Hi, I am recently engaged and we are planning a wedding in Maui. We really want an outdoor location where we can hold the wedding ceremony as well as a reception for about 15-20 people. I am having a lot of trouble finding a location that can accommodate both a ceremony and reception without being ridiculously overpriced. Can anyone help me out with some suggestions of good locations that can accommodate both while remaining somewhat reasonable. I would also appreciate any additional tips you might have in regard to planning a wedding in Maui. THANKS!

The planning doesn't have to be overwhelming if you start with a few local experts.

The Cafe o'Lei Restaurants are our favorite on the island for style, taste, and value. I would call them and ask what locations they know about and would suggest, since they do alot of catering for alot of different needs. These are nice people.

I would bet Michael and Dana would be able to steer you toward good accommodations values, too.

So here's the info-
My fiancee and I are planning on getting married next march and we've found the most beautiful outdoor garden in a historic part of town… I have one issue. The only place on site to have a reception is under ramadas that I can reserve, but they are in a public park. Do you think this will be an issue. i don't want my guests to feel that it is tacky.

Also there will be a brunch reception to follow so I'm looking for some good and general ideas and tips for brunch receptions.
If we provide our own food instead of hiring a caterer how do we keep it all warm? And drinks cool?

No it isn't tacky and it is your wedding. It should be exactly what you want. I had my wedding in a public park and once people saw they just moved on. It was actually very beautiful and relaxing. You can set up games for kids like croquet (a picture of you and your husband dressed up and playing would be beautiful)
Make sure that their are restroom available for people to use (preferably ones with running water- not porta potties!)
Look around for a caterer in my experience the best ones are the small businesses who rely on word of mouth. As far as an outdoor brunch goes you can serve fruit tartlets and french toasts. Glazed ham would also be nice and can be prepared in advance.

My wedding reception is coming up in a few weeks. I am a big girl with very fair skin. In outdoor photos and flash photography I tend to white out and look like a marshmallow. What can I do to avoid this without looking like Divine? Does anyone have a helpful link or tip on how to look slimmer without looking very "made up?"

Apply heavier makup to your eyes. Use blush to darken under the cheekbones and give you the hollowed cheek look. Also use a slightly darker foundation under your chin to minimize a double chin. The key to looking thiner in pictures is to have the camera "looking down" at you. So have the photgrapher stand above you whenever possible, looking down and it will easily cut 20 lbs.

I'm looking for a nice/modern/contemporary place to have a wedding reception in Batavia, NY. Affordable is the key word!

I loved Terry Hills, but they have a minimum that will through us over budget! The colors and style were perfect, the food and service is excellent there.

I currently live out of town. Any help would be great! Thank you! Note: We need to stay under $50pp including tax and tip. We've changed our plans totally 2 times already due to cost.

First we were planning on throwing an outdoor reception in the 1000 Islands, ended up being too much work - I don't want to be hosting my own party and now we are over budget. Time to start over again ;(

Signed Frustrated Bride to Be!
look for a community center in your area if there is a such thing called housing go to nycha community centers and you can find one in your area for about 500 or less you can host it by your self and do all the decorations. or hire someone to cater it and do the decorations.all the extra money you have save it cuz it will come in handy 1 day. good luck im doing this for my daughter party

Carmela’s Banquet Hall, located in the vineyard at Carmela Estates Winery, is the ideal setting for your fantasy wedding. This picturesque setting accommodates casual and elegant, simple and stunning. Carmela Hall, offers the perfect combination of setting, ambience, food and of course, wine. An intimate locale in the tranquility of our beautiful landscape, it is the perfect setting to celebrate your momentous occasion.

The possibilities are endless. Imagine an outdoor ceremony in the gazebo surrounded by the living beauty of our vineyard. Indoors you can choose an informal stand-up affair or a more formal setting. Carmela Hall is wrapped with a large porch that leads directly into the vineyards. Its vaulted ceiling adds grandeur and also fabulous acoustics for live entertainment or a disc jockey. Photo opportunities abound in the natural beauty that surrounds Carmela Estates.

As a destination wedding, Prince Edward County is truly original. Carmela Estates could be your home base, our Guest House with three bedrooms, living and dining areas, and fireplace can make this the escape you have been looking for.

A wedding at Carmela Estates Winery means that you don’t have to worry about the little details. Our experienced staff will ensure that your day runs smoothly. Our attention to detail will allow you to relax and enjoy the company of family and friends. Carmela Estates Winery puts perfections at your finger tips!

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My fiancee and I plan on getting married in Hawaii. Anyone ever had a wedding on one of the islands there? We don't want to spend too much on a fancy resort, maybe a small wedding outdoors and an outdoor reception with buffet style meal. Thanks for your help!

Casual attire, no heeled shoes, and no pantyhose. Everybody will be extremely uncomfortalbe on a beach in a gown.

I also reccomend fabric "walls" as wind breakers to put up stratigically around the food tables. If the wind starts blowing things will get all sandy and you don't want that.

Don't do the goldfish in the bowl centerpiece…it might be visually cute but its just mean to the fish. I would keep decor as simple as possible. You are either going to have to rent everything or figure out a safe way to get it to Hawaii on a plane which is hard to do.

Ok so me and my fiance want to have around 40 people at our wedding , just family and close friends , i just don't know where to start ,i know i want an outdoor wedding ,and an elegant small reception , i really want that first dance !!!!!! My fiance and i were dating since we were 14 lol i know kind of young but hey life can have surprises , and now i am 29 , so this dance mean a lot for us ,where do i start? how do i do that ? my best friend spoke to me about a destination wedding at a resort in florida , most of my guests are in Ny and florida i am the only one in ga she said that there its perfect for an outdoor wedding , so what do you guys think ? where should i start ? Can i have both ceremony and reception in one place? the resorts do that ? what about the pictures if i have both event in the same place? i need all the suggestion and tips i can get for a beautiful small and fun wedding ,help ! and thanks for helping
I don't want to spend that much i want to have a budget of 10,000 if less even better , did anyone here had their wedding or went to a wedding in jekyll island club hotel ? i want to hear your toughts about it ! Thanks a lot !

I have a couple ideas for you.

The one problem I see with a resort wedding is you don't have has much control over what your vision is, especially if it is a destination wedding of sorts. When you plan something in your home town or close… you have more time to get the things you want. But please, do what you like.

You said you want a small outdoor wedding?

personally, I would have an outdoor wedding in the backyard of someones beautiful home (you can rent a home as well) or park. I would rent a tent and have the reception under the tent. I like tented receptions because you can really control what you want. Do a google search for tented wedding recpetions and look at some pictures, they can be beautiful and all about you and your taste.

Your taste is "fun" well if you went with a tented wedding reception I would pick your color theme, and to maximize your color theme I would rent your linens from

www.bbjlinens.com

They have a great selection and they lamours are really great for weddings. If you want fun… hot pink and orange would be really awesome.

When I think about fun weddings I focus on decor. I would do a ton of flowers, and I would do them yourself very simple- but a lot of them. If you go to

www.fiftyflowers.com

you can buy 200 roses for 209 dollars. For your 40 person reception you'll have about 5 tables, your arrangmens can contain over 30 roses (I really like orange and hot pink roses) and the rest can be used for your ceremony. This site also offers rose petals.

Another idea for dressing up a tent is paper lanterns.

www.partylights.com has some great lanterns.

If you are going for more of a destination wedding, have it in Florida and rent an outdoor space. You're going to have to contribute a lot of time to planning a wedding outside your state and you may want to hire someone. I think an outdoor wedding/reception would be great in GA or FL and you could still do a lot of it yourself to save money.

Personally I would start by choosing your location, date, style, colors, and invitations.

Here are some great venues in FL

http://www.theknot.com/kl_vendordetail.html?id=183391&vendorsearch=Y&market=033&category=CAR&keyword=WEST%20COAST%20FLORIDA

http://www.theknot.com/kl_vendordetail.html?keyword=WEST%20COAST%20FLORIDA&vendorsearch=Y&id=168278&search_cache=&market=033&category=CAR&

http://www.theknot.com/kl_vendordetail.html?keyword=FLORIDAS%20FIRST%20COAST&vendorsearch=Y&id=172529&search_cache=&market=109&category=CAR&

congrats

Here’s a great gift to give folks who attend your wedding reception or any special occasion! Go to Design2Share.com for decorating videos, blogs, tips, and advice from experts.

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so this is the plan we're getting married on a mountain top then coming down and going to a campground for the party. but how can we incorporate music and food making it not expensive. any other tips for outdoor receptions????

Your reception "theme" should reflect your ceremony site.

Think woods . . rustic . . babbling brook . . natural plants . . natural flowers . . weather worn picnic tables . . campfires . .
roasting marshmallows . . flannel shirts . . s'mores . . hot dogs . . baked beans . . campfire beef stew with biscuits . .
apple crisp . . blueberry pie . . peach cobbler . . wooden benches . . country fried chicken . . wild flowers . . lemonade . . rootbeer . . sunflowers in watering cans . . and gingham check tablecloths and napkins. You can wrap the silverware in red bandana handkerchiefs.

Music can be incorporated by using a battery operated CD player or Ipod.

Advice . . your guests should be told what your plans are in a newsletter or on your wedding website page so they know how to dress properly. And you should also put "Campfire attire" or something to that affect on your wedding invitation.

Answered by: A Certified wedding specialist / A Professional bridal consulant / A Wedding ceremony officiant

This week Preston Bailey advises brides to do their homework and know what they want when it comes to planning their wedding. Preston is an internationally celebrated event designer and wedding planner with clients that include Donald Trump, Middle East Royalty and Oprah Winfrey.

Duration : 57 sec

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