Wedding Reception

A wedding reception is meant to be a celebration of a new marriage, so you want it to be just right. The bride as well as the groom should have a lot of input into what they would like their reception to be like. This may require a bit of time and planning, if time allows. Most brides and grooms will visit many reception halls as this really sets the stage for how formal or informal the reception will be. When looking at reception or banquet halls the bride and groom must have a general idea of how many people will be invited and will respond to their invitations to find a space that will adequately seat all of their guests.

The bride and groom will also want to get all of the right wedding party vendors to make their reception really great. These vendors might include caterers, a bartender, a band or DJ, a photographer, a videographer, and someone to provide gifts for each guest, as well as a baker to provide a wedding cake. As you can see, there is a lot of time that has to go into getting everything just right! It may seem like it cannot all possibly get done, but with a little bit of planning and the inspiration to have a day that is uniquely yours you can get it done. The idea is to stay focused on what you would most like for your wedding day to be like and use that as your guidance.

Looking at reception halls is one of the first things you will want to do after you have selected a wedding date. The reason for this is that most reception and banquet halls book in advance and you don't want to have to settle for something that you don't like all that much because you didn't start shopping for reception halls early enough. Generally reception halls start booking their space six to nine months in advance, so you'll want to book the space before someone else does. When you are viewing banquets halls you'll want to ask about deposits and what services they provide. Many reception halls will provide table cloths, and simple center pieces for all of the tables such as votive candles or mirrored tiles. It's good to have an idea of what each of the reception halls will provide so you can plan accordingly and contact other wedding party vendors that you might need.

When looking at reception halls you'll probably want to choose something that is relatively close to your wedding location. If you would like, you might be able to find banquet halls that will serve as your party location as well as your wedding location. This can be very convenient as your guests will not have to travel from one location to the other and right after the wedding concludes you can move right to the party!

After you view a few banquet halls you will want to choose the one that you like the best. It's a good idea to look at several different banquet or reception halls to get an idea of all of the options out there. While you might really like one of the first reception halls that you see, it's a good idea to keep looking because you might find something that you like just as well and will accommodate all of your needs. Most brides and grooms try to view three to five different banquet halls, sometimes more if the hall will be the wedding location as well. Hotels are a common place to hold receptions because they have beautiful reception halls or ball rooms where you can host the reception of your dreams.

When you choose the hall or ballroom that you like best, you need to make your move right away and book the space. Many times you will not just have to notify reception halls that you want to host your event there, you'll have to put a deposit down to secure the property for your event. It's normal for the deposit amount to be anywhere from 5-10% of the cost of the reception and you'll need to have paid the amount in full usually 14 days before the event. Inquire about cancellation policies, because many times the money that you put down for the initial deposit is not refundable. If this is the case you might want to just put down the minimum amount, even if you are sure that the reception will be taking place! When you book your location you'll want to walk through all of your expectations and be very clear on what the location provides and what they do not provide.

When you plan your wedding reception you probably have a general idea of what you would like. While a beautiful reception hall or ballroom sets the tone, the wedding party vendors are generally the ones that help you create a unique experience. Wedding party vendors are the ones who can help you realize what you have always wanted from your wedding and reception experience by providing things like the right food, the right music, a beautiful cake, pictures and video that will forever capture the big day, as well as favors for all of the guests that will dress up your tables and create a unique experience for you and the guests that respond to their invitation and celebrate your special day with you.

Table linens are a great way to set the tone for your reception and you can get the linens through wedding party vendors or the reception halls may provide them for you. Dressing the tables up with just a bit of tulle and some ribbons is fun, pretty, and easy. There are some really simple ideas like that that will make your reception the beautiful event that you had always hoped that it would be.

One thing that many people don't think of when they imagine their wedding location or reception halls is a budget. Whether we like it or not, most of us have budget constraints when it comes to choosing our wedding location, reception halls, and even our wedding party vendors. Weddings can be expensive, and even though most of us want to have the best wedding ever, one must consider what they can afford. A wedding is a special day, but the important thing to remember is that it is just a day. There are many ways to cut corners and still have a very beautiful wedding location and reception location, but one must always keep budget in mind.

The way to make your budget go as far as possible is to comparison shop. As mentioned above, you should view at least three to five different reception halls. The reason that you want to do this is not only to find the most beautiful location, but also to find the most affordable option that will provide a lovely space for you. You should also shop several different wedding party vendors to fulfill each of your needs to find vendors that will provide you with exactly what you need and want for the best price. You can save a lot of money just by comparison shopping for the things that you want and need.

When shopping wedding party vendors for a cake you will want someone who is experienced and will provide you with a beautiful cake. When you shop for cakes you should expect to be served a piece of small cake at each location. The reason for this is that you need to try the cake that the bakery provides before you choose them as your baker. If you try the cake and it's really dry or doesn't taste very good you'll know that you need to keep shopping other wedding party vendors until you find someone that can fit your budget and also provides a tasty cake!

It's important to remember that the cake is often the centerpiece of reception halls when a wedding reception is being held there. Many times the cake is placed in an area that everyone will be able to see to sort of showcase the beauty, so you'll want a baker that will truly bake to impress and can decorate well. If you find a picture of a wedding cake that you really want, take it with you to all of the wedding party vendors and ask them if they can replicate the design. Remember, custom jobs will generally cost more, but if you can fit it into the budget, why not? Try to deal with a baker that will deliver the cake to reception halls so you do not have to try to figure out how to transport the cake from the baker to the reception hall.

Wedding favors have become a part of wedding etiquette, meaning the bride and the groom are expected to provide small gifts to their guests. These gifts are generally small, and not all that expensive, but serve as a reminder of your big day to the guests that receive them. There are many wedding party vendors that provide a whole host of wedding favors for you to choose from. There are some very popular wedding favors that most wedding party vendors carry. Many of the popular options are customizable.

Some of the things that you might want to consider are candy bars that have the bride and grooms names on it, plant or flower seeds to commemorate the day, an envelope with a monarch butterfly in it that all of your guests can open up to let it fly away, plants, candles, cookie cutters, and more. There are a lot of really unique favors that most wedding party vendors offer. Even if you are working on a budget you can find wedding party favors that will offer you some really cute or classy ideas that you can easily afford. Shop around different wedding party vendors until you find a wedding favor that fits your budget as well as your style.

When you book your reception hall you will want to ask about caterers. Many reception halls do not provide catering services and others will not allow you to bring in outside food. You'll need to ask questions about this before you sign a contract or put down a deposit. The reason for this is that if reception halls do not provide catering you will want to price caterers and see if that is something that you can fit into your budget. If reception halls will not allow for outside food and drinks to come in, you'll want to look over their menu options to be sure that they will be able to provide food that you can afford and that will suit the culinary tastes of you and your guests.

Of all of the expenses associated with weddings and reception halls, feeding your guests is generally one of the most expensive. It's important to think about these expenses and determine what you can and cannot afford ahead of time. When reception halls provide food it is often more affordable than if you have to pay for the reception hall as well as an independent caterer. Many reception halls waive the actual fee for renting the hall when you have the event catered, thus making it more affordable when all is said and done. These are questions that you generally want to afford ahead of time.

It's important when you are planning your wedding reception and working with reception halls and wedding party vendors to really consider all of the little details. The little details are often where the expenses are, so you need to ask questions and ensure that you keep track of all of these details and expenses. A good way to do this is to keep a binder or tablet of paper with all of the information that you need written down on it. If possible, ask all of the reception halls and wedding party vendors for their terms on paper so you can read over them to be sure that you understand what you get for your money and how much you have to pay for everything that you need or want.

Weddings are often difficult to plan because there are so many details involved. This is why you will want to visit as many reception halls and wedding party vendors, to see what you can find that meets your needs, but also who can make your big day as simple to plan as possible. Planning as far in advance as possible is a good idea, because you'll have more time to plan and you may be able to enjoy the process instead of becoming stressed out about it. Get as much help as you can from friends and family so you can have help sorting through all of the details!

Reception Ideas Alternatives to rice throwing might include doily cones filled with confetti, little bags of bird seed or potpourri, or even bottles of blow-bubbles for a festive touch that everyone can have fun with and is gentle to the environment. An earth-friendly favor that also serves as a balloon weight, decoration, and centerpiece all in one is a tree seedling. The seedlings are 6-8 inches tall and can be decorated with Mylar tissue, curling ribbon or tulle for the perfect party favor that will live for years. An elegant option for cake cutting music is violins and flutes played in a semi-circle around the newlyweds for a more romantic presentation than "The Bride Cuts the Cake". Visit our Music and Dance section for classic song choices. With the rising awareness of drinking and driving, more families and wedding parties are riding home safely and in style with limousines. Elegant sedan cars instead of limousines may help trim costs to enable more family members the consideration of being provided a safe ride home. Carriages, vintage cars and Rolls-Royces are popular for couples who want to make a statement on their wedding day. Help break the ice among guests by having the best man announce at the beginning of the meal that the bride and groom will only kiss when a table or group stands up, singing a verse of a song with the word "LOVE" in it. A lighter and more economical option for your bar is a "White Bar", with vodka, rum, champagne and wine for the base stock. FYI: With a domestic-brand beer, a half-barrel keg contains 15.5 gallons, while the quarter-barrel contains 7.75 gallons. If you are using a 10-ounce cup, this totals to about 200 cups of beer for a half-barrel, while the quarter-barrel contains about 100 cups. (Imported beer kegs are sized differently, with a half-barrel containing 10.7 gallons. You'll also find that domestic taps may not fit an imported keg.) Treat your guests with little take-away bags of sweets, cornucopia filled with flowers, or a memento of the occasion.
For receptions, breakaway centerpieces are a thoughtful touch. Guests can take individual bud vases, ornaments, or small plants all gathered in one basket home as a memento. An alternative to seating name cards is to number the tables, and provide each guest with a personally addressed envelope that contains their table number. Calligraphy adds an impressive touch, and guests will appreciate being spared the search for their seats. Make a card of all the married couples at the reception and put in a basket. When people are calling out for a kiss, pull a name out, and that couple has to show the new couple how they have to kiss.

Provided by www.weddingdetails.com

Gather your lists of invitees before you order the invitations.

Order at least 25 more invitations and envelopes than you think you will need (to cover mistakes in addressing, re-mailing to a current address, to cover last-minute "must haves"). It's much more expensive to re-order than to order more than you need at the beginning.

You'll want to order your wedding address labels at the same time. You may even consider ordering your address labels for your thank you cards too!

Type/print the list of names with the appropriate titles: Mr., Mrs., Dr., Ms., Reverend, Captain, Lieutenant, Rabbi, Fr., Messrs., Honorable, etc.

If a widow: Mrs. John Smith; If divorced: Mrs. Susan Smith.

For children over 18 and living at home, they receive their own invitation or are listed separately on their parent's: Mr. and Mrs. John Smith, Ms. Melissa Smith

If inviting two people sharing a home or living together, or a married couple with different names, use both full names: Dr. Susan Davis Mr. James Rosser

If inviting children under 18, their individual names (or/and Family) are listed below their parents' names on the inside envelope: Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Sue, Bret and Mike

If you are graciously inviting single people to bring a guest, this appears on the inside envelope: Mr. Jurgen and Guest.

When purchasing postage for the outer envelopes, take a fully stuffed envelope (invitation, inner envelope, response card/envelope, reception card, map, etc.) to the post office. Correct postage is determined by weight and size. If sending different enclosures to differing groups of people, take an example of each. Remember, postage to foreign countries is higher. And, if you are sending invitations to other countries, do not pre-stamp the response envelope. U.S. postage can only be used for mail originating in the U.S., territories or through the armed services.

If you've ordered "thank you" notes for your wedding gifts with the names of the bride and groom, you can write, seal and stamp the thank you note as the gift is received, but do not send out before the actual marriage ceremony is performed. (Writing the "thank you's" as gifts are received is much easier than doing them all at once. Just mail them after the wedding or on your return from your honeymoon.)

Set up a card file, loose-leaf notebook, or computer program with:

Response: Shower Gift/Thank You Wedding Gift/Thank You

Y/N # (What?) Sent? (What?) Sent?

Name

Address

City, State, Zip

Lastly, don’t forget to order your reception place cards and wedding place card holders for all of your guests who return the response card.

- Helaine Hamelstein

Provided by www.weddingdetails.com