$5000 budget in the Chicago suburb area- please help!!

How many guests?

We had 135 guests and we spent over $1500 on alcohol alone, from Binny's, without any corkage fee. City taxes and restrictions are a killer. If you leave the City of Chicago you'll have more flexibility with vendors/venues and if you leave the central County line your tax rate decreases from nearly 11% to 7.something, which can actually save you money.

I think your best bet is to cut the guest list and consider/reconsider the time of day and type of party you want to plan with this budget.

Also you should PM Hayley C, I'm pretty certain she planned a Chicagoland wedding for a friend with a similar budget several years ago.

Hi Dionna ~ welcome to WW *thanks kris

I helped with my friends wedding ~ 110 guests ~ open bar ~ Dinner ~

Ceremony and Reception at the same location. It was right around 5K for one location and just under 8K for another location.

Any particular suburb you are looking at? Or how far you are willing to go?

Cut the guest list, that is the easiest way to stay at budget. Think about what you can do with out and cut that detail out of the wedding. See if you can borrow things. Try to find a location that has a wedding package with free centerpieces.

Hi Dionna!

I have found that some of the caterers if you are lucky will give you the option to have an open tab to what ever you set and the rest of the night it is cash bar! Try that because my boss saved over 2,500$ doing it that way. Unfortunately where I am getting married we could only go through the bar that this place had set. However we are doing the top package available. We had a budget of 5k as well, we were able to keep within that budget until his mo decided we needed all these extras! Let me know if you need any help too.

I have 103 right now including wedding party but im guestimating on 120- Im worried about if I cut the guest list and the family drama begins saying why didnt you invite me and invited them and blah blah blah- even though I would love everyone to be there, I just dont think its possible. Im in the northwest suburbs in Mchenry Co so rates are definitely cheaper than Chicago. Lake Co would work as well. A lot of venues wont accept outside liquor or even cakes for that matter. Id love the open bar, but as I said, some people would just drink me under the table if I did a cash bar... Im looking for the indoor/outdoor wedding and ceremony venue, Im simple and I can do most things myself- the venue is the most expensive.

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaay, the batphone worked!

No one has seen the guest list yet, right?

I would just invite who you can afford. If you parents start complaining about how "Uncle Jack" needs to be invited, just tell them it isn't in the budget. If they want to add to the guest list, they need to contribute to the budget.

McHenry Co huh? We are neighbors!!!! That is where I live!

@ kris ~ LOL ~ bat phone

I thought it was a mouse phone ~ LOL

Good luck dear. FH is from Naperville and his sister is getting married next July.

If you can go a bit further out, maybe willing to travel a few hours outside of the suburbs to more rural Illinois, maybe you can look for a county park that may have a lodge you can rent.

Can you suggest venues around the area- I checked Gardens of Woodstock- they still wanted 10k!!!! Bull Valley wanted 10 k too- everyone is starting to charge 3-6% more plus 20% gratuity because of next year prices and food will be going up I guess...

No one has seen the guest list but once people find out they arent invited I will probably get the wrath of it, I come from an old school italian family- you would think they would help but they arent willing to contribute alot or of anything. What would be a suitable guest list for that budget?

YOUR THE BEST!!

I have to do dinner with the kids, but I'm always on WW ~ I'll be back

Please change your picture so we remember you when you come back. Instructions are listed under the yellow sticky note "new to ww" on the main forums page.

~ congrats

Thanks- will check back soon!

Dionna, I am getting married at Chapel in the Pines in Sycamore. I love my cute little venue! We are having our reception there as well.

I inquired about that place- I LOVED it, its so beautiful and romantic!! That is a bit too far for me and some guests tho. That was one of the first choices I loved but didnt realize how far it is for everyone.

Jealous of you, that place is amazing!

Hi Dionna, welcome to WW! I live right by O'hare, so it might be a little far for you. But, my place is 6 hours reception, buffet meal (there is a sit down meal for a couple bucks more) with open bar for only $30 a person. That is on a Friday night and Saturday night was only a couple of bucks more. I got lucky though because most places were higher. This is at a Park District though, but there s a hall there that is really nice. I would definitely look into park districts n your area and see if they have any good deals! We're inviting about 120 so, it'll be about 3500 and that's if everyone shows up.

My family lives in Chicago- So it may work, Where abouts if you dont mind me asking? I can research it as well. Im also planning the ceremony at the hall too if thats available which of course is extra cost... But you did get VERY lucky!!! Thanks a lot Dana!

No problem! It's in Franklin Park. The Centre of North Park. It's about 5-7 minutes away from

O'hare. And, they have a gazebo outside where you can have the ceremony at. That is what we are doing. And if weather doesn't work out, they do have the option to have the ceremony inside. And best part is, no charge for the ceremony!!! Let me know if you have any questions. If you're interested, I can give you the ladies contact info!

Dionna- I live in lake county so let me know if you need any help!

Dana, could you email me info for that place, I'll call them. ******.****@*****.*** , thanks a lot!

Lake county is great too, I found a place in libertville that I would like to check as well!

Thanks ladies for all the help, my anxiety level is going down a couple notches haha!

Dionna - Not a problem, I just emailed you!

Dionna I had mine really close to Ohare at a hotel. i did both the ceremony and the reception there but that is totally up to you. The good thing about the place(Mirage banquets, fourpoints by Sheraton Ohare) Is that they work with you. Give them you budget and stick to it, honestly we they kept dropping the price down until a week b4 mine. i thought that was so nice of them.

Gee - that's a great place too! It's also about 5 minutes away from O'hare. We are actually blocking rooms at that hotel for our wedding and I was just at a wedding there a couple of years ago and it's really nice. Dionna - definitely check that place out too. I think we went with our place cause it was a little cheaper, but Four Points was definitely reasonable!