Cheap, Fun and Memorable Wedding Ideas and Venues

There was a time so very long ago when getting married was at least affordable no matter where you lived. Today the costs of anything even remotely related to getting married continue to rise almost exponentially by the hour. Such as it is, asking for advice about how to get married cheaply today is not a shameful request but a very valid one. The idea of a cheap wedding isn't only sought out by those on a tight budget, but even the wealthy and affluent consider themselves worthy of congratulations and a hefty pat on the back to have managed to financially pull off a major wedding event on a pre-set budget. The following are some wedding ideas and venues to help get you off to a good start and stir up your own creative juices as you plan your own cheap wedding.

Everyone loves the beach. We love the sand, the water, the fresh salt water, the sun and the community atmosphere. When we go to the beach we let it all hang out. We’re relaxed, loose and content. That’s why we like the idea of getting married on the beach. We want that same feeling of relaxation and contentment to carry over into the memory book of our wedding and/or reception. A ceremony on the beach cuts out a lot of overhead costs down to just the cost of the minister and any fee your city or county may charge for large groups on public lands; in most cases it’s basically a clean-up fee. This will definitely be an issue if you plan on a reception to follow your beach wedding.

Choosing a ferry over a boat could make all the difference in your wedding budget. Wedding locations are not equal. Ferries are an underused wedding reception venue. If you're looking for small wedding ideas, this could be ideal. Check with your municipality. You may be pleasantly surprised.

We love the water and we love boats and ferry rides too. They take us away from our stressful lives, at least for a little while. Riding on the water also has that added romantic feel for some of us, which is perfect for a quiet simple ceremony for family and close friends. If you want to include more in the wedding party, you’ll need a bigger boat which will add more to your cost. If you’re prepared for a higher cost, perhaps you will also want to stay on the boat for the reception instead of moving over to a different venue for the reception. Of course it’s always totally up to you. You’ll have to weigh the cost over the benefits.

Did you meet your intended on a bus? Even if you didn’t a mobile wedding on a bus is something to consider. Not only is it among cheap wedding ideas, it can be fun too. If you’re into small intimate gatherings, it requires minimal planning if you’re not too engrossed in the details. To bypass the red tape of municipalities, just plan everything else, grab the minister and hop on the bus, declare your love to each other, sealed it with a kiss and get off at a pre-arranged reception or restaurant stop. If you need it to be more than that, check with the local transportation municipality.

Who doesn't love a great train ride. It has it’s own atmosphere of fun, adventure and memory-making elements. Communities with access to any trains at all have already taken full advantage of the potential popularity of tying the knot aboard the railroad. This venue should go on your list for small or intimate wedding venues or perhaps a rustic wedding idea might come to mind. The ideas for a train wedding venue are ripe and plenteous if you consider the history of the railroad and books written using trains and railroads as a backdrop. You can take your favorite part of railroad history or of a western novel and incorporate it into your wedding or reception. Maybe you and your beloved are avid fans of the wild, wild west or of Louis L’Amour books. That would lend itself to a western theme wedding. Perhaps dressing up in western wedding attire similar to that of the wild, wild, west and hopping aboard a train with your wedding party is an exciting idea that will work for you.

Every bride has had fanciful dreams of her own fairytale castle wedding. Yet most of us brides don't even dare to think it could actually become a reality for us. But lots of places around the world have castles in locales you wouldn't expect to find them. For example, the United States is the last place one would expect to find even one castle, yet even the U.S. has more than a handful of qualifying castles tucked away within its shores. What’s the definition of a castle? The consensus says it’s a massive brick and stone structure stretching into the sky with 14 plus bedrooms, a large formal dining room, a smaller dining room, a grand ballroom, one large kitchen with one or two additional kitchens and servants quarters, gardens, gazebos, secret hiding places in the walls, fireplaces and more. Interested? Get on the Internet and search for castles where you live. If you get lucky, it’ll be more than just a wedding venue or a fairytale wedding theme. You may have to pinch yourself from disbelief. It could be your dream wedding. So search and see. I’m wishing and hoping for you.

Senior Centers

Many senior centers have massive well- maintained acreage that are used for outdoor parties and other activities with room to spare. Local residents that live nearby have discovered this resource and look to them when seeking to rent out the facilities and grounds for weddings, receptions and other occasions. If you're looking for a wedding bargain, this may be your answer.

Shopping Malls

Malls can be a treasure trove of opportunity for those tying the knot. Many shopping malls are vacant during evening hours and are available for rent during those times. Mall owners are usually very savvy business people and they know the value of their real estate. Malls that are rented in the evening function much like multi-purpose rooms and can be transformed into almost themed venue you can imagine.

Neighborhood Streets

Block parties in local neighborhoods aren't anything new. Before municipalities puts laws into place for safety and to cut down on extremes and exploitation, it was a regular convenient gathering place for neighbors wanting to celebrate the milestones in their family’s lives. Today depending on where you live and how friendly and close you are with your neighbors, you might consider this outdoor option. If your invitation list includes many of your neighbors, it may be a serious consideration. Checking with your local municipality will give you all the information you need to make this either a cheap wedding venue, wedding reception venue or both.

Community And Church Campgrounds

City, state and other municipality owned parks and campgrounds are another cheap wedding and/or wedding reception venue. Many locality owned grounds are spacious and regularly lend themselves to the entertainment of large groups. The same holds true for many church-owned campgrounds and they can offer numerous additional amenities as well, not to mention a possibility of a break in costs if you find yourself straining your wedding budget.

Schools

Schools, especially college and university campuses are a highly overlooked place to get married or host a reception. The architecture alone on some of these higher-education campuses is enough to take one’s breath away. They commonly boast large lush grounds and gardens suitable for outside wedding venues. For alternate rain-outs, strikingly large homes on campus are often used for various functions throughout the school year. If you time your wedding just right, outside of the school schedule, a wedding venue of this type might be just what you’re hoping for.

As you contemplate tying the knot, you now have a few cheap wedding ideas and venues to think about as you plan your own dream wedding. Have fun and try not to get too entangled in the details or worrying about the wedding budget. Have as much fun planning your wedding as you will during the wedding and reception. Have yourself a low-cost dream wedding of a lifetime with money to spare but with memories lasting a lifetime.

Warm Wedding Wishes!!