All you ever wanted was the wedding of your dreams but now that you are planning it the price tags are adding up and its becoming out of reach. How do you reduce costs and still have the memories and photos to match the amount of love and joy you are feeling? ‘Cheap wedding’ might give you thoughts of self-catering, back yard venues and Aunty Jan making some decorations. It doesn’t have to be that way! We have put together a plan for a memorable, instagrammable wedding reception for 80 people.
Food
Chef designed canapés and a mouth watering three course menu. You choose from the Silver Wedding Menu which includes items like: Roasted Sirlion of Beef with garlic & chive mash beetroot pesto,semi- dried cherry tomato & shiraz jus or the Sesame crusted Atlantic salmon with crispy chats, apple & watercress salad & wasabi hollandaise.
Price: $65 per person
Drinks
Four hour beverage package includes Jacobs Creek Trilogy Cuvee Brut Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc Billi Billi Shiraz a selection of beers, soft drink and tea & coffee.
Price: $40 per person
Venue Hire
Usually $500 however is waived if your overall spend if over $5000! This not only includes exclusive use of the stunning venue, you also get white chair covers, your choice of white or black napkins, bridal table skirt and a printed menus per guest. We also include complimentary set up of the room, and some styling options (wine barrels, etc). Rest easy, there are no hidden ‘bump in’ or hidden venue fees. Allurah Functions and Events is a tranquil, exclusive property set on five acres and conveniently located eight minutes from Ballarat. With some many stunning locations for photos, be sure to discuss this with your photographer so you can take advantage of these locations also.
Price: Free
Wedding Décor and Theming
RD Wedding & Events Co Silver Reception Package will take your reception to the next level. It includes 80 chair covers and sashes. Table numbers, anglewing bridal backdrop (stunning), your choice of selected centrepieces, seating board & easel and a wishing well. They offer a great DIY package where you install it yourself, or for a little more they can set it all up for you.
Price: $770 (DIY)
Bonbonniere
This is an optional extra – not all couples choose to have bonbonnieres (wedding favours). So, this in an area to consider if you would like to have it or not. If you do, why not try these cute wooden heart keepsakes from www.giftwarediect.com.au At $1.50 they are affordable!
Price: $120
Music
Included in the venue hire at Allurah Functions and Events is the use of the AV system. Take advantage of this and run your own play list for the night. Put your MC in charge of playing the songs of your choice at key moments, and get the bridal party involved in creating the play list for the rest of the night.
Price: Free
Cake
Just the mention of the word ‘wedding’ and the prices of things like cakes skyrockets! We recommend chatting to Jo at Cakes by Mwah to see what she can create. A lot of wedding cakes at the moment feature flowers, so be aware that they would be an extra expense. Without flowers her cakes start at $350. And from experience we can tell you they are delicious!
Price: $350
Guest Book
Another optional item is the guest book, however if you do want to capture the moment it is inexpensive to find something stunning. Check out the range that Kikki K offer with prices starting from $30.
Price: $30
Seating Plan:
Here you have another choice.
- Free seating – people can sit wherever they like
- Allocated seating – you decide who sits where
- Allocated tables – you decide who sits on what table, but they can choose their seat
We like the third option. You get some structure to the layout of the tables, but you don’t have to create place cards for everyone. There are loads of cute, free printable templates online, like this one. Print it at Office works ($1.50 for A3) and display one the board & easel supplied in the Silver Reception Package from RD Wedding & Events Co.
Price: $1.50

Total
That brings you to a grand total of $9671.50. The quality of the wedding reception you can have for this price will be sure to blow away the cringeworthy images you had in your mind when the term ‘cheap wedding’ was first considered! This will be an instagramable and memorable event sure to impress your friends and family! Contact Leon on 0409 087 932 to book in a tour of the venue and save your date!
ITEM | DETAIL | PRICE |
Allurah Venue Hire | *min spend applies | $0.00 |
Food – Three courses & canapes | $65 per person | $5,200.00 |
Drinks – Four hour package | $40 per person | $3,200.00 |
Chair covers | included by Allurah | $0.00 |
Bridal table skirt | included by Allurah | $0.00 |
Two printed menus per table | included by Allurah | $0.00 |
RD Special Moments, Silver Package | 80 people, DIY install | $770.00 |
Table centrepieces | included by RD Weddings&Events Co | $0.00 |
Table numbers | included by RD Weddings&Events Co | $0.00 |
Wishing well | included by RD Weddings&Events Co | $0.00 |
Table Numbers | included by RD Weddings&Events Co | $0.00 |
Chair Sashes | included by RD Weddings&Events Co | $0.00 |
Bonbonniere | $1.50 each | $120.00 |
Reception Music | Your playlist, AV included by Allurah | $0.00 |
Cake | Cakes by Mwah, starting at | $350.00 |
Guest book | Kikki-K | $30.00 |
Seating Plan (printing) | Office works | $1.50 |
80 guests | TOTAL | $9,671.50 |
For your full wedding budget, be sure to include these items:
- Celebrant
- Ceremony music & décor
- Flowers
- Photographer
- Cars
- Rings
- Invitations
- Marriage license
- Bride & Groom outfits
- Bridal Party outfits
- Hair & Make Up