Wedding Reception: The Main Decisions To Make

One of the first things you may think about when planning your wedding reception is the venue. This is often the most considered detail because it is big, often expensive, and clearly necessary in order to fit everyone you need. However, there are several other things that combine to make a wedding reception, as you cannot celebrate very well without certain details. Learn about the other necessities that you need to include in your plans.

The food is a major factor for any big event. You need to first decide whether to have a buffet or a seated meal, taking into consideration both the expense and convenience for your guests. In general, seated meals, in which waiters serve the guests at their tables, are more formal and often more expensive, but there are ways to make buffets classier than usual, too. Once you know the format, you need to think about whether the meal will be considered breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner, which will of course depend on the time of day. Then you can decide on the type of food to serve. Consider having a theme to match your event. For example, a wedding reception with an Irish theme may go well with a potato buffet, where guests can get mashed, baked, and fried potatoes. As usual, your budget needs to be taken into consideration here, as steaks will cost a lot more than hot dogs.

The next thing to think about is the drink situation. The typical wedding reception serves alcohol to guests over 21, though the kind you serve is up to you. Many people just offer beer and wine since this keeps it simple, and some venues only allow these items. Others have a full bar with all types of liquor, though you can also limit it to a few different types if you want. You need to think about whether you will pay for an open bar, where the only money guests spend is on cash tips. You can also tell them ahead of time to bring cash for the bar since they have to pay on their own, or you can do a mixture by offering a few hours of free drinks, after which they can pay for their own. Be sure to check with your venue to find out if you need an insured bartender for the drinks.

The décor is also important for any wedding reception. Many venues provide the chairs and tables, and catering companies usually supply the linens. It is typically up to you, though, to make or buy the centerpieces for each table. Think about keeping it simple if you are not sure what to do, as you can buy small vases to fill with flowers, and then place candles around them for a romantic atmosphere.

If you do not think you can make these decisions, consider hiring someone who will. A professional event planner can help, though some venues also provide their own planner to help you make the decisions. Consult your budget and your preferences, and then choose.