub in limeade; raspberry juice; peach nectar, etc -- sophisticated flavors. Lots of recipes online. Friexenet (black bottle) is my inexpensive bubbly of choice. Ask the liquor store for a case discount.

Favors: Hershey's hugs and kisses tied in a piece of net; (get a coupon for Joanne fabrics and buy a couple of yards) print out tags on the computer on cardstock saying "hugs and kisses from the bride and groom"; birdseed bags can be made in a similar way; buy bubbles from the party store by the case and hot glue flowers to the top of the bottles; little bags with two spring-flowering bulbs, planting directions, and a message from the couple; recipe cards and an envelope addressed to the couple to contribute a favorite family recipe or two . . .

HELP: the most important thing so you don't grow crazy. Find a high school student or two and pay them to help serve, bus, keep things filled, check the TP and clean towel status in the bathroom. That way maybe you can enjoy a bit of the party!

Have fun!

[kimiij]

A good site for DIY wedding/reception decor is: www.weddingbee.com

You'll have to wade through lots of posts as it's a group blog but the ladies there often have great innovative and cheap ideas...

[MyLittleWarrior]

We did my whole wedding and reception for under $1000. I did my own flowers. The brides maids had spring mixed bouquets, and then we put their flowers into vases during the reception as center pieces. We did our own salads (pasta salad and a 7 layer salad) and had bbq chicken and a fruit plate brought in. We found table clothes, clear plastic plates, doilies, etc at a party store for pretty cheap. We had about 30 guests at our wedding also. It turned out really beautiful, and I loved having such a small crowd I felt like we spent the afternoon with friends rather than trying to entertain a bunch of strangers.

[Emmeline II]

If you are doing an ordeurve reception, let the guests know.

Sausage Wonton Stars
I know this recepie freezes well. I place them neatly into a Ziploc bag (that you remove the air from) and freeze.

• 1 pkg/12oz Wonton Wrappers (or the pre-made fillo ones that you find with the frozen pie-crusts and tart crusts; I use these and use about 5 boxes).
• 1 pound bulk pork sausage
• 2 cups (8oz) shredded Colby cheese
• 1/2 medium green pepper, chopped
• 1/2 medium sweet red pepper, chopped
• 2 bunches green onions, sliced
• 1/2 cup ranch salad dressing

1. Lightly press wonton wrappers on to the bottom and up the sides of greased mini muffin cups. Bake at 350 for 5 minutes or until edges are browned.
2. In a large skillet, cook sausage over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Stir in the cheese, peppers, onions and salad dressing. Spoon a rounded tablespoonful into each wonton cup. Bake for 6-7 minutes or until heated through.

about 4 dozen

Cheddar Ham Cups

2 cups (8oz) finely shredded cheddar cheese
2 packages (2-1/2 ounces each) thinly sliced deli ham, chopped
3/4 cup mayo
1/3 cup real bacon bits
2 to 3 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 pkg/12oz Wonton Wrappers (or the pre-made fillo ones that you find with the frozen pie-crusts and tart crusts)

1. In a large bowl, combine the cheese, ham, mayonnaise, bacon and mustard. Fill each cup.
2. Bake at 450 for 9-11 minutes or until golden brown and the cheese is melted.

about 2.5 dozen

Decor
Twinkle lights and tulle make good decorations.

[Staceyy]

Great suggestions everyone! Please keep them coming!

[cristeen]

For our wedding, I went to the dollar store and found some small glass vases for flowers. Bought some ribbon in my colors and tied it around the vases. Then the morning of the reception I went to the local wholesale flower market (where the flower vendors buy their flowers) and bought all the flowers for under $30. That's what I used for the centerpieces.

For food, we kept it really simple - my parents ordered a whole roast pig from a local caterer (about $100), and then we supplemented with essentially a salad bar - everything from mixed greens, all the toppings to pasta salads, etc. Really very simple and cheap. For dessert, we had a small decorated cheesecake for our wedding cake to do the cutting, and then they had bought frozen cheesecakes from Trader Joes for the guests. We didn't do any appetizers at all.

For the rest of the table decorations, they rented white tablecloths from a local party store and then they bought a few big plastic tablecloths in my colors and cut them into smaller pieces to use as accent pieces on each table (smaller squares under the centerpieces).

[lara1828]

I was married in the Fall. We bought tents and hanging lights on clearance and put them up in the front yard for extra space. I thought it was fun and romantic when evening fell. And we still use those tents all the time years later.

For decoration, we used plain white disposable tablecloths sprinkled with confetti. It was a mess to clean up, but very pretty during the event.

For decoration, I had parents and grandparents bring photos of their own weddings. I grouped these around the guestbook. Also a bowl full of pretty candy (don't remember what kind, but very cheap )

A friend bought a few flowers from the farmers market, but otherwise, no flowers for us! They are expensive.

It's a party, have fun!

Lara

[JTA Mom]

Decor:

On the tables, from cheapest to most 'expensive': gravel, pebbles, glass 'drops' from dollar store put in a snakey/river pattern across long tables/in the middle on round tables, interspersed with lots of little white tealights.

Also, if they have a color scheme, buy some cheap candy wrapped in that shade. My sister had purple as her color, so we got bags & bags of dark chocolate hershey kisses (wrapped in purple wrappers) and put those on the table. A wonderful, inexpensive EDIBLE centerpiece, lol.

Go to the dollar store. There are TONS of ideas there, from vases, ribbons, small mirrors (put a couple tealights on them or one small pillar candle--lots of wow factor).

Food--how 'upscale' do you want it to be? Things like spring rolls, dolmathes, even bagel bites (dh's request) are good nibbles for people. If you are going to be making the food, I'd suggest things like lasagna or other (inexpensively based) dish. Put out platters of raw veggies & dip, a plate of cut up fruit & you are set. Even meatballs drizzled with a beautiful pesto sauce & sprinkled with parmesan cheese looks 'upscale'.

Honestly, here's the trick to making inexpensive food look elegant: finishing touches. The lasagna? A couple of artfully arranged basil leaves on top of it suddenly makes it really classy looking.

Just add one small thing can take it from ordinary to extraordinary.


For drinks, if serving alcohol, make punches. Lots of yummy, inexpensive mix recipes. No need to make the guests smashed. For a non-alcoholic drink, I made lemonade from powder & added generous squirts of lemon & lime juices, plus added lemon & lime slices to the bowl. Yummy & cheap!

Ami

[Logan's Mom]

Originally Posted by kimiij

A good site for DIY wedding/reception decor is: www.weddingbee.com

You'll have to wade through lots of posts as it's a group blog but the ladies there often have great innovative and cheap ideas...

Yes, lots of good ideas there. Here are some more of my favorites:

They have a DIY section as well as for sale
http://www.projectwedding.com/

For sale
http://community.thenest.com/cs/ks/f...spx?MsdVisit=1

For Sale
http://www.bravobride.com/

I get ideas here - gotta look for the DIY or for sale threads (this is the local board but you can change to your area of budget bride has tons of ideas)
http://talk.theknot.com/boards/ShowF...122&MsdVisit=1

Michael's and Joannes always have 40% off a regular price item coupon -- don't know if you have one local.

We DIY our invites, TYs, Menu Cards, Programs, stickers to go on the bottom of Hershey Kisses, water bottle labels.

Here are some nice wholesale flower websites:

http://www.fiftyflowers.com/
http://www.theflowerexchange.com/Scripts/defaultn.asp

As PP mentioned, local wholesale clubs also do bulk flowers. Plus, not sure where you are located but in MA, there is a flower market in Boston and I know there is one in LA(CA). There are also local flower farms which are not only frugal but green options. Having the seasonal, non-expensive flower is the least expensive. Think sunflowers if she likes yellow. The dollar store actually has $1 vases and you can buy online and ship to store if your local store doesn't have any.

Also, another nice decoration is fruit in vases (lemons/limes). Our color is pink, we are considering using radishes.

Ipod music works well, many people are choosing this option.

Post on a local art school for a photographer looking to build their portfolio, also here in finding your tribe.

Favors aren't a must anymore -- many people are donating to a chairty and stating that to the guests in a frame. Right now, candy buffets are hot and are considered the favor. Some people use chinese take out boxes or whatever so the guests can take some home.

That is all I can think of right now. Sorry this is so fast, its a lot to get together in a short period of time. What a wonderful aunt you are!

FYI -- I'm getting married 9/5 so as you can tell, I've been researching a ton. We are having about 20 people. I think the little DIY projects that don't cost much and don't take a huge amount of time really adds. But maybe that is just me.

If you want more website decorations info (paper lanterns, tulle, etc.) just PM me and I'll get you some of the places I have found.

I'm not sure if she is figuring out the menu for food if she is paying. But definately getting help/servers will be huge.