Did you know the average cost for a wedding is $25,631?

Every time I look at that statistic, I'm shocked again. It's funny; I'm addicted to shows like Four Weddings and Say Yes to the Dress, so I've become desensitized to $5,000 dresses and $70,000 weddings. But then I catch myself and realize--that is a LOT of money. And not all of us have that kind of money.

So what do you do when you have a smaller budget but still want an awesome wedding that everyone will remember? Consider having a reception that isn't your typical three-course sit-down dinner followed by dancing. What if you had something like:

A brunch reception
I love the idea of a brunch wedding for several reasons. First, venues usually cost much less to rent in the morning than they do in the evening. Second, you get married right off in the morning, enjoy a meal with your loved ones, and then you get to spend the whole day reveling in being newlyweds! It's also cost-effective because people drink less alcohol in the morning, saving bar costs, and you may choose not to hire music because not everyone feels up to a dance party around noon. That saves hundreds. Plus, TIERED PANCAKES. But if you aren't a morning person, there's always

A bonfire
If you like the idea of a rustic, country, or beach wedding, a bonfire could make for an awesomely down-home reception. Borrowed hay bales, lawn chair, or logs and blankets provide easy and cheap seating; give out s'more kits as favors and roast marshmallows together; and set up a great tailgate for dinner and music. And, if you live in the Pacific Northwest or other places where it's available, burn driftwood. Your fire will be beautiful colors that will awe all of your guests.

Or, for daytime family fun, how about

A carnival reception
A great alternative to a traditional reception would be to pay for everyone's admission to a carnival or fair, maybe some ride tickets if it's in your budget, and then gather everyone after a couple of hours of excitement for a fair-food picnic: pizza, burgers, corn on the cob, cotton candy, and maybe caramel apples or funnel cake instead of a wedding cake. You could also get a face painter or something for entertainment. But if you'd rather contain your guests a little more, you could have

A cocktail reception
One of the best ways to save money at your reception is to avoid serving a sit-down meal. Having a party designed to mingle and spend time together, augmented by delightful cocktails and heavy hors d'oeuvres, is just as fun as a formal dinner and allows you to concentrate your money on your guests' experience. Perhaps you could rent a photo booth--always a crowd favorite--or hire a caricaturist.


And for more over-21 fun, try

A bar crawl
Couples who love to party will enjoy having a sunset ceremony, then taking their train of loved ones to various clubs for bar food, drinks, and dancing. This saves money for a few reasons--no sit-down dinner, as mentioned before; it might cut down your guest list quite a bit; and, of course, the newlyweds will probably get a drink on the house in every establishment!

What are some other ideas for cost-saving, fabulously memorable receptions?