It was Shakespeare who penned the phrase “Eat, drink and be merry”. If ever there were a goal for a wedding reception dinner, this would be it. The banquet that follows your exchange of vows is a celebration of family and friends sharing in your joy of the occasion.
As with other facets of your wedding plans, a little preparation goes a long way.
The first thing to do is seek out a suitable venue that pleases you. This means something different for all of us.
Things to consider are:
* The location – is there nearby accommodations for out of town guests?
* Is there a caterer on site? – This makes the rest of the preparations much easier.
* Is there ample parking? – Free parking is preferable when considering your guests.
* Is the pricing competitive and in line with your budget? - ask about the range of menus available
* Are there other wedding services available on site? – such as invitations or floral services
The best way to obtain this information is to make a few phone calls, have menus/brochures of the preferred locations mailed to you, check out websites and visit the establishments you’re considering. Once you have favorably answered all these questions, you have the necessary groundwork covered. The rest, figuratively speaking, is a piece of cake.
So you’ve found the hall you want and settled on a date – sometimes just getting these two things decided feels like an Olympic event. If coordinating a ceremony location is giving you grief, many halls are also great places to have your ceremony right on site. This can be a plus if you prefer not to have your guests travelling from one location to another.
Next is the standard stuff – you will be required to leave a deposit with the hall to confirm your reservation. After this has been done, you can make decisions about your dinner menu, bar arrangements and special requirements. The sooner this is done and out of the way, the better. As you approach the wedding day, a seemingly infinitesimal amount of last minute things will come up. If your basics – like choosing your linen colours, menu, and bar arrangements - are taken care of well in advance, you can be more relaxed when the last minute stuff starts coming your way. Most caterers are happy to customize menus to suit your event and your preferences so don’t be shy about your idea of an ideal wedding dinner. Once you’ve made your main selections, the fine tuning of your menu including special dietary requirements and changes in number of guests attending, can be done much closer to the wedding date. Typically, caterers can take changes in your number of guests right up until 48 hours before the event. This allows you to account for the last minute changes that can’t be avoided and get your final number as accurate as possible.
Now what to eat? There is no format answer to this one. This decision will be based on your personal preference merged with the ethnic backgrounds of both the bride and groom and important family traditions. Rather than seeing this as a challenge, it should be viewed more as an opportunity to make your event a reflection of who you are as a couple.
Bar arrangements will be based on these same criteria and also, budget. While many bridal magazines say a host bar is the only acceptable choice, this is not practical for many couples, nor is it expected. Many halls will work with you to customize a bar arrangement that meets with your preference and doesn’t break the bank. It could be a combination of a cash bar (guests pay for their own beverages) and a host bar. Punch (both with and without liquor) could be made available throughout the cocktail period in addition to a cash bar, with wine and champagne available throughout the meal. This could be followed by after dinner liqueurs offered to guests with their dessert and coffee. These are a few choices that offer a compromise, but many others can be tailored for your needs.
When in doubt about what will work and what won’t, ask your caterer. They have seen just about every variation on these things over the years and can give you some practical advice based on actual experience. What works in theory might not be so great in practice.
As for what to budget, that, once again, depends on you. No one can give you a magical number of what you are required to spend: there is no such thing. The important thing is to be comfortable with what you are offering your guests. Too often the reception becomes a stressful arrangement – you need not let this happen. You want to enjoy your wedding day as much as possible. Nothing allows for this better than a little planning. Once you have communicated all the details to your caterer, you’ve done your part and you can relax. The wedding day is about a symbolic gathering of friends and family who have witnessed you pledge your love to one another and want to celebrate in that happiness with you. So eat, drink: you’re married!
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