Finding a venue for $2-3000 where byo catering

FSS Andrea, hiring pros to make food people will PUT IN THEIR MOUTH doesn't make them stuck up.

Your aunt should be a guest, not cooking for 100 guests. And your wedding is nothing like a birthday party. The time line is different, the expectations are different and the level of aspirational perfection is different.

And your flagged. You can't call us rude or stuck up, especially when we are neither.

@Andrea M. i understand where you are coming from. For most of the wedding receptions in my family they were byo catering. Nobody got sick nobody complained everyone pitched in and had a blast. Most of the guests were family and close family friends. As for some of the responses some were a bit off putting when all I really wanted was info from people with similar experiences or venue suggestions. I do understand that once you post in a forum you are liable to get an array of responses so I don't take it too seriously. Thanks for the advice.

I appreciate all the positive suggestions

Wow, Monique, I am impressed with your response to Andrea.

You got a lot of good advice here. I come from a huge family with chefs and caterers as well. We eat, drink and party hardy but when it comes to weddings, just no. Nobody works. Nobody.

Off of the catering topic... You could look into parks. Where I live it costs less than a grand for the whole day and a temporary liquor license is not much more.. maybe $100. Some mansions are inexpensive as well or beach weddings in OC MD

Check out Gitt Memorial Library in Hanover, PA. This is the venue we are planning to have our (Post Marriage) Celebration it is very reasonably priced (donations) and looks like it's only a few hours from you.

@Nonna T my family is a bit different. They want to pitch in and help out.

My wedding is $7000 total (not including honeymoon) for 75 people in way upstate New York, right on Lake Ontario. Our venue is restaurant with a back room rental space. Everything is in house, and we are having a church ceremony. Beyond cutting your guest list, I suggest looking into parks, community centers, big restaurants with rental space, etc. Rural areas tend to be cheaper, and we even thought about renting a camp ground with cabins, a big "mess hall' and industrial kitchen.

@OP I understand here you are coming from. The norm may be to have the family pitch in because they offer and are not asked. My family was like this but my brother broke the mold 15 years ago. He threw a wedding where all we had to do was show up. It was the best thing ever. Since that wedding there is no more baking, cooking or decorating by my family. Be different break the mold and have your family relax at your wedding it will be more enjoyable for you and them

@Monique I understand that your family has offered to help with the food and that's generous of them. But what would be generous of you is to hire professionals to do the work and let your family relax and enjoy themselves! This is a big day and I know one my favorite memories from the wedding was looking around and seeing those we love having a wonderful time.

View Quoted Comment No. Like I come from an ACTUAL culture with our own CULTURAL foods and practices, therefore we’d like to incorporate said culture in such a spiritual engagement such as a wedding. Not just stolen recipes from murdered natives then have the survivors at my every beck and call while making them feel inferior. You’re so ignorant and you should definitely travel to broaden your cultural experiences. Don’t you ever shame someone for being blessed enough to have family willing to carry out CULTURE! Then to assume they’re dirty? Don’t ever part that slit in your mouth until you read a book.

View Quoted Comment BYO catering means you look for your own caterers outside of the in-house or preferred vendor list that the venue has.