Wonderful overview! Allow me to share what my daughter did to save big $$$. She bought a home and had it renovated to her design. Outdoors she added perennial plants in the front for curb appeal and built a huge deck herself in the back with an arch between raised beds as focal point and swinging daybed under a pergola to the side. She told me, "No mom I'm not having a reception on location!" Instead she threw a backyard party simply decorated with string lights and tulle drapes. Food with table setup was provided by catering. Shabby shed in the corner was the bar. Highlight was a chef cooking three giant pans of paella on the deck. Serving crew worked from her marble island in the kitchen that walks out to the deck. I was so proud of her "economy" sense. Instead of renting a venue, she kind of had a fun cozy house-warming party for her wedding. What she and hubby invested upgrading a home inside and out they got to enjoy for years to come. My concern of traffic through the house was needless since guests used the garden gate.