Outside catering???

Ask your caterer for venues where they have done events.

I would be concerned that catering is taking up 75% of your budget. That's far higher than normal.

Haha wow I didn’t even think to look at caterers first and ask! I mean, I don’t have a very large budget so when rental/catering costs are $8,000 that is most of my budget.

Looks like you need to cut your guest list then. All of the other stuff will make you go over budget.

I have no suggestions but good luck! Asking the caterers first sounds like a good idea. Some that I looked at in Michigan had lists of venues they'd worked at before.

I've noticed most of the venues I looked at that made you use them for catering were a lot pricier for food. Whereas I've found stand alone caterers for as low as 12 pp so it definitely makes sense to try to go that way instead.

Lake Lyndsay in Hamilton (about a half hour north of Cincinnati)

Hello! MOTB here. There are many, many venues in the Cinci area that allow you to bring your own caterer. BUT, they are all diy venues. In other words, they are venues that will allow you to bring a caterer but they typically don't provide anything other than the venue itself and maybe table and chair set up. Eveything else is up to you and the people you hire for your wedding. No linens, no wait staff, . May I suggest the following places for you:

-the Marmalade Lily in Loveland

-The Mulhauser Barn in West Chester

-The event barn at The Niederman Family Farm in Liberty Township

-The Pyramid Sculpture Park in Hamilton. This venue is stunning with multiple ceremony and reception sites. They will set up tables and you must use their bartending services bur you bring in your own caterer. If we hadn't already booked the Niederman Farm, my daughter would have had her wedding here.

-The hamilton county/cincinnati park system is full of beautiful buildings that can be used for wedding receptions.

There are many other places I have come across on Facebook. There is a Recycle Your Wedding Butler County group that is for reselling wedding stuff but many people ask questions about venues, photographers, hair, etc, and people give their recommendations and businesses respond, too. Hope you find your perfect wedding venue!

Hi Tasha!! Since posting, have you found a venue that may work well for you? If you're still looking, you can check out the WeddingWire vendor list which allows you to filter by price! I did a quick search for both caterers and venues in the Cincinnati area and found locations that offer catering!

Cincinnati Wedding Venue - offering catering services