Getting married is a huge event that requires enormous preparation, planning and coordination. Wedding planning can be fun if you plan well and try not to be too hands-on in every detail big and small. A major part of the wedding planning relates to the wedding reception. The ceremony is a solemn affair, but the reception that follows can be a really enjoyable time if you know what kind of reception you want to have. Here are some tips for wedding reception ideas and how to plan the perfect reception.
The kind of wedding reception you will have depends on what you have long dreamed your wedding day should be like. Weddings have spawned a huge industry that offers a very wide array of choices in everything related to weddings. Your most important consideration has to be the budget you need to work with.
Once you know how much you realistically have to spend, you will have to do an itemized costing to know what everything will cost. Wedding reception venues are many and the whims and fancies of most every bride to be can be catered to. There are many traditions that are part of a wedding reception. Here again, you need to decide what you want to have happening at your wedding.
Let us look at a few options to get an idea of how you need to plan the reception.
Wedding receptions traditionally have a receiving party at the entrance to receive guests. Before that guests will begin to arrive at the reception hall while the bridal party is doing the photo shoot. There has to be a receiving line to greet guests and make sure you have some sort of entertainment planned to keep your guests happy.
When you arrive at the reception venue there‟s the traditional cake cutting, first dance, toasts, dinner and dancing to be enjoyed. Try to space things out and give your guests a chance to have a drink and some food. They will feel a lot happier if you do!
There are many exciting wedding traditions that you can borrow from other countries to add excitement to your reception. You don‟t have to follow standard tradition all the way; get creative and either borrow or invent your own wedding traditions.
Starting with a morning wedding, you have to decide whether to have a breakfast reception or a brunch. Are you planning on a sunrise wedding with only family and dear friends present? People who show up are going to want breakfast. Traditional menus generally include standard fare like eggs benedict, omelets, French toast and quiche. Luxury menus for a brunch include smoked salmon, caviar, carving stations for ham, beef and turkey. Lots of coffee and of course Bloody Mary‟s and more to liven the atmosphere.
On the positive side a brunch reception is a whole lot cheaper than a full sit down dinner. An early wedding lets you get off to a good start on your honeymoon. People don‟t generally drink you out of house and home so early in the morning. On the downside, you need to consider how early people have to leave their homes to get to the wedding. The bridal party will not have much time to get ready so early in the morning and the bride - unless a super fast dresser - is going to face problems.
Most morning weddings generally start at around 10.30 or 11 am. This gives everyone more time to get ready and the guests can make it to the ceremony in good time. A lunch reception is a good idea and you can have some of the dinner favorites served to your guests. Lunches help free up the evening for you to either leave on your honeymoon or rest up and get an early start the next day.
A wedding reception is what you make it out to be. Arrange dancing, lively music and a free flowing wet bar with a cheerful bartender to make your guests happy. People are relaxed and can enjoy the festivities, but you need to pick
a date when people can attend a daytime wedding.
Other reception ideas are afternoon tea, cocktail receptions and of course dinner receptions. Choose what your budget permits and make sure that you and your guests have a blast.
