Post # 1
Member
108 posts
Blushing bee
Hi everyone! This is my first post! 
My fiance and I have been struggling with our wedding planning due to our very low budget. We have finally found a venue within our budget, and overall I’m really pleased with it. However, there are a few aspects that concerned me, and I thought I’d get your feedback as to what areas we should consider spending a little more on.
#1 – Dance floor issue – I am attaching a photo of the banquet hall. The floor is all carpeted and then there is an upper floor/stage area that is hardwood floor – this is where the DJ goes. The lady at the banquet hall explained that most weddings have their dance floor up there. I’m a little concerned because I’m not sure if it’s big enough (we are having 150 guests, and our friends love to dance) and she suggested that we could have the lower carpeted area down below as a dance floor as well. (If you look at the photo, this wedding party had their bridal party table set up right in front of the dance floor. She suggested putting the bridal party table on the left side of the room so that front area could also be used for dancing.) Now, I have already read that most people on here have negative opinions on carpeted dance floors, and I agree, it just isn’t what I was envisioning, but at the same time, this venue is the only one that’s going to work for our budget, so I need to find a way to make this work. There is the possibility of renting a dance floor, which I think would cost around $500. 
#2 – Chair cover issue – The wedding we saw had covered chairs (another additional expense that we really weren’t planning on). It is going to cost close to $500 for the chair covers, so I guess my question is ocming down to, which do you think is more important – dance floor or chair covers? I am showing a picture of what the chairs look like without the covers. They are just kind of awkward looking. 
#3 – Appetizers – The package we are getting only comes with ONE appetizer. (choice of swedish meatballs, veggies and dip, or cheese ball w/ crackers) and we decided on swedish meatballs. To add on an additonal appetizer from an additional list, it would be about $200 for each additional appetizer. I think we should add on 2 more appetizers (stuffed mushrooms and cubed cheese) but my fiance, wanting to save money, thinks at most we can add on one more appetizer but not two. I just think that our guests will probably be hungry when they arrive (ceremony at 2, most people will probably arrive to reception between 3:30-4) and it would be nice for them to be able to have a few options of appetizers. Does anyone have feedback on this?
I would love to be able to ideally do all 3 of these “extras” but realistically I think I will be able to (hopefully) convince him to do either dance floors OR covered chairs along with 1 or 2 extra appetizers.
Thank you in advance for your suggestions!!!
Post # 3
Member
1915 posts
Buzzing bee
I would put the money into the extra appetizers. Your guests will not remember the dance floor or the chair covers, but they will definitely remember if there wasn’t enough food to eat.
Post # 4
Member
199 posts
Blushing bee
@jennygrl070: Definitely need more than one appetizer! Especially since that number of guests surely includes some who do not eat meat. Keep in mind it’s better to have a crowded dance floor than a sparse dance floor….on the other hand no one really cares about chair covers, especially since the lighting will probably be much dimmer at the actual reception.
Post # 5
Member
7980 posts
Bumble Beekeeper
Skip the chair covers for sure- no one will miss that.
Post # 6
Member
3942 posts
Honey bee
Please get two more appetizers!
I also would get rid of the head table. Do a sweatheart table to save on space. And skip the chair covers.
Post # 7
Member
3570 posts
Sugar bee
definitely skip the chair covers. totally unnecessary!
Post # 8
Member
342 posts
Helper bee
No chair covers. I’d use the dance floor they have. If it spills to the carpet, then that means its a parrrtay!!! I’d do at least three appetizers. Happy planning!
Post # 9
Member
1594 posts
Bumble bee
two appetizers for sure!!! That’s where I’d spend my money anyway
You should add a poll too
Post # 10
Member
776 posts
Busy bee
Definitely spend it on food! Chair covers just ignore – nobody remembers those anyway.
Post # 11
Member
2692 posts
Sugar bee
I would put the money towards food. i did add chair covers to my budget because I just hated the look of the chairs alone and I felt chair covers made it look more elegant and like a wedding and my husband wanted them too… but in your case, I would go with the food. Guests will appreciate that the most.
Post # 12
Member
115 posts
Blushing bee
I agree with the comments above – guests will care most about having enough to eat – esp if there is a long period between ceremony and dinner!
Post # 13
Member
2297 posts
Buzzing bee
put the dj where the head table currently is. then people can dance up top behind the dj, and in front of him as well. then it won’t seem like two completely separate spaces.
definitely put the money into food – no one will remember if there was carpet under the dancefloor!
Post # 14
Member
1084 posts
Bumble bee
1) Food, food is always number 1 priority
2) Chair covers, they will make the space look a lot more finished
3) Dancefloor- this isn’t a big deal whether it is carpet or not.
Post # 15
Member
604 posts
Busy bee
Dance floor: I think peonyinlove has a great idea. Put the DJ booth where the head table is now and then it will be like one big dance area!
Appetizers: I’d add an additional appetizer too. The cheese or veggies would work best in case some guests don’t eat meat.
Chair covers: I was thinking about upgrading the chairs at my venue. I talked to one of my friends about it and she told me they spent a ton upgrading to chivlari chairs when she got married. I went to her reception and didn’t even notice/remember the fancy chairs! I don’t think the chair covers matter.
Post # 16
Hostess
2555 posts
Sugar bee
Feed your guests and don’t worry about chair covers. Those aren’t the most awful chairs I’ve seen, so I really think you could get away with maybe just a sash if you were really dead set on decorating the chair.
Also, for the dance floor, I don’t think you need to rent one. Use the carpeted floor or use the elevated area. It may look small, but I don’t think you’ll have 150 people on it at once, not matter how much your guests like to dance.