Expert Advice from wedding guru, Sharon Naylor
Question:
Hi, My future wife and I are on a very tight budget. We are leaning towards having a cocktail reception and having the wedding on new years eve. To us the two seem like they go hand in hand. The cocktail wedding where we pay for the open bar and some food is perfect for new years eve. We are just worried about it being a lot more difficult due to the holidays then say a wedding in spring or summer. I'm not sure if any of the venues even do that if we are not having your typical sit down dinner type deal. We also aren't sure if it would be better to rent a hall and bartenders and do it all our selves. Would that be an easier and cheaper way to go or would it be only minimal savings with the added on stress and responsibility (ie: set up, clean up etc..) Any tips for us?
Thank you,
Nick
Answer:
Sounds like a great plan! A cocktail party reception on New Year's Eve is a big trend, too, and your chosen site's event manager will definitely be able to help you create a satisfying and big-enough cocktail party menu [even on a budget!] plus an open bar that's also designed to be friendly to your budget, and lots of other details.
Don't worry about it being more difficult than a spring or summer wedding -- these days, it's all even no matter what month you're in. You might run into a little bit of a challenge finding a place that isn't booked, since New Year's is a big time for groups to book big parties and other weddings. So start looking right away, and you'll get expert guidance from their team.
I'd go with pros, since it's often a big mistake to try to DIY an at-home wedding or self-catered wedding on a holiday weekend. That can be really challenging, and you don't want to spend the whole wedding attending to any food or drink problems that pros would take care of without you even knowing!
I suggest talking to a wedding coordinator, even for your moderate budget cocktail party, for their help, since they know the best places and may be able to get you a great time or great low-cost options and freebies from their well-known event experts. They can help you plan on your budget, and their fee is well worth it with the time they save and the connections you can get.
Good luck and congratulations! Sounds like it's going to be a fabulous time!
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