Budget Wedding Planning - Fantastic Outdoor Options on a Budget
The cost of conducting a wedding and reception in some outdoor venues can rival the cost of a very lavish indoor affair.
Fortunately, there are plenty of lower cost options as well if you aren't interested in spending a king's ransom on your wedding.
Where there is such a wide range of options, you'll need to do your homework on rates, the restrictions you'll face in some venues and the policies you'll need to follow in order to hold your wedding at some of the options.
Public parks can be absolutely fantastic locations for a wedding.
These sites are typically very inexpensive to rent for a few hours.
Some parks will even refund the fee they charge if you handle the clean up after your reception.
A lot of parks have pavilions or some other sort of covered area so you'll have shelter for yourselves and your guests.
Rates do vary depending on the season you have your wedding in as well as the day of the week.
As with all other components of planning a wedding, doing your homework is important when planning an outdoor wedding.
There are plenty of resources when it comes to gathering information about reservation policies and rates for various facilities such as: 1.
For local parks, check with your local parks and recreation department.
They should be able to provide a list of facilities in their communities that are available for use for weddings.
They should also be able to readily let you know about fees, policies and restrictions you may have to adhere to.
2.
For state parks - which can be some of the most beautiful places to have your wedding - you'll want to contact the forestry or public parks department, likely located in a state office building the capitol of your state.
3.
For any National Parks you may be interested in, you'll simply need to contact the administrative office at the particular park you want to inquire about.
Most national parks allow wedding ceremonies, but most require you to obtain a permit to hold one.
Most also require non refundable deposits.
Policies do vary widely, so to get specifics, be sure to call the park directly that you are interested in.
4.
Contact your local visitor's bureau or Chamber of Commerce office which can provide some really good information on private and non profit outdoor areas that permit weddings.
5.
Don't forget to consider local historical sites if that type of thing interests you.
You can contact local historical societies or your local parks and recreation office if they handle these locations in your community.
Most of these facilities are happy to allow you to use their grounds and gardens for weddings.
6.
Check with local libraries, museums or even community theatres.
We are fortunate in our area, because all three of these venues have beautiful outdoor areas they allow folks to use for their weddings at a very reasonable cost.
When you call the offices of these venues, be sure to ask them about permit requirements and deposit policies.
In addition, don't forget to ask them about restrictions - such as noise limits, any maximums on the number of people allowed at their venue, and what time you have to be out.
Some state and national parks may tell you that you've got to be wrapped up by dusk, for example.
Also - be sure to ask about any extra fees that you may incur.
Things like clean up fees or for your rehearsal.
Be sure you know what how parking is handled and that there are restroom facilities nearby.
If it turns out that you are going to have to handle transporting your guests from one end of the park to another, that could be a substantial cost, so be sure you know what the parking situation is up front.
Fortunately, there are plenty of lower cost options as well if you aren't interested in spending a king's ransom on your wedding.
Where there is such a wide range of options, you'll need to do your homework on rates, the restrictions you'll face in some venues and the policies you'll need to follow in order to hold your wedding at some of the options.
Public parks can be absolutely fantastic locations for a wedding.
These sites are typically very inexpensive to rent for a few hours.
Some parks will even refund the fee they charge if you handle the clean up after your reception.
A lot of parks have pavilions or some other sort of covered area so you'll have shelter for yourselves and your guests.
Rates do vary depending on the season you have your wedding in as well as the day of the week.
As with all other components of planning a wedding, doing your homework is important when planning an outdoor wedding.
There are plenty of resources when it comes to gathering information about reservation policies and rates for various facilities such as: 1.
For local parks, check with your local parks and recreation department.
They should be able to provide a list of facilities in their communities that are available for use for weddings.
They should also be able to readily let you know about fees, policies and restrictions you may have to adhere to.
2.
For state parks - which can be some of the most beautiful places to have your wedding - you'll want to contact the forestry or public parks department, likely located in a state office building the capitol of your state.
3.
For any National Parks you may be interested in, you'll simply need to contact the administrative office at the particular park you want to inquire about.
Most national parks allow wedding ceremonies, but most require you to obtain a permit to hold one.
Most also require non refundable deposits.
Policies do vary widely, so to get specifics, be sure to call the park directly that you are interested in.
4.
Contact your local visitor's bureau or Chamber of Commerce office which can provide some really good information on private and non profit outdoor areas that permit weddings.
5.
Don't forget to consider local historical sites if that type of thing interests you.
You can contact local historical societies or your local parks and recreation office if they handle these locations in your community.
Most of these facilities are happy to allow you to use their grounds and gardens for weddings.
6.
Check with local libraries, museums or even community theatres.
We are fortunate in our area, because all three of these venues have beautiful outdoor areas they allow folks to use for their weddings at a very reasonable cost.
When you call the offices of these venues, be sure to ask them about permit requirements and deposit policies.
In addition, don't forget to ask them about restrictions - such as noise limits, any maximums on the number of people allowed at their venue, and what time you have to be out.
Some state and national parks may tell you that you've got to be wrapped up by dusk, for example.
Also - be sure to ask about any extra fees that you may incur.
Things like clean up fees or for your rehearsal.
Be sure you know what how parking is handled and that there are restroom facilities nearby.
If it turns out that you are going to have to handle transporting your guests from one end of the park to another, that could be a substantial cost, so be sure you know what the parking situation is up front.
