Hi everyone, this is my first post so hope it's ok!

We are desperately trying to find a venue, we are looking for a rustic/country feel venue where we can be flexible with food choices etc.
We are also on a budget.

Going down the outdoor reception route which we thought would be the best way to have the flexibility we wanted we struck some obstacles..no contingency plan for bad weather and cost tipis which would be our preferred option are coming in more expensive than top end venues.

So then the venues... Those that will be flexible on the 3 course sit down meal - as we don't want one.. Are either charging a lot of money for hire, a lot of money for the menu choice we want despite not offering a great variety of what we are asking ( if that makes any sense) and we ultimately have no choice over the caterers we use.

Has anyone got any advice they can give me, I know we need to compromise of something's.. It is just what should those things be?

Thanks in advance.

Looking to get married in summer 2015.

Torey

Where abouts are you located?

Firstly, outdoors, very risky. We went to look around our venue last august and it was the weekend that there was that torrential downpour. The brides plans had been completely ruined because the garden was practically flooded. She wanted the ceremony outside, lawn games and the sit down meal served out there, she couldn't.

Secondly, your right compromise is key. We decided to compromise on budget and go with the expensive venue we fell in love with, but had to cut down on day guests, compromise and have a weekday wedding (Monday) and budget better elsewhere. To accommodate our £5.5k venue into our £8k budget we've bought 4 bridesmaids dresses from the high street for £40, my dress for £200 and are diying pretty much everything else. Our photographer is a work friend of h2bs and our car is a clients gorgeous daimler, hair and make up are being done by two close friends. Were pulling in every favour that we possibly can.

Sit down with the other half and each choose 2 or 3 things that are the most important things that you are not willing to compromise on and list them with most important things first. Then you know where else you can save money buy compromising.

When we did ours h2bs were having the church (£300 more than having the ceremony at our reception venue), having his close family and friends and having 2 best men. Mine were entertainment (we've settled on a photobooth for £295), having my 4 bm's and having a beautiful venue.

Look into weekdays, they are often more flexible with what you can do and what they offer. Our venue offers, sit down meal for 40, welcome drinks, half a bottle per person, toasting drinks, evening buffet for 150, cake, table flowers and dj for £5.5k, whereas on the weekend, you get sit down meal for 80, evening buffet for 150 and the drinks offered in our package for just shy of £11k, none of the extras are included! X