WHAT
TYPE OF RECEPTION?
Whether your Wedding is Large
or Small, formal or not, it is customary for the Reception to
follow the Ceremony and Complement your Wedding style.
For example, you might serve a light Luncheon or Brunch after
a Morning Wedding, Cake and Punch or Cocktails and Hors d'oeuvres
following an Afternoon Ceremony. Late Afternoon and Evening
Weddings are often accompanied by Dinner with Dancing or a large
Cocktail Party.
A
Wedding Cake and Champagne and Punch for Toasting are the
only Reception traditions. Since it is most courteous
to offer guests the kind of Reception fare their appetites
will anticipate at your chosen hour of the day, this guideline
can give a clue to trimming costs. Serving only cake
and punch to 300 guests will seem more natural at 3:00
p.m. than at 6:00 p.m.
You
may hold your Reception almost anywhere, from the Church
Fellowship Hall to your own Home or Backyard, to a Private
Club, Hotel, or Restaurant. Adequate kitchen facilities,
sufficient space for the comfort of all your guests, and
accessible parking and transportation are the only limitations.
Ideally,
of course, you'll invite all your guests to both the Ceremony
and the Reception. But it is quite proper to follow
an intimate family Ceremony in the Morning with a large Reception
for your Friends that Evening. After all, the Reception
is a Celebration of your Marriage - a time to have Fun!