“I now pronounce you husband and wife, you may kiss the bride!”
Phew, made it through the ceremony! Now off to the reception, where your guests await to eat, drink and be marry with the newlyweds!
Yes, traditional receptions call for a sit down dinner with several meal courses. But, having that kind of reception is not for everyone. A cocktails and hors d’oeuvres reception is a very popular alternative to the more traditional post ceremony gathering. Many couples today are choosing to go this route. It's a great way to serve a less expensive, simpler fare in elegant style. Below are some ways to help you create a cocktail reception thats right for you!
The Perfect Hour
Choosing the right time of day is critical to making a cocktail reception work. Between 11 am – 2 pm, a lunch menu is appropriate. Between 6 pm – 9 pm a dinner menu would be expected. So, where does ‘cocktail hour’ fit in? For a budget-friendly celebration, have your ceremony around 2pm and the reception around 3 pm. You could serve heavier appetizers, coffee, tea and get away with minimal or no alcohol. A ceremony at 8 pm with the reception starting at 9pm is more suitable for cocktails and light fare. Anything in the evening does mean spending a bit more, especially when hard liquors, wines, and exotic drinks are mixed into the selection.
The Perfect Set-Up
Appetizer station? Serving staff? Both? Drinks served? Hosted bar? Self serve alcohol? Umm, let’s just ex out that last one. Self serve alcohol is definitely a risky option. You want fun, but not ‘fraternity party.’ Bartenders definitely have the right to cut off guests. (Something you don’t want to have to do yourself!) There is no wrong way to set up food for this kind of reception. One idea is to place appetizers on an attractive tablescape as well as have some served. This way, people have the option of getting more when they need it, but can also stand and mingle if they choose—letting the food come to them. Another idea is to have appetizers plated and placed throughout the reception. Your guests will have to make their way to different finger foods, encouraging mingling. Also, I would suggest not to have an arranged seatting chart for your guests. Create conversation areas; maybe sofas in groups and/or bar-height tables where guests can settle and chat.
The Perfect Menu
From chicken fingers to chicken satay ~ it’s all dee-lish! The hors d’oeuvres per guest is a number that depends on the kind of food your serving. For the afternoon, have both hot & cold selections and a station with some kind of bread. Try to incorporate five choices that include: seafood, vegetables, fruits, meats and cheeses. Don’t go too exotic in case your guests don’t have a palette as sophisticated as yours. You want them to feel comfortable with the food, not be scared of it! For the evening, your focus should definitely be on the drinks! Feature a variety of specialty cocktails, as well as basic beer and wine. A fun option would be to serve a signature cocktail that you and your sweetie created!
The Perfect Ending
Its midnight, and your guests have nearly lost the feeling in their legs from dancing all night. Get their taste buds dancing with a surprise midnight snack! A new reception trend this year is to bring in an unexpected snack at the end of the night. Couples are choosing late night snacks such as pizzas and even fast food. A duo purpose snack and party favor could be cookies and milk to go. For an afternoon reception, you could hand out an assortment of flavored or spiced nuts and bottled pop. The selections for this type of surprise snack are endless. This is a perfect place for you to use your imagination and bring in some of your own favorite comfort foods to share with your guests.
Hope these tips help you plan the perfect celebration without compromising your personal style and taste--even if you’re not keen on the formal sit-down or traditional wedding reception. Cheers!
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