Calling all diy and Pinterest lovers!

Check out local community halls, depending on your area you might find one close to a hotel

We had a venue that was fully packaged for catering, open bar and linens. Set up and break down was also included.

The venue has been closed since last year November.

I booked a community hall - it's VERY affordable (850$ from 6 pm Thursday until 6 pm Sunday - this way no one has to stay the night of the party to clean up, we can do that on Sunday!), and we can bring in all our own vendors (catering, décor, etc), or do it ourselves.

We are doing all the décor ourselves (either DIY, like my chandeliers) or purchased second hand from buy and sell groups on facebook (like our chair covers, center piece parts, etc) or purchased new (linens in the colour I wanted...actually cheaper to buy than rent!). We are able to do our own bar (2$ bar, which is pretty standard where I am from - open bars are the exception, and loved when they happen, but it's not within our budget), and have any caterer we wanted.

My venue is attached to a hotel which made everything soooo much easier!! Plus booking with them we got the honeymoon suite for freeeee~~~ nice big jacuzzi I cant wait to get in! Although food is included with our package it is a buffet that we are FULLY customizing! Which makes me feel like we have a bit more control! Decor and booths are all on us and I have been playing with so many DIY projects!
If you're willing maybe try the same thing? Also our venue has allowed us to bring in SOME outside food for dinner and desserts and a gold sugar for the rims of our cocktail glasses! Even if you cant fully DIY the full menu it might be a nice idea to give up some of the control on that to focus on the others! This day will be stressful! The more you can leave to others the more you will enjoy!