Types of Wedding Receptions

Do you envision your wedding reception in the early morning light or as an all night, all-out party?

Breakfast or Brunch Reception

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If you are getting married bright and early in the morning, then you will want to have a breakfast or brunch reception.  Traditionally, the menu would include breakfast classics like quiche, frittata, and eggs benedict.  It's great to have stations set up where guests can get food like omelets and French toast made to order.  For a touch of elegance, consider adding smoked salmon, caviar, or a carving station with ham, turkey or roast beef.  Spice things up with Bloody Mary's, Bellinis and Mimosas.  

And don't forget the coffee!

This type of reception is inexpensive; people will drink considerably less alcohol, and the types of food served are typically cheaper as well.  If you want to get a jump start on your honeymoon, a bunch reception fits in perfectly for you to leave the same day.

But consider your guests, especially those who live two hours away.  They'll have to get up very early to make it to your wedding.  Also, you will not have as long to get ready in the morning.

A different take on the breakfast/brunch reception may be to consider a cocktail-style brunch.  Have your caterer reinvent breakfast classics into hors d'ouevres such as mini-eggs benedict, bite sized French toast, and scrambled egg bites topped with caviar.  Keep those Mimosas and Bellini's flowing!

Buffet Reception

Cocktail receptions can be elegant and stylish.  They allow your guests to really mingle with each other.  They are a bit more relaxed than a sit-down meal and often feel like a great party.  The cocktail reception is a fairly formal affair. It is the perfect type of reception to be held in an art gallery, a studio loft, an outdoor terrace, or a landscaped garden.  Hot and cold hors d'oeuvres may be served to your guests by waitstaff or set out on buffet tables.  The wedding cake is cute immediately after the wedding ceremony to allow your guests the opportunity to enjoy along with their champagne and other food.  

The cocktail reception is a nice choice if your venue is small. It will allow you to have more people.  They are also typically shorter than a sit-down meal.  They will allow you and your groom time to really circulate and enjoy the party.  They are also perfect for the couple who is looking to have an elegant affair without going over their budget.  

You may expect a cocktail reception to be less expensive but that is not always the case.  Your guests will likely drink more than at a dinner reception.  Also, since it will not be seated, some guests may have trouble seeing events like the first dance and cake cutting.

Dinner Wedding Reception

The most formal type of wedding reception is a sit-down buffet dinner. It allows you time to really celebrate your wedding, treat your guests, and still have everyone up on the dance floor. It will begin with a cocktail hour, then proceed to an adjoining room for dinner, and followed by dancing, cake cutting, and more. More planning comes into play for a dinner reception because it consists of many courses. The dinner reception allows your guests to feel like you went all out for your reception. It will not feel rushed or hurried.

But typically this is the most expensive type of wedding reception. On average, 40% of your entire wedding budget will be on catering your wedding reception. So a lot of thought needs to go into the type of reception, venue, and choice of menu. The time of day and location will narrow your options on the kind of reception and the site that best fits with your wedding plans.

Saving on Your Reception Without Sacrificing

Here are some money-saving tips to keep in mind when planning your wedding reception.

•  Keep the guest list small and intimate.
• Get married on a Friday or Sunday. Many venues will book for half the price.
• Pay for only one venue. Have the ceremony and reception at the same location.
• Supply your alcohol from a liquor wholesaler. You will need to check with the venue to be sure this is allowed.
• Order one small decorated wedding cake for display and a large sheet cake to cut and serve.
• Serve your wedding cake as the dessert.