What is so bad about cake & punch?

[iddress]

Please pardon the down-in-the-dumps attitude below...

I'm trying to budget for our wedding (way ahead of time). We want to get married July 2014. We are just starting out (he'll be 24, I'll be 23), and we are getting no financial help from our parents. I'm finishing off my BA and heading into a master's program. He's just finishing off his education and starting to work.

I hate feeling inhospitable, but I'm starting to entertain the idea of a cake and punch reception. We've cut our guest list a lot (we both have large families) and are trying for 50 guests.

In my family, just a cocktail reception would be severly looked down upon, as would not having a cash bar. I feel like there's so much pressure to entertain people and go all out! I feel like we're in an all-or-nothing situation.

All we want to do is get married. We've been together for 6 years already and don't want to wait any longer than the two years until 2014. It's important for us to just be married, rather than postponing to save up for an extravagant affair. I can't seem to get over horribly disappointing my family though...

Anyone else balancing family expectation issues and a low budget?

[imjalar]

We made a little poem, the ending was please join us for a sweet treat after the ceremony. Everyone thought it was great that we warned/told them it was not a dinner. But sweets, cake pie whatever.

[kpi]

Maybe you can try this on the same day:

House warming + ROM + wedding cocktail reception + Birthday

One of my friend did this and it save them lots of cost and time.
We have lots of fun and no one complained.
Just divide the whole day into 4 phase and you will have time to invite different guset at different phase.

[iddress]

wonderful,thanks for your advise,it help me a lot.
enjoy everyday.

[iddress]

My good friend tell meon't worry about what other people think and just have what I want/can afford. I don't think there is anything wrong with cake and punch and if people don't like (and they are invited) well then they don't have to come. The day is about my FI and me not about cake and punch!
so nowadays I have released myself
good luck to myself

[roland]

Yeah a wedding should be about a binding between two people incredibly in love. Don't let society anchor you down Be the lotus in the swamp. xo