Help!

Do you have an idea of how many people you’ll have?

View Quoted Comment We are sticking to 100 at the absolute max.

Take a look at Eventective.com. Typically all-inclusive venues have food/beverage minimums that you must meet that start at your max budget. Even more so since you are in a very high cost of living area. That doesn't begin to cover other expenses (photos, invites, license, officiant, etc)


Your best bet to stay under budget, will be a blank slate venue where you bring in your own vendors who do not have minimums. But you have to prioritize and cut things as necessary.

View Quoted Comment Thank you! Will have to be creative.

Why does your fiancé get to control the budget? Is he paying for all of it?

Why does he determine the budget?

View Quoted Comment What I would do is research TOGETHER and each of you come Up with a list of 3 things that’s most important to you. Then That’ll give you an idea of what you both want for your special day

I'm from Pennsylvania and my husband is from New Jersey so when we were looking to get married we looked in both states and the two areas that you've named are rather expensive so $10,000 may not go very far. You might have to look at non-traditional venues which wouldn't be all inclusive, but would be cheaper. Is there a reason that he is determining the budget rather than you working together to determine the budget?

View Quoted Comment We are also purchasing a home, so he would rather put the bulk of the money towards the home.

View Quoted Comment We’re purchasing a home so he cares very little about the wedding part.

View Quoted Comment He wants the money to go towards our home not a wedding.

View Quoted Comment
He and I talked about it and he felt that most of the money should be allocated towards purchasing a home not for the wedding-this is a whole new experience to me I thought 10,000 would be enough for venue and food. I’m realizing now that’s not the case

I wanted to also clarify that the wedding dress DJ and photographer are not included in the 10,000.

View Quoted Comment

That makes sense, but depending on what exactly you are envisioning $10,000 for 100 people in the area you are looking might not be doable. Common wedding venues like hotels, banquet halls, and country clubs often have minimums. We got married in Scranton, PA and our food and budget minimum was $7,000. We also looked at venues in Easton. PA and Bethlehem, PA and they had roughly the same requirement if not more. I also read your update that your dress, photographer and DJ aren't included in the $10,000, but even without those food and beverage minimums could be close to if not more than $10,000.

I would look at hotels, community centers, fire halls etc. They're usually much cheaper

You will either need to significantly downsize or have a super cheap venue (in someone's home or backyard).

I would try the Pantagis in NJ they are inexpensive, the food is good and the venue is pretty.

If you guys are open to outdoor weddings, public parks are free. We live in New York so when we were talking about getting married here (we are getting married in a different state now), we were considering getting married in Central Park because its free. You have to pay something like a $50 fee if you have more than a certain amount of guests.
You guys can save on the ceremony and spend the majority of your budget on the reception

Traditional venues in that area will cost more than $10,000 for 100 people. Our semi-inclusive country club venue (ceremony and reception space, food, alcohol, tables, chairs, etc.) in 2019 in central NJ cost about $16,000 for 115 guests. This did not include any decor items. This was also 1 of the cheapest venues we toured

View Quoted Comment

This.

If you take a look at the "Planning Tools" above, you will find a cost guide. Unfortunately, in our area, that means higher costs.

Take a look at that, as well as what it is you want in a wedding, and plan from there.

You can do a very small wedding in our area for that price, but unlikely a larger one.

The "Venues" tab will also give you an idea of what's available, if you cross-reference it with other sites like the Knot and Google.