How to Plan a Wedding Reception

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How to Plan a Wedding Reception
Planning your wedding reception can take a lot of
effort and it all begins with deciding on the
location of the reception and the type of
reception.
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Setting the date
Set the date for your wedding before you actually
start looking for locations for the
reception. Keep in mind that many sites are
booked a year or even two in advance, so you may
need to fine tune the date decision dependent on
the availability of your desired reception
location, or be ready to change to a different
reception venue.
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Budgeting for the reception
Set down your budget. This is the next big thing,
since planning your wedding reception will bring
forth the biggest expense. When you go to rent
the reception hall, you'll have to give a rounded
figure of approximately how many guests you're
likely to have. 
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Deciding on key elements of a reception
Decide whether you will have an indoor or an
outdoor reception.

• The season is crucial, particularly if you're on
  a tight budget. Planning your wedding reception
  in winter, at the end of January for instance,
  will save money or earn you a discount.

• In some cases, planning your wedding reception
  requires you choose between Saturday and Sunday
  as the most convenient days of the week
  sometimes Sunday is less expensive.

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cake-cutting
beach wedding
Decide on the type of reception you'd like to
have.
cocktail party
Nowadays the two main types of reception are
sit-down meal or cocktail party, but other
variants such as picnics, a simple cake-cutting,
or a beach reception might also appeal.
picnics wedding
sit-down meal
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Sit-down
It's traditional, guests tend to really
appreciate it and it works well for speeches. On
the downside, it can feel stuffy and
over-planned. It can also be the most expensive
option.
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Cocktail reception
It's hip and modern, and it's also enjoyed a lot
by guests. It may cost a lot less than a
sit-down, but it can suffer from feeling a bit
disorganized and hard to gain the attention of
guests for cake cutting and toasts.
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picnics wedding
Great for nature-loving couples, and easy to
arrange catering can be done using your local
favorite sandwich place. Since it's outdoors,
there can be a risk of rain and some people might
find this too informal for a wedding.
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cutting cake
For those leaving the registry office, a simple
affair of cutting a cake in the foyer, or in a
local cafe or even at home might be enough to
finish up the occasion with friends who have
attended it. This tends to be suitable for very
small parties and for people who really didn't
want to have any reception fuss at all. Have tea,
coffee, and few cookies or cupcakes as well.
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Beach or yacht reception
Like a picnic, this is outdoors and risks a
change of weather but it can be a lot of fun and
make for beautiful photos. Again, it may be too
informal for some and sand or water may
definitely get everywhere!
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• Consider whether or not you'll have a receiving
  line.

• Consider whether you'd like to be announced as
  you enter the reception.

• Decide when to have the toast and plan to keep
  them short.

• Decide when dancing will occur.

• Organize the photography of the reception

• Consider whether you wish to have any other
  ceremonial aspects.

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Sorting out the seating
Work out seating. If you're planning a
sit-down dinner, seating can grow to be a bit of
headache so it pays to focus on it early enough.

• The bride and groom can sit at the dais or raised
  platform at whatever goes for being the "front"
  of the room.

• Parents tend to be seated with other, or they can
  have respective family and friends at their
  tables.

• Elderly people shouldn't be seated too near
  anything that makes noise.

• Consider using place cards to help people know
  where they're going to sit.

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Planning the food
Choose the food.
There will always be some people with dietary
restrictions, so be prepared to
provide vegetarian, gluten-free, and other
variants as needed.
Choose where the wedding cake will be placed
during the reception

• Do you want guests to share the cake as part of
  dessert or to take a piece home instead? Perhaps
  both?

• Ensure that the photographer is organized to take
  a photo of you cutting the cake.

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More Ideas For Your Perfect Wedding Reception At
www.parkavenueparties.com