Planning the Reception

My wife and I got married at Lord Thompson Manor in Thompson, CT. It is a terrific place to get hitched. If you are looking in CT, it is a wonderful place to start your reception search.

How about Rhode Island? Does anyone have any inexpensive suggestions of where to get married in Newport?

Inexpensive and Newport don't go together....

Newport is very expensive. I got married in November and our reception was at the Bay Voyage Inn in Jamestown. What a beautiful place!! You have a great view without paying the high prices of Newport!!! Also, much cheaper if you get married off season--something to think about.

When looking for a reception site, find out what they consider "wedding season". My cousin saved $10,000 by changing her wedding date to the "off season". Her wedding was one week earlier than she originally planned.

I am not sure what you budgeting is but I got married last April at the Biltmore Hotel in Providence. I had approximately 175 guest and spent around 17,000 for the reception. It was worth every penny. They treat you like a princess and you get a free night at the hotel on your wedding night. The room is the size of an apartment with kitchen included. It is not Newport but depending on what time of year you get married, you may not even get the benefit of the outside view. Hope this is somewhat helpful! Best Wishes!

If you really have your heart set on getting married in Newport, look at renting out the Easton's Beach Rotunda in Newport. My fiancee and I are getting married there this year (July) and we just fell in love with the setting. It is on the beach and near the infamous mansions and cliffwalk. Also, look at having your wedding on a non holiday Sunday instead of Saturday. This will save you some money ($3,000 instead of $4,500 during "beach season") Not only will you rent out the room for that price, but that price includes use of the carousel for an hour, the wedding arch, all banquet tables and chairs for reception, and use of the north deck. The price does not include catering, but if you can find a caterer at a decent price, then you will have the best of both worlds. Good luck and congratulations.

I am planning my reception/wedding in Bristol, RI at Blithewold. What an amazing ocean bay view, at a fraction of the cost compared to Newport locations. What made the difference: changing the wedding date by 2 days. Instead of having a Saturday wedding, I moved the date to a Thursday, and saved $6,000!

Every penny matters, and if you're looking, you will eventually find the savings!

I just booked the Towers in Narragansett for June 2010 (2009 summer is completely booked) and it was only $1300 because I am a Narragansett resident, but it is $1700 for non-residents, and this is for a Saturday. It may not be Newport, but it is a beautiful iconic location on the bay with the beach right in front of you. There is even a gazebo if you want to have the ceremony there and they are building a fountain just outside.

I just ordered wine for our wedding and the wedding party.
I used an online company, customwinesource.com. Its a painless system to use for a computer illiterate like me and we had completely custom high quality labels and wine at a fairly reasonable price.