Planning the wedding ceremony is only half the work when it comes to being prepared for your big day; don’t forget about the celebrations afterwards. Most brides to be will invite more people to the reception than to the ceremony, and so trying to organise it can be the most difficult part of the day. If you want your wedding reception to run as smooth as the silk on your dress, then follow these 3 easy steps.
1. Venue
First up is the venue – where are you going to be holding your reception? Depending on where your ceremony is, there may be a whole range of different types of venues to choose from. Some of you may opt to have a ceremony and reception venue in one place, others may want to move from the church to something different for the party. There are many things to think about when it comes to the venue, from the size to the location. We’ve put together a quick checklist to take with you when you go searching for that perfect reception venue:
- Number of guests – How many people does it hold in various different seating arrangements? Sometimes a hall may only hold 100 people with banquet seating, but much more with a cocktail seating arrangement. Find out about the different ways your room can be laid out, to ensure everyone has somewhere to sit.
- Location – How far away from your ceremony is the reception going to be? And how is everyone going to get there? If you think you’ve found the perfect venue then consider the location and how easy it is to get to. You may need to consider putting on transport if your different venues are too far away from each other.
- Food and drink – Next thing to ask is whether they provide food and drink at the venue or whether you will have to look for outside caterers. If they only allow their own food and drink then make sure you ask for a taster before saying yes.
- Budget – Finally, one of the most important things to consider; does it fit in within your budget? It may be a dream venue but if it is too costly then don’t even think about it. You don’t want to blow your budget on, what is effectively, a room.
You will of course have your own questions to ask any venue, but make sure you think about these things before signing the paperwork and sending the invites.
2. Food and Drink
We have already briefly touched on food and drink in the venue section, but this is something you will need to go into more detail with. If the venue is providing food and drink, then find out the price per head and whether they offer different menu options. Do you want everyone to have a glass of champagne for the toasts? What about wine on the table? Does your chosen caterer provide options for vegetarian or vegan guests? There are plenty of things to think about when it comes to the food and drink at your wedding reception, but don’t let it worry you too much. As long as your caterer has allowed you to have a tasting session with them, and you’re happy, then there’s nothing more you can do except enjoy the food on the day.
3. Decor
Last up is the decor of your reception, something that you shouldn’t leave until the last minute. Depending on your chosen venue, they may provide you with things such as seat covers and sometimes even table decorations. However, this is your wedding, your theme and your big celebration. Look into an Event Decor Group that can help you source and put together all of the decorations for your reception. Not only will it be easier to plan, but you won’t need to be there on the morning to set it all up. Choose a theme and stick to it; you don’t want a mismatch of themes confusing your guests. Colour themes are the most popular, with a maximum of 2 or 3 colours being used on everything from the bouquets to the centrepieces.
That’s it; you’re ready. Now all you need to do is get to the church on time and enjoy your party afterwards. Congratulations on your spectacular big day!
