wedding reception in houston, tx... 4800$?

We had 90 at our wedding reception, and all told we only spent about $3k. We did the decorations all ourselves, the venue (a belly dance studio) was provided free, which saved us $500. We used a restaurant to cater (Dimassi's). I trucked in all the beer, wine, soda, and water. We hired a bartender. The server came with dinner (I tipped him $100). We bought a wedding arch and all the decorations (and then donated them to a friend's sister who was getting married two weeks later). It was some work, as I was assembling party favors (et cetera) in days leading up to the wedding. That being said, we had a great theme wedding (1001 Arabian Nights) and everyone had a blast! We were supposed to be there for four hours, but instead wound up spending seven.

For fifty people with cheese, fruit, veggie, and cracker trays; beer and wine and soda and water... you should be able to do this for $500 plus a venue.

Get some friends to work the floor for you and do it yourself. You can find space at the church they will let you use. If not try someones home. It doesn't have to be a reception hall. If it's pretty and not hot outside would be fun in a back Yard under the shade trees or under a canopy. or two depending how large the reception is. Get a cheaper price on your cake from the bakery at the grocery store. Go buy or borrow some trays from friends. Buy the cheese & crackers, fruits, meats you want to serve and place bite size serving pieces on the trays. These can be left on a large table and your guest invited to help themselves there. Have a couple of friends keep the trays filled( by preparing extras for refills) Have some taped music or a band and dance in the drive way or street or maybe clean the garage and dance there. You wil l always remember it.

try the Rainbow Lodge....it has a beautful landscape with a gazeebo in the park and it's on the water.

If you are havin gonly 50 people or so, check out some of the restuartants for having a dinner party there. It would be a lot cheaper. I am talking about the up-scale 5 star places around Houston, not the local honky tonks.

Check out Bistro Vino on west alabama,, they have beautiful decor and decent prices,, very romantic atmosphere and they are set up to hold large parties and the best thing is they have between 20-30 weddings/ receptions per year so they know what they are doing.

I am also planning a wedding reception in houston, been doing my research...for 50 ppl try this resutrant call Vargos (www.vargosonline.com) it realy pretty and it will be under $3000, also Bella Terrazza (on chimmy rock) its realy nice.