The reception party is the very last public moment of a wedding, and it’s also the one that the wedding guests remember the most. Therefore it’s best to avoid overdoing it and keep to something sober yet elegant. It is very important, before deciding the stile that one wants to give the reception party, to take into consideration the number of guests, your relationship to them, their average age and obviously your own personal taste.
Where
One more option would be a return to traditional wedding customs by organizing the party in your own home; given that one has the possibility to do so (in this case we suggest you contact a catering company).
How and when
If you do choose a buffet menu, it’s very important that a sufficient number of tables are provided according to the number of guests and that enough personnel are available to provide necessary service and avoid long standing cues.
Some suggestions:
The choice of the venue and the menu, are also linked to the time of the year when you have the wedding. If you decide to celebrate outdoors, be sure to have also sufficient covered room in case the weather turns bad.
It’s best to personally choose the menu, check the quality of food and beverages (especially wine), take care of the table display and the flowers as well as the seating arrangement of the guests, this last aspect would be best if indicated on a list/ map at the entrance of the wedding venue.
Given a fixed budget it’s best to give up one course rather than compromise on the quality of food and drinks.
In the case of a lunch or dinner reception it’s also important to make sure that the service is not too fast nor to slow between courses. In general it’s best that the full length of the ceremony does not become excessive.
If a large number of children is expected, you might want to call an animation agency that will entertain your little guests.
Once you have decided the date of the ceremony and given the availability of the church, it’s best to book the venue well in advance, possibly twelve months before.