Reply To: How to Reduce the Cost of Getting Married

@UJM
All of my siblings and I were married in the social halls of our synagogues. That was the standard OOT for baby boomers. In fact most shul Rabbis refused to officiate at the Chasunah (or a Bar Mitzvah) unless the Seurat Mitzvah was held in the synagogue. That way the Katy’s was under the rabbi’s control. Often there was only one caterer in town.
Of the 5 of us siblings, two had the social hall downstairs, three had the social hall on the main floor.
Nothing wrong with a simcha in a shul.
My parents were married during WWII in NYC. Guests had to send their ration points with RSVP cards so the caterer could get the foodstuffs. No shmorg or uninvited guests during wartime rationing.