Big guest list, small budget. Suggestions?

You could also do a destination wedding at an all inclusive resort. If your guests stay at the resort, you normally don't pay for their meal at the wedding. The more people that book at the hotel you're staying at/hosting at, the more stuff is included. Plus it will drop your actual yes RSVPs a lot as well.

We're in the same area (getting married in Oakland). We're doing a Sunday brunch wedding with no real flowers and minimum decorations for about 75 people for about 10k.

I'm sorry, but we're in one of the most expensive areas of the country, if you can't cut the list, you should think about pushing it back.

So you're able host guest properly and get the venue you're looking for you absolutely have to cut the guest list. Good luck girl!

Depending on your area. You can find reasonably priced all inclusive venues. Mine is providing almost everything. They even have a package though that literally includes it all though.

I can't speak for CA weddings but if it's anything like NY weddings in terms of expenses, you've got to cut the guestlist or have a much longer engagement and save. We're at $22k for a 55 people wedding where we're doing all the decor and skipping flowers. Our wedding is in NY and about 2 hours north of NYC just to give you a frame of refrence.

When you do look for venues, I would look at all inclusive venues. We wen't the semi inclusive route and it ended up being much, much more expensive. I would also look at off season dates. We didn't have this option much since we're dealing with NE weather and an outdoor wedding. If you're getting married indoors or in the case of your location, SF, you can do it off season.

We booked our venue at a little over 9k for 65 guests doing all the tricks; off peak, sunday, morning ceremony/brunch reception. This was the cheapest we were able to find. Our entire budget is 15k so 2/3 when right to the venue. My advice would try to price venues for an off peak weekday.

This is going to be really hard, I'd love to know if you guys actually pull it off, GOOD LUCK!!!

Try a hotel or a restaurant. A lot if nicer restaurants will close to host tour wedding, at least in NJ. I had never heard of that until my friend said she was doing her wedding at a restaurant. I started making calls and a lot of them will do it.

Chair rentals are expensive... My guest list is only around 80 and I just spent $3100 renting nice chairs and tablecloths for that many people. Crazy! That expense caught me off guard. I even skipped the chair covers and extra stuff. I agree to cut the guest list, or do an afternoon cake and punch wedding, and something ive learned on here... Don't send out save the dates or tell people you want them in your bridal party yet. You've got time! If you send out STD's then you can't cut your guest list later, that equals an auto invite. And bigger bridal parties cost more.

Here's how I cut costs: I cut my guest list from 150 to 75 by making it adult only, mostly family only, no coworkers, no second cousins I've never met, etc. That saves me on food costs overall, alcohol costs, chair rental costs, invitation costs, the list goes on.

Im only having a MOH. No bridesmaids. That saves me on gifts, robes, bouquets, etc.

I didn't do save the dates (they're unnecessary). I'm not doing floral center pieces on tables, just candles.

Hang around on here a few weeks and "lurk" around reading threads. You'll learn a ton of advice, and you'll learn the general stuff about our fun community. Its a really fun group!!! Lots of regulars, always a bunch of newbies too. You seem really nice and receptive. You'll fit in great!!! Good luck with making all the hard decisions we've had to make too. (How to save money, what to cut, etc)

I'm going with an all inclusive venue for 50 people for $5,000. It's definitely possible. If you don't want to go the all inclusive route, it's going to take a lot of work looking for that special venue. I probably looked at and got quotes for around 100 venues. I'm also using afloral for my flowers and doing my own centerpieces. (I'm a diy/crafty person.) Some things over learned, don't skimp on the photographer, food, and make sure you price for an open bar. And as everyone else has said, you'll have to increase your budget or cut your guest list. Believe me, some people will only come for the alcohol, free food, or just because they have nothing better to do. Think about whether or not your day would be the same without them. Often times venue will do it for less on a Friday or Sunday and after talking to several venues, just as many people show up on a Friday or Sunday as they do on a Saturday.

Cut the guest list , host your guest properly

If you are very flexible you can host is on a non-pular date (Sunday) and do a brunch wedding.

Your alcohol list will be minimal and your food can be cheaper. But if that's too much of a stretch, other posters already mentioned cake/punch after-lunch.

It's doable if you do a lot of leg work!

I'm not sure if it's the same deal in your area, but if you look at city/government owned venues, it's much cheaper here, and a lot of them are really beautiful.

our venue is a historic building in a park owned by the city of montreal. we payed around 1000 for it (tables and chairs included from 1pm-3am) and we get to provide alcohol for our guests.

look at non traditional venues too, ones that allow you to provide the alcohol with a liquor license. open bar/vs buying your guests all the happy booze they could want is generally cheaper.

summer is waaaaaaaaay more expensive than winter or even late fall so you may also want to look at having an off season wedding to save on expenses.

if all else fails, as other people have noted, cut your guest list, but host your guests properly

good luck with your planning!

Consider having it on a Friday or Sunday. Generally the costs are cheaper than Saturday.

No kids. Kids take up unnecessary space.

Off season, not popular day just outside of the main city area might help

The SF courthouse has reasonable prices. There is an APW post of a $8000 wedding that happened there.