5,000 budget on wedding

In NYC and the surrounding areas, you cannot even rent a decent venue for under 3000.00. That is the reality. I love how so many, especially from not in this area area like, "YES!! YOU CAN DO IT!!"

But the truth is, you cannot. You can call people here mean and snarky, but at some point, reality needs to kick in.

You cannot host any kind of event in the NYC area for 5000.00 for 100 guests. It is just not possible. The most modest celebration will be three times that.

And OP can choose to take that advice into consideration or be insulted and stomp her feet and refuse to believe it, but there are many people who have posted who truly know what they are talking about.

You guys are really harsh. I will not be asking for advice on here and this makes me really feel some type of way about this site. Rude comments should not be allowed. This is horrible.

@chantelle - some are harsh, but some have really meaningful input. Hell, even some of the harsh people have meaningful input. You should ask for advice, but it's definitely best to do a search around first because your question may have been answered. People don't have to agree and you can learn a lot around here if you're willing to listen.

Harsh, maybe. Rude, not at all. There is nothing rude about telling it like it is. Receptions should be focused on the guests experience and comfort and you cannot properly host 100 people on that small of a budget anywhere.

Remember, that not everyone is using the desktop version of WW & those on mobile can not search (unless something has changed recently)?!?

But everyone can lurk some....

If you are a member of a church or a country club or something you might be able to get a discount on your venue by having it there. I'm having my wedding at the church I grew up in and the price was dropped DRAMATICALLY because I'm an involved member of the church.

Try to see if there is a local park or community center. It's usually pretty cheap to have your reception there depending on where you live. I think ours is $40 an hour and includes table/chairs and you can bring outside food.

One really hectic day at work and this is what I miss?

I will reiterate what I said very early this morning. You cannot host 100 people for $5,000 on Long Island. The down payment on my venue alone was $5,000. And I am not saying that to sound like a hoity toity bitch, or snarky or mean ... it's just the God's honest truth.

For those of you who don't live here and are saying it can be done, NO it can't.

Again, chop the guest list, go to a nice restaurant and have a wonderful meal.

Okay Sweetie, you will not be able to host that many people for 5000. You'd be better off taking your close friends and family to a restaurant but you absolutely cannot host that many people on that amount of money. They need food and alcohol

Ok... So first thing is first, you're in NY. Nothing in NY is inexpensive. Also a $5,000 is just completely unrealistic for 100 guests. Now since you're new to this wedding planning gig maybe you just thought it would be possible but I'm here to tell you it's not hunny! You have 2 years to save and vendors typically take a 15-20% deposit when you sign the contract then can work out payment plans for you. Or the remaining balance isn't due till 2 weeks before the wedding. Giving you time and space to make this work.

However, you need to either up your budget or cut your guest list. One of these HAVE to happen.

Look for venues you wouldn't normally think of having your wedding. Whether you're religious or not, church halls seem to be cheaper from what I've seen than banquet halls. Stay clear of hotels, their tax is the highest. Consider an outdoor wedding where you just need a permit? Maybe a community center? It's not going to be grand but it might be doable. Maybe a family members home?

Hire a caterer and do buffet style because it's cheaper. Then negotiate the price they give you, I've seen them go down about $5 per person which will cover your tax and service charge fee's. Try to get a black Friday day sales wedding dress for a couple hundred. Keep in mind food and reception is typically 50% of your budget, regardless what your budget is!

Do your own hair and makeup.

Put songs on an tablet and plug it into speakers for music.

Rent silk flower arrangements for some décor. Half the price of real flowers and I actually think they look the same honestly lol. Unless you're a huge flower person.

That's about all I can think of too make your wedding as cheap as possible. Hope it helps!

Kimberley, send me an email. I know the queens area and there are some venues that can accommodate. l l i s e r a m o s at g m a i l . c o m The 5K would cover your venue provided you have not more than 65 guests but you will need more for clothing, accessories flowers, etc If you have a larger amount of guests, cut your list and keep to those most important to you both. having a day wedding is always cheaper and never mind what anyone else wants. if they want to be a part of your day, they will make arrangements to be there. sunday's from 3PM to 8PM or 4PM to 9PM are usually more reasonable. That's plenty of time for church goers.

Yes, your day is absolutely about celebrating with friends and family... celebrating with them... having them celebrate...not work and serve food

You can do it under less than 5,000. Mine is. We found a really nice club/resturant to host ours. The place is beautiful and the food is good and the price is right. If you are a member at a church, usually they do them for almost nothing.

Also, ask if friends and family if they can pull favors to get certain decorations at a cheaper price. My mom knows a lady who does ribbons and we got that stuff at a great deal and so forth.

And limit who is coming. We had to cut our list from 200 to 150. the other people are on standby as people start to decline, we move them over.

@FutureMrsY how in the hell are you paying for 150+ people at a "nice club/restaurant" for under 5k?

@FutureMrsY, what area do you live in? The OP loves in the NYC area which has a very high cost of living. ETA: I meant lives in NYC, not loves, but technically both are true.

FutureMrsY ... There is no way in hell you are properly hosting that many people for that price. It's not realistic.

I'm sure getting ribbons at a good price isn't helping keep costs that low. Lol

Wait. What? A wedding in NYC for $5000 and 125 guests? I'm jealous! Im in NYC and I had to settle with a 11 30 to 5 pm wedding. ...

I looked into a venue where I would have to bring someone in for food. But it HAD to be a certified caterer. Places do not want the liability of Aunt Suzie's cooking and hoping it is in the correct serving temperature and was done right.

Megan - Same. Any venue I looked at that didnt have an onsite caterer required the caterers have all licensing and insurance and were certified.

The only places that really well let you bring your own food in tend to be- your back yard, local VFW hall, or a community center/church. I haven't seen too many venues who allow you to bring in food unless you pay to be insured,.

It is not rude to tell someone they cannot produce a 100 person celebration in LI for 5000.00. It is realism, and it's very helpful sometimes.

And as Letti wrote, no decent venue is going to let food in from unlicensed, uninsured caterers. It's better to find that now than the night before, and yes, that happened to one of my couples. We literally catered a dinner for 100 (not for 5000) in 24 hours because their venue refused to let them in with hand made food and no insurance.