Family Function Post-Wedding

OohSoHolly

Hello Everyone,

I wonder if you can assist as I've hit a bit of a dead end. My partner and I have been engaged for three years now and having bought our first home started thinking about getting married. It sounds awful but when we've looked at our finances we are struggling to do the whole big day thing if we want a honeymoon and selfishly decided we'd love to elope abroad while enjoying a fantastic holiday of our choice. There are some other reasons for this which are personal; I've lost one parent and my partners are separated so the idea of a white wedding and big day left me along time ago when I went through those things.

However we really like the idea of having a post-wedding party for close friends and family to celebrate our wedding. I've been looking for venues with catering however they are all wedding packages or just restaurants which wouldn't allow the mingling and disco afterwards. I just wondered if anyone had done anything similar and could offer some advice (also how well I went down with the family).

We are located in the North West so ideally looking around this area.

Thanks in Advance

X

7roland8

I'm sure local hotels can in effect just put on a party and buffet for you - just the same as if it was a birthday or engagement party.
If you mention 'wedding' they will think you want the whole show. They would also have room for the disco etc. You can always supply your own decorations if you wanted to - nothing too costly.
A great idea.

nimbo

Hire a village hall with kitchen and caterers separately ?

Or do your own buffet? Tell people bring a bottle. Provide beer and maybe wine (or whatever) for a basic free bar. Or get a bar to come and set up fro the night - or buy barrels of real ale. Etc.

Hire a dj? Don't tell them it's wedding ?

We're looking at local villages with pretty halls and are considering this.

zippychick

We got married last November for dirt cheap. We rented a top room of a bar for £80, provided a dj who we knew @ £150 but they could give us one for £100, and food was starter and mani (off the pub menu) at £12 a head. I made all the decorations by hand (topped up with very cheap additions) and decorated the room the day before with a crew of volunteers. It was such a memorable night and cost us £150, £80 plus 36 people @£12 a head (including the band and photographer) £432 so that's £662 all in. When you mention wedding the prices change ..... can you price it as a "family celebration" , then take it from there? I guess it all depends on the type of people you are as to what you choose. Our theme was skulls and comic books, so we're pretty quirky and it was very unconventional. In an ideal world I would have asked people to bring a dish but we couldn't find the right venue for that. We didn't provide buffet or drinks and didn't hear one word of complaint.

suejb2

Arrange a "party", as soon as you mention Wedding the cost escalates! Hire somewhere that allows your own catering,not necessarily to do it yourself, though that will be cheaper,but allows you to shop around. I've been to a few doos where pie and peas were supplied.
Personally We used Bury F.C at Gigg Lane for our reception for a few hundred, there are rooms above pubs or bars for less people.

pavlovs_dog

we've recently done exactly this. We didn't want a big wedding or a lot of fuss, and family circumstances would have made it very difficult for us to relax and enjoy the day.

We decided to get married whilst on holiday in San Francisco. We had intended for this to be an elopement, but a few of our nearest and dearest caught wind of our plans and decided to gatecrash. Upon our return, we had a party at our IL's house for close family and friends to celebrate.

Do it your way. Make your own rules. We have had the most amazing summer and don't regret a thing.