Lets talk receptions!

[Silviar]

Oh, so to actually contribute to the thread, here's how I handled my reception for my 1st wedding:

• I held my wedding at my house. Since we only had 25 people, it worked GREAT. Way cheaper, too.
• We catered the food, which I was careful to pick out, Bought a case of wine/beer for folks, soda for the rest.
• I held my wedding on a Thursday, which was awesome because everything was cheaper.

[nicole]

well if I get my way, and have the big ceremony in England, we'd be having the ceremony in one of rooms of the country house, take photos in the grounds and have a drinks reception in the garden... as I've always wanted to marry here: https://www.fountainsabbey.org.uk/ht...g/your-photos/

They have a load of small rooms in the house, as we only want at most 25 people, the house is perfect. I knew we would have problems with the reception- few people in a big room looks dumb, but if we have it in the rose garden, I think we will avoid that. We also wanted to hide mini gnomes round the garden as wedding favours, or just a game

As we are having so few people I like the idea of having just a small cake to cut, then cupcakes surrounding it.

[Zephii]

I wonder how hard it really is to make the cake yourself, or something. I don't want to spend hundreds of dollars on a cake. I wanted to do cupcakes, but Obi vetoed that one. The cake is apparently an important tradition. Maybe I should start practicing now lol.

We were looking at venues last night and think we've agreed on them. Now I just have to find out the cost. We want to use the rotunda at balmoral beach Here which is free if you have under 50 people (which we will for sure!) and there's a resturant a five minute walk away called the public dining room. It's not as formal as I'd have liked, but the food and views seem great - depending on the price they want!

He's so easy to plan with, and enjoys it. It surprises me!

[Zephii]

Seven thousand dollars?! ? Seven. Thousand. ?! No.. what? You're kidding right. No. No I'm not paying you $7000 to book your patio for one evening. You can go fuck a whole lot of off.

Right. So public dining room is out. Very very out.

Seven thousand.

Do you know what I could do with that kind of money?

*wanders away mumbling*

[Silviar]

I wonder how hard it really is to make the cake yourself, or something. I don't want to spend hundreds of dollars on a cake. I wanted to do cupcakes, but Obi vetoed that one. The cake is apparently an important tradition. Maybe I should start practicing now lol.

We were looking at venues last night and think we've agreed on them. Now I just have to find out the cost. We want to use the rotunda at balmoral beach Here which is free if you have under 50 people (which we will for sure!) and there's a resturant a five minute walk away called the public dining room. It's not as formal as I'd have liked, but the food and views seem great - depending on the price they want!

He's so easy to plan with, and enjoys it. It surprises me!

Ok, that patio is just amazing! Eee! :3 When it's my turn to plan something, I'm gonna need your help.

Also - $7k, can you say rip off for poor folks who just are getting married?! Sweet Poptart Christ!

[Zephii]

Well if they're not poor before they get married, they sure as hell will be after!!!

[SeattleLove]

I want a small ceremony, only with my parents, his parents and our bridesmaids, best man, maid of honor. So about 20 people. Not more for the ceremony.

And for the reception I want all of my friends and family to come (since we are going to get married in Germany). I expect ~100 people. Maybe a little less. And I would want a big ball room, everything held in cream colors and a gigantic cake I want there to be a DJ or maybe a live band. I knoooow, this all sounds like a super expensive reception but I will try to keep it in a do-able limit, you know.
I want it to be really classic, though, with wedding games and everything So, yeah, I basically have a plan in ym head already. Let'd so how it will be eventually

[Zephii]

I want a small ceremony, only with my parents, his parents and our bridesmaids, best man, maid of honor. So about 20 people. Not more for the ceremony.

And for the reception I want all of my friends and family to come (since we are going to get married in Germany). I expect ~100 people. Maybe a little less. And I would want a big ball room, everything held in cream colors and a gigantic cake I want there to be a DJ or maybe a live band. I knoooow, this all sounds like a super expensive reception but I will try to keep it in a do-able limit, you know.
I want it to be really classic, though, with wedding games and everything So, yeah, I basically have a plan in ym head already. Let'd so how it will be eventually

What kind of games?

[SeattleLove]

What kind of games?

Oh there are sooo many typical German games. Well, actually I'm not even sure if they are "typically" german

There is this one game where the groom has to get under the brides dress in order to get her garter with his teeth. If he succeds, the marriage will be good. And after he pulled it of her leg he has to throw it to all the male people attending the wedding, it's like thowing the flower boquet for the women, you know

Then there is this game, where the groom has to leave the room while the bride has to ask questions like "who is the better driver/cook/etc.." "how many kids does your brom want" etc etc...many question. and then the bride leaves the room and the broom comes in. same questions to him. well, if they match that's good, if not, than thats funny

Aww there are so many i just cant think of any right now

Oh how about that one: celebrity couples
every female guest gets to pick a note card which has famous couples on it (like brad pitt and angelina jolie, mickey and minnie mouse, edward and bella). after she picked the card the woman has to pick a male partner and they have to impersonate the famous couple...

mhh...another "game": the guest prepare a giant piece of fabric with a heart painted on it and the bride and the groom have to cut the heart out of the fabric with nail scissors

okay, i ran out of ideas

do americans play games at weddings?

[Zephii]

German weddings must be so much more fun than Aussie weddings. I'm pretty sure all we do is get drunk, and then someone always plays the YMCA >.>

[lucybelle]

German weddings must be so much more fun than Aussie weddings. I'm pretty sure all we do is get drunk, and then someone always plays the YMCA >.>

Honestly... that Aussie wedding sounds pretty awesome to me

[Silviar]

Well if they're not poor before they get married, they sure as hell will be after!!!

All I can think is "that's a good used car!"

You could do games at your wedding if you wanted.

[Casey]

I really want a garden reception, but realise if it rains then thats out of the question, so Adam and I have decided to hire a mansion with awesome gardens, and big indoor areas so we have the options. Also, as we will be having the wedding in our home town it will give us somewhere to stay for a couple of nights before and then we can book somewhere else the night of the wedding. We would offer the rooms to the wedding party and our parents, and grandparents first, then to out-of-town-guests.

I really like the idea of wooden tables with random assortment of trinckets and vases on the table - I would have fun doing that without making it look cluttered and messy lol.
I also like the idea of having a buffet. It allows people to get up and mingle, and set menus are boring, too formal, and too expensive lol. In an ideal world the buffet would consist of our favourite meals so there would be a mexican stand with tacos, nachos, and burrito things, there would be an indian table with curries and breads, a thai table with curries and this really yummy thing called adaman prawns, there would be italian table for canneloni and pasta dishes, as well as all of your sides of salad, potato bake etc. Unfortunatley this probably won't be possible i.e. too much work, or too many caterers, and the biggest thing - they are all really messy dishes and it would end up all over my dress lol! But we will still have a buffet.

Plus since its an aussie wedding - we will obviously have a massive bar, and will hire bar staff to serve and will just supply our own grog. It seems to be quite an inexpensive and easy option. My family are massive drinkers so I can see a lot of our budget being on the alcohol

Oh and heres the suggested location at the moment: https://www.wingshinterlandretreat.com/Welcome.html

[folclor]

Obviously I'm not planning a wedding just yet ^^;; but hey, that's okay, I can dream ;P I have no idea about the music. But I do know this... I want to provide a full meal for my guests. I'm talking... I want, after the wedding, for everyone to sit down at the table and have something like pizza or cabbage rolls and pirogies and enchiladas, nothing really fancy. and I want a traditional cake. I don't care to have a 'first dance' or anything because, honestly, I can't dance. But I'll be sure to give room for people who want to ^^

[London-FortCollins]

I want a mixture of traditional and unique at my reception. (Sorry...our. Oh dear, I've already started calling it "mine" - not good!) hehe

I havnt got anything definite yet. I definitly want some fun stuff. Maybe a photobooth. As well as a guestbook I'd love to have a big sheet of paper for "graffiti style" stuff

Me and my SO will talk about it and come up with some fun and wacky ideas.

Traditional wise, definitly want the throwing of the bouquet and the tossing of the garter.

I kinda want to incorpoate traditions from other culures. I've been to a LOT of multicultural weddings and seen some amazing customs. So even if its not our culture I'd like to do them cos they're fun!

We dont drink so there will be minimal alcohol - probably just some champagne or wine on the table for the toasts and then a cash bar. Tad weid for me - in the UK all weddings generally involve LOTS of alcohol!

Foodwise, I agree, buffet makes more sense. I also love the idea of mixing lots of different type of food! Oh and an idea I stole from my friends wedding that I LOVE because its my fav food ever! Around 11pm, they served mini portions of fish and chips in lil paper cones! It was perfect because it was just when everyone was just starting to think "Hmm I'm a bit peckish"

This is the venue I'd like to get married and have the reception in. Its kinda pricey but I'm now head over heels in love with it! https://www.dellaterramountainchatea...ddingrates.php

Great thread - I love sharing ideas!