With the global economy in a bit of a tailspin, there is no surprise that many people are looking for ways to bring the cost of their wedding reception down.  Here are some great budget wedding reception ideas that will save you money and still make the event as special as you want it to be.  Places you can save money might include the venue, the food and cake, and the party favors offered to your guests.  Read on for great budget wedding reception ideas!

Although you may be hoping for a fancy reception hall or banquet center, there are certainly other options for hosting a wedding reception and keeping your costs down.  When I was looking for budget wedding reception ideas I came across several creative and festive ideas.  One idea that sounds tacky on the service but can be extremely beautiful, is the grounds of a state park.  The great outdoors can provide the perfect natural backdrop for a variety of wedding styles, and is one of the best budget wedding reception ideas I have come across.  Find the right spot and your photos will be fantastic!

Instead of a banquet hall, consider the meeting room of a hotel.  You will often be able to get a significant discount, as these rooms are typically rented for corporate events and seminars.  With some creative decoration you can transform a basic meeting room into a luxurious suite for your guests.  An additional cost benefit, you may be able to use the hotel’s events manager to help plan other services such as the catering and flowers, which can reduce or eliminate the cost of a wedding planner entirely!

Finally, consider an intimate gathering at home.  If you have a spacious backyard and landscaping you are proud of, there is nothing more beautiful than a well decorated home for entertaining your friends and family.  Here is the real point when considering budget wedding reception ideas - by saving on the cost of renting a hosting space you will have more money to spend on the things that most people find really important – the food, drink, and entertainment.

Another great source of budget wedding reception ideas is by shaving your costs on food and the wedding cake.  There is no law that says a proper wedding reception has to have a fancy catered meal with silver platters and waiters wearing tuxedos.  If money is really tight, there is no shame in providing a buffet style meal of appetizers, crudités, and sandwiches from a bulk discounter such as Sam’s Club or Costco.  Your guests are there to enjoy your special moment, and anyone who will judge you for being on a tight budget doesn’t really belong at your wedding anyway.

Instead of spending hundreds on a wedding cake from a bakery, you might consider baking one yourself.  After a few practice rounds you may find that baking and decorating your own cake can be fun and rewarding.  You may even find that you like the decoration better too!  If baking is not your forte, perhaps someone close to you would be willing to contribute a homemade wedding cake as your wedding gift.

Wedding favors don’t have to be expensive, as long as they’re meaningful.  One favorite way to save costs is by making the favors yourself.  Consider crafty ideas, such as custom made M&M’s that match your wedding color scheme.  Wrap them in decorative bags and tie them with a ribbon printed with the date of your wedding.  Other budget wedding reception ideas for DIY favors might include a CD of the couple’s favorite songs, or home made decorative tins filled with traditional candies like Jordan almonds.

The real point of a wedding reception is not in how much you spend entertaining your guests or how impressive your chocolate fountain is.  No one is really going to remember whether you had caviar and ice sculptures, they will remember the wonderful time they spent sharing your special moment.  You may only get one wedding reception in your life, but consider all of the good things you can have down the road by sticking to a budget and managing your expenses.  Use these budget wedding reception ideas and you may have a little extra spending cash on your honeymoon.