Cake and Punch Weddings

Weddings that pack a big punch on a small budget

[cakeandpunchweddings]

210 Cedar - St. Charles, IL

Website: https://210cedar.com/

Location: 210 Cedar Ave. St. Charles, IL 60174

Capacity: 40 people (30 as of 3/24/21 due to COVID-19 restrictions) 

Price: Contact vendor for rental pricing

Outside food?: Yes, there is no in-house catering. You may bring your own home made or have a caterer bring it in. 

Outside alcohol?: Yes, the staff will even serve beer, wine, mimosas, and pre-mixed drinks for you. However, if you wish to have an open bar (with cocktails and so on) you must hire your own licensed bartender. (Be sure to read the FAQ page for all the details) 

Alcohol allowed?: Yes 

Why We Love This Venue:

I’m going to be real with you: I am obsessed with 210 Cedar. If I could convince my partner to cut our list down to just 38 souls, I would seriously consider this venue. Alas, unless you have a small list for your wedding, 210 Cedar might not work for you. This, like so many other venues I have featured, is the ideal spot for a small or micro wedding. Again, this venue is very friendly towards those who want to DIY their food and beverages, including alcohol. This venue is really intimate, while being bright and inviting. Exposed beams, beautiful wood tables, lovely chairs, lots of windows, and a homey vibe all make for the perfect backdrop for your small wedding or reception. There’s a small patio that could be a good spot for a small outdoor ceremony. The venue has it’s own sound system and you are welcome to bring your own music/playlist for your event, but of course, be mindful as this venue is located near residential homes. The space is limited, so dancing isn’t likely to be a realistic option. If you are hoping for a raucous party, this isn’t going to be your kind of place. Also keep in mind that your party must stop by 10 PM, so keep this in mind while making your plans. If you don’t want to have your ceremony here, there are a lot of fun options in the St. Charles/Geneva area (many of which are featured on the site, so be sure to look for them under the GenevaIL or StCharlesIL tags) from parks to churches and of course, the Kane County Courthouse, which is a really lovely old building.  

What Might Make this the Right Place for You:

- You are hoping to have freedom to DIY your food/drinks/music

- You don’t care about having a dance floor or dance party (but possibly some lawn games?) 

- You have a small guest list and want a more intimate, dinner party style (or brunch/breakfast/etc.) reception 

- You are seeking a space that needs no décor to make it glow, but that you can customize with your own special touches to create a unique experience that no one will forget 

What Might Make It the Wrong Place for You:

- If you plan to have over 40 guests 

- If you need in house catering or a place to cook 

- If you want a raucous party with dancing and loud music 

- If you want a large, open space 

[cakeandpunchweddings]

Mocha Moment Coffee House - Janesville, WI

Website: http://www.mochamoment.com/events.htm

Location: 1121 Center Ave. Janesville, WI 53546

Capacity: 35-40 people  

Price: $50 per hour (2 hour minimum) ONLY available Saturdays after 6 PM or any time on Sundays. (No access is guaranteed before 6PM Saturdays)

Outside food?: Yes, you may bring in your own prepared food or catered food 

Outside alcohol?: No, but alcohol is available on site (cash or open bar open)

Alcohol allowed?: Yes 

Why We Love This Venue: 

If you are looking for a cute, intimate venue perfect for a coffee-soaked wedding and nestled into the woods of southern Wisconsin, this is the venue of your dreams. The little wooden building makes me think of a tiny cottage in the woods and would be amazing for someone looking for a tea party, woodsy, bookish, or cottagecore style wedding reception. This tiny venue would be best suited for a micro or small wedding because of the space limitations and isn’t likely to be the kind of spot where you can party hearty. This would be another great brunch or dinner party kind of wedding venue. The coffee is of course a huge draw if you are a coffee lover! They do offer some in-house food options, so this is something you could inquire about. The only restriction on carry-in items is coffee, which is not permitted for obvious reasons. While a small/intimate/short ceremony could be done, the space restrictions and set up within the venue might limit this, so be sure to visit and discuss any ideas for this with the venue owners prior to making a solid plan. 

PLEASE NOTE: This space is small and has LIMITED days for rental. While it is available after 6 PM on Saturdays, unless you have a twilight wedding planned and/or have little to no décor that you wish to use, Sunday is the only day you would have an open time frame. Take this into consideration if this venue appeals to you! 

What Might Make this the Right Place for You:

- If you are seeking a cozy, intimate place for a reception or simple ceremony and reception, this is the ideal spot

- If you want a DIY cater/potluck/cake and punch sort of event (with or without delicious in-house coffee options) 

- If you have a guest list under 40 people 

- If you don’t plan on having any dancing (space limitations)

- If you want a cute, small venue tucked into the woods

- You love the idea of a Sunday wedding 

- Your budget is limited (the price is great, carry-in food is allowed, small capacity: these all equal great savings) 

What Might Make It the Wrong Place for You:

- You have a large guest list 

- You want a traditional wedding with a dance floor 

- You want extravagantly catered food 

- You want a wedding any day but Sunday (or late Saturday) 

[cakeandpunchweddings]

Graham’s 318 Coffeehouse - Geneva, IL

Website: https://www.318coffeehouse.com/host-event/

Location: 318 S. 3rd St. Geneva, IL 60134

Capacity: Varies (Rooms from 7-56 people, or whole top floor 104) 

Price: Dependent on room reserved and day of week  

Outside food?: No 

Outside alcohol?: No 

Why We Love This Venue: 

Graham’s 318 Coffeehouse is a beautiful, quaint event venue in the heart of downtown Geneva, IL, surrounded by the best in shopping, dining, and the charm of all that Geneva has to offer. The downtown and riverside area offers ample photo opportunities including a historic windmill on the river and a beautiful county courthouse building with gardens and even cannons on the lawn! This venue would best suit those looking to host a small or micro wedding, as the capacity is variant and the cost is based on the areas rented and on what days of the week they are rented. The smallest room holds only 7 people, but could be perfect for a post elopement or courthouse wedding. The largest room holds a total of 56 people. The entire upper floor of the venue is available for up to 104, but keep in mind that this would include all of the rooms and is not one continuous space. While weddings of all times of the day could work here, a breakfast, brunch, or lunch time wedding would shine in this venue. The in house catering is affordable and offers two main options: a brunch option or a sandwich and salad option. Add-ons like cheese boards, hummus platters, and crudités help to round things out and offer an elegant experience that leaves your guests impressed and well fed! Alcohol is also offered through the venue in the form of mimosas, beer, and wine, as well as a large variety of non-alcoholic drinks (including their delicious coffee). A delightful variety of sweets are also offered or you can even order a custom cake through them. This is a great place for those seeking an intimate venue with a laid back feel and the convenience of everything you need in one place! 

What Might Make this the Right Place for You: 

- This is a one stop shop when it comes to food, alcohol, beverages, and sweets 

- The price is right for those who want quality food and fun, but with a smaller wedding size 

- The venue is really cute without requiring a lot of décor, but could easily be jazzed up with something as simple as your own unique centerpieces

- If you are looking for a breakfast/brunch wedding this venue would be IDEAL for you! 

- You are planning to hold your ceremony at the courthouse, a park, a church, or otherwise outside of the venue (Note: this is not to say you couldn’t have your ceremony there, but I strongly believe that it will be easier to do so elsewhere and have the reception in house.) 

- If you are looking to have a dry wedding, this venue offers such a wide array of alternative drink options that your guests might not even miss it! 

What Might Make It the Wrong Place for You: 

- If you need a large space for lots of guests that is an open concept space (not split into smaller rooms/spaces)

- If you are looking to self cater or have an outside caterer that you want to use.

- If you want to have an evening soiree 

[the-elegant-library]

“A Cheap Wedding Cake”

A wartime wedding cake recipe,

The Woman’s World ‘Ask Me’ Book - December 1916.