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The wedding reception is the first time you formally receive your relatives and friends as a married couple. Properly planned, it becomes one of the most joyous parties you and your groom will ever host. It can be as simple and demure as cake and punch in a church hall, or encompass a glorious five-course dinner and dance. Your personal preference and budget will determine the size of the affair.
Selecting the reception location really depends on how many people you are inviting. Your reception can be staged almost anywhere. The church may have a suitable room, or you may want to rent a reception room at a nearby hotel, restaurant or club. If you're being married in the summer and your parents have a large garden, consider hiring a marquee. Alternatively it is often possible to arrange your reception in the setting of a local historical building; this can make a delightful fairy-tale backdrop for the wedding feast.
Whatever you decide, know that the services of a professional banquet facility or caterer can greatly enhance and expedite the planning of your reception. Once you've decided the setting you would prefer, the estimated number of guests and your budget, you're ready to begin looking at reception sites and interviewing caterers. Reserve your reception site well in advance, and promptly pay any necessary deposit. Most catering and banquet consultants are willing to tailor your food and beverage service to fit your budget. If the guest list is small, consider a sit-down meal. Larger parties are better served buffet-style. Visit the reception venue and map out how you would like it set up. Plan to arrange the receiving line where guests enter the room. Decide also whether you'll have a formal or semi-formal receiving line. Consider grouping furniture to stimulate conversation without obstructing traffic flow.
If you will be offering liquor to your reception guests, station the bar well away from the buffet or food service area so there won't be any congestion. There should always be one table designated for the wedding party, no matter whether it is a sit-down affair or a buffet. Seating arrangements at the bride's table are usually as follows:
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Finally, you and your groom will leave the reception for your honeymoon amid the enthusiastic efforts of your guests to shower you with confetti and rice. Do check first with the owner of the premises as some find confetti particularly difficult to clear up afterwards.
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