When the big day is scheduled and your family and friends come up with dozens of wedding reception ideas, remember this is suppose to be the once in a lifetime celebration for the bride and groom. The reception needs to be linked to the marriage ceremony and they both should reflect the vision of the bride especially.
If you and other family members are busy you may have to hire a bridal consultant. If you do chose to hire a consultant make sure you detail a budget and have a set plan in writing before you hire. Also before you hire a consultant make sure you ask friends for recommendations or ask florist, caterers, photographers or the Association of Bridal Consultants. That brings up the another important consideration the budget. The biggest part of the budget hinges upon how many people will attend. The couple should sit down together and figure out your priorities. A smaller attendance figure may allow for a full dinner. While a big open invitation reception may force you to serve finger food or buffet only. If you decide not serve dinner be sure to schedule the event early enough in the afternoon so it can conclude by dinner time and people can go out for dinner on their own.
One big expense is the tradition of an open bar. There are ways to getaway from this without offending anyone. If full dinner option has been selected then serve wine, beer and champagne through dinner, but change from open bar for hard drinks to host bar as soon as the champagne toast is complete right before dinner.
Decorating your reception can be a lot of fun especially if there is a lot of help available. Rented halls present the greatest challenge to tastefully carry a theme from the wedding ceremony. We suggest you plan for one large focal point to bring a tasteful look to the reception hall. Perhaps get a rented gazebo decorated with tulle and bows and then add a touch of color to the room with colored table linens and simple centerpieces. If the reception is held at a hotel and they cater the food and drinks they will probably also decorate the tables and entrance. An outdoor reception just needs tables with table decorations and a big tent. Decide on what your theme is going to be by interests, careers, favorite periods in history, and the season of the year. Here are a few basics wedding reception ideas for what may need decorating whether you do it yourself or not.
The entrance: Flower garlands for the doorway with floral arrangements on columns or a arch.
Gift Table: Place some framed pictures of the bride and groom along with wedding favors, a gift box and perhaps some candies or rose petals.
Tables and Centerpieces: Reception tables should each have a decoration of some kind. A glass bowl of colored water with floating candles and rose petals is nice. Fill a pot or vase with flowers and ribbons. Coasters will add a touch of class and also make a keepsake gift that the wedding guests will remember.Chairs: You can tie a bow of tulle or gauze to the back in the wedding theme colors.
Buffet Table: Cover the table with a skirt that goes to the floor and raise a platform with books or solid boxes covered with a solid color cloth under each platter of food and scatter flower heads or rose petals around.
Cake Table and Cake: Start out with a cake topper. The bride and groom figurines are traditional a have been most popular for many years. Personalized, whimsical cake ornaments perhaps with the couple’s hobbies or how they meet are a popular trend. Skirt the table and place some candles and a vase of flowers for an elegant touch. A personalized wedding reception cake knife and server will help set off the cake table and provide you with a keepsake too.
Floors: If you decide to have an outside wedding under a tent you may want to look into renting a floor for reception dancing. That brings up another very important thing that you must think about music.
Music: You may want to set up some kind of platform for your musicians or disc jockey and decorate it for your theme think about this when renting a hall, hotel, etc. Start looking for musicians or today many couples hires a disc jockey as soon as the wedding date is set. Realize that some musicians or disc jockeys may be booked a year in advance. Get referrals listen to the musicians or disc jockeys perform and discuss your taste for dance music.
Walls: Sometimes definitely the biggest challenge in a dull room use mixed flower hanging baskets to set the mood and try hanging lengths of contrasting colors of tulle or gauze gathered with a bow at the top.
These are just a few basic wedding reception ideas to perhaps stimulate your imagination.
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