Money Saving Tip #1: Cut the Guest List

OK... So occasionally I will be posting tips on what I'm doing to save money on the wedding. So here we go...

Now, when I was doing my research on how to have a cheap wedding, this tip came up on every site... So I'm sure it's not new to anybody!!

CUT DOWN ON THAT GUEST LIST!!

Yes... This is probably the most PAINFUL part of budgeting, but it is the best money saving tip out there.. and the best place to start. Let me tell you, though, it SUCKS.

The most expensive part of our wedding, so far, has been the food. We chose a small reception location at a cafe. It has a room that you can rent out for such occasions. This room only holds 45. We figured this was OK, and we would just cut down the list. We were planning to just have an outside caterer bring in some BBQ and do a buffet... cheap, right? Well.. ya... until the location told us that if we were bringing in an outside caterer, we also would have to bring in our own plates, utensils, cups, etc... and they would not serve us. UGH.. So we are using the cafe to cater us and serve us.  We actually got a fabulous deal for everything they are providing us...

Set up and Clean up service (yes, they will put up our decorations)
4 Waiters
1 Bartender (and we are allowed to bring in our own alcohol, they will serve it, yay!)
Unlimited non-alcoholic beverages
Use of their kitchen
Cake cutting service
Appetizers
Salads
Entree

All for around $30 a person... Add in the reception fee... and tip... We spent about $2500 total. THAT'S NOTHING.

Every other location in Sedona offered a minimum of $45 a plate. A lot of the resorts also had a minimum charge since October is the peak wedding season. The minimums ranged from $5000-$7000! WOW.

So, anyways... back to the nitty gritty... Narrowing down our list of friends and family to 45.

This. Sucked.

First off - Pedro has a huge family. I have a huge family. There is half our guest list right there. Add in the 1 bridesmaid and family, plus 3 groomsman and family... There is most of the other half. We invited a few extras, but not much... AND we are asking for no children to attend. We are really at maximum capacity here...

So, how do you tell your other friends and extended family they can't come?? You just do. And they will be angry. They will get offended. OH WELL. It's not about them, it's about you. A few of my friends I jokingly said, "Well if you can pay for your own plate you can come." Others I told them how bad I felt and they understood. Trust me, I STILL get crap from my friends that they aren't coming.

Solution?

We plan to hold a pot luck (cost efficient for us) party for our friends and family who were unable to come to the wedding a few weeks after the actual wedding. Also, I plan to invite all of my friends to my bridal shower, so they can feel involved in the wedding. Ya... it's not the "actual wedding," but it's going to have to do!

I can't imagine dropping my whole wedding budget on food at a different location just so I can please everyone. No matter what you do, or who you invite, SOMEONE is bound to get offended... Can't make everyone happy, right?