The Home Reception
A Fairytale Touch
Of course, you will still want your reception to have the
fairytale touch that will linger in your memory for years to
come. The challenge then, is to create an environment that
retains all the welcoming warmth of home sweet home, while
adding a dash of sheer magic.
Time to Prepare
If you would like to hold your wedding reception at home, you
will need plenty of time to prepare. There will be a lot to
oversee, and if you are already very busy this can become quite
stressful. However, if you have your heart set on a home
reception, then your efforts will be rewarded by the end result.
There is certainly a sense of sharing, love and intimacy when
you invite your guests into your home for this special occasion.
But in order to make it work, there are many practicalities to
consider, from the capacity of your kitchen, to the availability
of bathrooms and adequate parking. You need to be realistic
about space: is there truly sufficient room for all your guests
to be comfortable?
Food, Glorious Food
If your answer is a resounding ‘yes’, then food should be one of
your first considerations. Will it be possible for a friend or
family member to prepare the food? Remember that if they do, you
won’t see much of them during the reception, as they will be
busy in the kitchen. So unless you have a hoard of willing
relatives to share the load, you really won’t want your mother,
siblings or best friends to be consumed by this task!
Call in a Caterer
By far the most popular and stress-free approach is to hire a
caterer. A professional catering firm will cook the food,
provide the necessary tableware, and supply staff. This leaves
you and your family free to simply enjoy the event.
If you decide to hire a professional, first decide whether
you want your caterer just to prepare the food, leaving all
other details to you, or whether you want them to take care of
everything, including the after-event clean up. Contact a number
of caterers to discuss your requirements and menu choices. Ask
for quotes and also for references from other clients. Once you
have reached a decision, make a booking straight away.
The Options
A sit down meal for more than a few guests is probably only an
option if you have unlimited space, or decide to hire a marquee.
You are likely to serve a traditional three-course dinner as
well as drinks, so you will probably have to hire tables,
chairs, chair covers, linen, crockery, cutlery, and glasses. If
you have decided against a full catering service, serving the
meal to your guests is another consideration. Do you have
friends who can help you, or will you need to hire some extra
pairs of hands?
A cocktail-style reception is an increasingly popular choice
and a great space saver. Prepare an interesting array of finger
food beforehand and chill your drinks in an ice-filled bath.
Allow at least a bottle per head on a sale-or-return basis.
Hiring a bartender can help to make things more manageable.
Flowers & Fair Lights
You will want to create a special ambience for your reception.
Browsing through The Bride’s Diary can result in some great
ideas, and visiting a hire company can also prove inspirational.
Start with some strategically placed flower arrangements and
consider adding fairy lights, candelabras, candles, colour co-ordinated
chair covers and chair sashes, tablecloths, table lamps, vases,
or urns to suit the mood you want to create. By hiring the props
you need, you will be able to create a truly extravagant look
for a relatively small outlay.
 Return
to the Article Index
|
