How to Have an Elegant Wedding Reception on a Budget at a Wedding Venue Near Austin, TX
- hiddengemofgruene
- Jun 23
- 6 min read
Updated: Jun 30
An elegant wedding reception doesn’t have to come with a hefty price tag. With the right planning, decorative choices, and a bit of strategic thinking, you can host a beautiful reception that feels classy and sophisticated, without overspending! At the Hidden Gem of Gruene, we believe affordable elegance is achievable. It isn’t about how much you spend, but how you use the space, the details, and the resources available to you. With over 10 years of wedding experience, our venue hosts and owners have learned tons of practical tips on how to create a beautiful and budget-friendly wedding. Here is a list of 5 tips that have made inexpensive weddings some of the most elegant we have hosted!
1. Keep Your Guest List Intimate
One of the simplest and most effective ways to lower your wedding reception costs is by cutting down the guest list. A smaller guest count allows you to focus more on quality, rather than quantity. By choosing your closest friends and family, you can create a more intimate, meaningful day, and a lot more fun!
Photo Credits: CMH Studios
Smaller guest counts allow for more personalization in your decor, unique seating arrangements, and special catering services. Plus, it creates a cozy, intimate atmosphere that makes the event feel extra special. This also allows you to save on catering costs, table arrangements, invitations, and décor. Instead of serving hundreds of guests, you can offer a more premium experience to your select group of lifelong friends. Invest in more meaningful details, like personalized place settings, custom favors, and a higher-end menu per person, all within your budget.
2. Opt for a Buffet or Family-Style Meal
A plated dinner may seem like the most formal option, but buffet-style or family-style meals can be just as elegant, while also being more affordable. All of the catering options we have on our preferred vendor list are professionals at making sure that your guests are served delicious food, while adding a level of elegance that makes buffet and family-style meals just as classy and elevated as a plated meal. With a buffet, guests have the freedom to be specific in their portion size and wants, leading to less food waste.
Photo Credits: CMH Studios
You can offer a variety of options, such as a carving station, pasta bar, or salad station. Family-style meals offer a similar feel to a sit-down dinner but at a more affordable cost. Large platters of food are placed on the table for guests to serve themselves, creating a sense of community and comfort. This also allows you to serve larger portions at a lower cost, and guests can pick and choose what they want and don't want. Ask your caterer about cost-effective meal options such as seasonal vegetables, fresh fruits, and more affordable cuts of meat that can still be presented beautifully! Our partner vendors, such as Mano Sabrosa, understand the need for high-quality, budget-friendly meals and are willing to work with you on your specific needs!
3. Use Candles and Fairy Lights for a Romantic Atmosphere
Lighting is one of the most impactful elements of any wedding reception. Candles and fairy lights create a romantic, cozy glow that adds elegance to any space, and they’re often more affordable than elaborate lighting setups! And remember, sets of 3 pillar candles for your tables are included in your venue rental, as well as lush greenery and unique votives. Candles add warmth and sophistication to any reception.
Photo Credits: CMH Studios
Consider using a mix of pillar candles, tea light votives, and floating candles on each table to create a soft, glowing ambiance. You can also add candles to the staircase or ceremony site to use them as part of your larger décor scheme. The Hidden Gem has stunning bistro lights hanging from the trees outside, creating a lovely garden party feel for your ceremony and cocktail hour. The soft glow of these lights brings an enchanted feel to the space and is a great way to elevate your wedding without overspending.
4. Make Use of Your Venue’s Natural Beauty
A beautiful venue like the Hidden Gem Of Gruene can reduce the need for excessive décor, which is often one of the most expensive parts of a wedding reception. If you choose a venue that offers natural beauty, like ours, you can let the space speak for itself. Whether it's the stunning garden, gorgeous indoor space, impressive front doors, or statement staircase, our venue is designed to be the perfect backdrop for your celebration. With minimal décor, you can create an effortlessly beautiful reception that highlights the venue's best features. If you need a little extra flair, use simple elements like a staircase and chandelier greenery, bright floral arrangements, or elegant table settings to complement the natural beauty of the space. The Hidden Gem includes chandelier and staircase greenery in the venue package, adding that extra flair while eliminating that extra cost. You don’t need elaborate decorations when the venue already has such a breathtaking foundation.
5. DIY Wedding Décor
For couples looking to save on decor costs, DIY projects are an excellent option. DIY doesn’t mean cheap; it just means adding a personal touch with materials that are affordable. One of our favorite DIY items that we have seen was bow-shaped napkins that a bride and her mother made together for the big day.
Photo Credits: CMH Studios
Instead of elaborate floral arrangements, you can create beautiful centerpieces with candles, greenery, or seasonal flowers. Mismatched vintage glassware or mason jars make great, low-cost vases. Wooden or chalkboard signs for your reception—such as "Welcome" boards or directional signs—can be easily made at home with inexpensive materials. These signs add personality and charm to your reception and can be crafted to match your theme. Instead of spending a fortune on wedding favors, consider DIY gifts for your guests. Whether you have a huge budget for your wedding or are working with something more intimate, your wedding day can be elegant and special. Focusing on the union of two families who love one another is the most special thing, and should always be the main focus of your big day! Of course, amazing food, music, and decor can make that day special, but you do not have to break the bank.
Photo Credits: CMH Studios
Thank you so much for stopping by our blog. We hope you found this information helpful. We want to use our blog to increase awareness and support for locally owned wedding venues. Locally owned wedding venues tend to provide a higher level of expertise, service, and dedication. They also have far less turnover than corporate-owned or investor-owned venues. As you plan your wedding, we hope you will consider a locally owned wedding venue like ours. Below is a shout-out to fellow locally owned wedding venues around the country!
Thank you all so much for reading our blog. As a locally owned wedding venue, we take great pride in creating an experience for all of your guests. That’s why customer service and attention to detail are amongst our top priorities at the Hidden Gem of Gruene. From our friendly and knowledgeable Venue Hosts to our Security and Vendors that represent our venue, we strive to always give you the best of the best. Our venue hosts are more than just hosts; they are professional and experienced wedding planners who truly understand the logistics of how a wedding and event should flow. Our team comes with a lot of experience in local & destination weddings. Our vendors are vetted and only make the vendor list after completing 30-plus successful weddings here at the Hidden Gem of Gruene. Because we understand the “how to” in weddings, we know what the couples are truly looking for. When it comes to guest experiences, we understand how important safety and convenience are for our couples’ guests. Most of our couples have family traveling from hours away to states away. That is where our onsite resort makes the Hidden Gem of Gruene, the perfect destination wedding venue in the Texas Hill Country. The convenience of having your wedding and lodging in the same place is why couples love saying their “I Do’s” at the Hidden Gem of Gruene. To book your next tour of our Texas Hill Country Wedding Venue, make sure to contact us today. For all your wedding inspiration for your dream destination wedding venue, make sure to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, & Pinterest! Keep an eye out for our stories! Lots of behind-the-scenes & your perfect chance to get to know the entire team!
Creating unforgettable moments, one beautiful wedding at a time. Your dream wedding starts here, Joey and Katie Medellin, Hidden Gem of Gruene
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