Legion/VFW Reception?

Have the wedding you can afford - great food, drinks, music and hosting your guests appropriately doesn't require a top of the line venue.

Brides all over the USA and Canada have their reception at community halls like the Legion and VFW.

This is my favorite wedding ever where the color palette was inspired by the chairs the bride was able to borrow free from the local community center.

I didn't have a wedding.. I had my Mom's 60th birthday and it was fabulous. Very inexpensive and the food was amazing..

Just be aware that there can be rules about the alcohol.

Many members of my family have had weddings at the vfw or something similar. We still have fun and they're still married at the end of the day. If that's what you can afford, then go for it!

I've photographed a few weddings at a local VFW over the years. I was so impressed with their customer service that I had my husband's milestone birthday party at the same VFW. Once again, I was happy and impressed.

Find a venue that fits within your budget, allows for awesome hosting (catering and beverages), and is helpful with suggestions and resources if they don't provide the services requested.

Best wishes!!!!

I needed to hear this. FH's friend's mom (who was much like a second mother to FH growing up) swears all legions are dark, musty and gross and that we'd regret it forever but a $6k venue just isn't in our budget. I'd rather have the reception a place where I get to do the decorating with my mom, FMIL, sisters & friends. That is all part of the fun of having a wedding! Thanks ladies for easing some of my stress and this horrible headache!

I've done many weddings at VFWs; in fact, my very first wedding was at one! One of the clubs local to me is a very popular wedding venue, and they are a real pleasure to work with.

This year, I have two at different Elks clubs.

Every club and hall is going to be different!~ I'd look at them all, and I'd look at fire halls (the one near me was built with a specific party room that is really, really pretty), local arboreums and nature centers and colleges, which often have inexpensive party rooms.

We are having our reception at VFW Hall. The cost is $450, we get the Hall for the whole entire day, they are super easy to work with.The cost includes round tables all table linens all chairs, we are allowed to bring in our own caterer, and the inside of the Hall is beautiful, and has beautiful lighting! And, our open bar is $10 per person.

It's quite common in my area . I have attended receptions at the VFW , Fire hall , town hall , community center , and back yards . The venues are not that fancy , but workable . As long as you properly host your guests you should be fine .

Depends on the hall but every VFW I've worked in (4) have been wonderful and perfectly suited to the needs of their clients. Our local VFW is well respected and every time I've been there as a photographer or client, I have had nothing but a wonderful experience.

My service area is northeast Illinois outside of Chicago. There are several respectable looking legion halls in the burbs. Another affordable option is local community centers. Some in my area are remodeled are look sharp yet remain affordable. Go for it. Best wishes!

We are using a legion it was in our budget and they let us decorate it how we want to so it'll look very nice! Have the wedding you want and can afford don't worry about what people will say!

Another plus with these locations is that your rental fee MAY be considered a donation...

Why would you get "a ton of flak" for hosting your wedding at a local legion/vfw hall? Oh, no, Emilie R., we don't do that here. What gets negative feedback are weddings like this:

1. In the heat/storm of the day, outside, no tent, and nothing but sweat and weather (and those DIY fans don't help a thing).

2. No bar or cash bar.

3. Nothing but sugar and veggie trays at a five hour affair, fast food described as "catered" food, not enough food, self-catered food, or potluck food (guests are asked to host themselves).

4. Gross construction site port-a-potties because guests can't use the house facilities.

5. Bring you own bottle/chairs.

6. Sit on an itchy hay bale because pinterest says that's doable.

7. Stand for the ceremony or drag your ceremony chair back to a table because it's only 20 feet (in your heels).

8. No seating chart for 250 guests...cafeteria memories suck.

And on and on it goes.

You are having your wedding in a climate controlled environment, and if you are serving real cocktails (hosted), real apps (and enough of them), have tables and chairs for every guest, are serving a meal to every guest, and are entertaining them with music/dance, they who the hell are we to give you flak?

And just so you can relax, I've been to at least five family weddings that were hosted at fraternal organizations. The hosting was amazing. The parties were amazing. The memories are amazing. No flak here, sweetie.

I've attended and worked weddings from the crystal palaces to the cabin in the woods, and everything in between. Host your guests correctly and the memory of the walls that hold up the roof of the venue don't mean a thing. It's the experience that stands the test of time. There is no proper building, just proper hosting.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with getting an affordable venue. Tons of wedding receptions are in church halls, which are basically the same thing as far as amenities go.

Haha @RachelD I wish you could've seen my face when I read that! My sister just had one of those cash bar, sit on hay bales trainwrecks. I'm SO happy I was in the wedding party and didn't have to sit. Come to think of it, her wedding was pretty much everything you described, not enough seating, cash bar, itchy bales, etc THAT is exactly what I'm trying to avoid! lol I think that is what has been causing me so much stress, avoiding a trainwreck.

There's nothing wrong with having your event in a venue that you can afford!

Definitely don't see why you'd get flak for that! Our engagement party was at our local firehouse hall and everyone couldn't believe how nice the hall was and half joked that we should have the wedding there and save a ton of money! My parents got married at a Knights of Colombus way back in the day and that was standard at the time. Weddings have really gotten out of hand now and you need to remember all you really NEED to have a great day could be at one of these halls.

We're having ours at an elks club. It's right on the water and has a ceremony space outside as well as an outdoor deck and pier that people can walk out on. It's $450 for the venue and includes chairs, tablecloths, and all linens. We looked at a few fancy venues but they didn't have the outdoor space we wanted or fit the relaxed Sunday vibe we were going for. I'd definitely look at the ones in your area. The only thing with VFWs (at least in my area) you can smoke in them and even if there's no smoking at your wedding that smell lingers.

@Kate both MOG and MOB are super crafty ladies so I'm sure we'll have plenty of decor! I couldn't imagine a wedding without a DJ!