You've decided on a date, now it’s time to plan what will be the most important “party” that you’ll ever arrange – Your Wedding Reception. This is the first time that you will be celebrating and entertaining your friends and family as a married couple so you want the occasion to be a happy and memorable one and one that reflects your personalities.
Planning
should commence as soon as you set the wedding date and the first things to decide and agree on are the number of guests and your budget. The more time that you have to plan the better organised your reception will be.
Remember, your reception is one of the most expensive components of the wedding so make sure that you budget carefully.
The success of your reception will depend on the choices which you make, so don’t be afraid to look around and compare (especially prices and service) before making any decisions. The least expensive is not always the best and you want the best on this day.
Make sure that the main people involved, - for example, the caterers, photographer, videographer, musicians, and the rental company - have a site visit together. This will ensure that everyone is cognisant of your plans and expectations.
VENUE
You need to decide whether you want to have it at indoors or outdoors. Options would include hotels, restaurants, private clubs/halls, museums, gardens, boats or even at home. You need to research all of your options carefully and thoroughly and once you have shortlisted, it is a good idea to visit the venues and where possible sample the meals. Please ensure the venue can comfortably accommodate the number of guests that you have planned along with items like the head table, the cake table, the gift table.
For venues that are not normally set up for functions it would be wise to visit these locations when they are set-up for a function of similar size to your reception.
The reception venue should complement the type of wedding ceremony that you have planned.
Venue costs are divided into three basic categories -
Cost per head which includes the venue, catering, drinks etc.
Venue rental fee only with the responsibility of the couple to provide all else.
Venue rental fee and catering only with the responsibility of the couple to provide all else.
HOTELS / RESTAURANTS ....
Can organise the food and drink, provide serving staff, table linen, music etc. In the case of hotels, they may include a room for the couple to change or if necessary the honeymoon suite and spend the wedding night.
These
venues are usually ideal for more intimate weddings. Here you have the option of hiring a caterer or the catering can be done by family and friends. You may have to hire tables and chairs and the china etc. for the indoor venues as they may not have them on hand.
For the outdoor venue you would also need to rent tents and flooring. Tents come in a variety of sizes and most companies also offer the rental of tables and chairs, table linen, lighting, portable bathrooms etc. The rental company should be able to advise on issues like the size of the dance floor relative to the number of guests.
Meet with the rental company and have a site visit to discuss your needs and their ability to supply the items that you require.
BOATS .....
This would be a good venue for a theme wedding. The size of the boat can vary from a catamaran to a pleasure boat. Ideal for a casual wedding/reception where the main item needed would be catering.
HOME .......
Usually
a small, informal and relaxed event. Catering can be done by family and friends and a suggested format is to serve a buffet meal.
THEME STYLE
This
should reflect your personalities or some occasion or place that is special to both of you.
Themes can range from something as simple as a Beach Theme to a Black and White Theme to Candlelight Romance to marked occasions like Valentine’s to the more exotic Moroccan Theme or Medieval Theme .
TIME OF DAY
your reception can be held at any time of day.
You may plan a morning wedding and you have the choice of a morning reception where you serve brunch or lunch or if you prefer, an afternoon or evening reception.
The average reception lasts between four to six hours, but receptions held in the morning tend to be shorter.
SET UP OF THE AREA A typical set-up would include the following: -
