Patio Victoria

Cristina's Tips in Planning a Wedding

RECEPTION PLANNING TIPS

RESERVING THE RECEPTION
As soon as the wedding date and budget are set, start searching for a
reception location. Keep in mind that prime dates and locations can book up
to a year or more in advance. You will also need to determine the number of
guests and the type of reception you want before reserving a site.

Ask friends and family members for referrals to reception sites. Also, ask
other wedding professionals for their recommendations. Use the wedding
vendors referrals form to keep track of and follow up with referrals.

Select and reserve your reception site as soon as possible. Use the
selecting a reception site form to help ensure the best decision.
If you are having an outdoor reception, make arrangements for an alternate
location in the events of bad weather.

Once you have selected a reception site, get everything in writing and sign
a contract! Pay the smallest deposit you can and pay with a credit card. Use
the reception site worksheet as a letter of agreement. This worksheet
describes the products and services your reception site provides.

THE RECEPTION
Ask if a reception is booked before or after yours. This will let you know
how much time you have for setting up, decorating, and cleaning up
afterward.

Inquire about restrictions regarding music, dancing, candles, decorations,
alcoholic beverages, and tossing of rice, birdseed, flower petals or
bubbles.If your reception site does not provide a coordinator, delegate this
responsibility to someone. They need to oversee the event details, greet
your guests as they arrive, and make sure the reception is running smoothly.
Consider placing disposable wedding cameras on each table; lets your guests
capture the candid moments your photographer might miss. Have someone pick up the cameras after the reception. Be sure to include the cost of
developing the film in your budget.

Go over the reception announcements form with the Master of Ceremonies one month before the wedding. Give your emcee a copy of this form, which lists the events to announce and the time to do so.THE CATERER/MENU
Interview a variety of caterers. Ask to view their portfolios and sample the
food. If you are having the reception at a hotel, restaurant, or private
club, you may be required to use their caterer.

Find out what services the caterer provides. Some only do food preparation
and serving. Others may provide the wedding cake, rental equipment,
bartending services, floral decorations, clean up, etc.

Ask the reception site manager if they will allow you to bring in your own
caterer and if your caterer can use the kitchen facilities.

You should serve a meal appropriate to the time you are holding your
reception. Work with your caterer or banquet manager to select an
appropriate menu.

Breakfast: before 11:00AM
Brunch/Luncheon: 11:00AM - 1:00PM
Hors d' Oeuvres or Cake and Punch: 1:00PM - 4:00PM
Dinner: 4:00PM - 7:00PM
Hors d' Oeuvres or Cake and Punch: 7:00Pm onwards

If you are serving buffet-style, make sure they set the plates at the
beginning of the table and silverware and napkins at the end.Most caterers charge on a per-person basis. Be sure to figure in the beverages, tax, tip, and any added charges to determine the total per-person catering price.
A no-host or "cash" bar means your guests pay their own drinks. If you have
an open bar, the person hosting the reception pays for the drinks. If an
open bar is not in your budget, serve just champagne, wine and soft drinks.
Usually one week before the reception, the caterer will ask you to guarantee
a certain number of guests and you will be billed for them. Ask your caterer
about their policies.

SEATING ARRANGEMENTS
Traditionally, for a sit-down meal, the wedding party sits at a head table.
The table can be any shape and is sometimes elevated so everyone can see the wedding party. The bride and groom sit in the center; the groom is on the bride's left, with the maid of honor next to him. The best man sits on the
bride's right. The rest of the ushers and bridesmaids are alternately seated
on either side.

The parents of the bride and groom, the wedding officiate, and grandparents
are usually seated at a table located near the head table. You may want one
table for the bride's family and one for the groom's family.

THE RECEIVING LINE
The receiving line is the first element of the reception, unless you had one
after the ceremony. In deciding the line-up for the receiving line. There
is no "right" way to do it. The line can be formed as follows;

The mother of the bride with the father of the bride, followed by the groom's mother and father, and then the bride and the groom.

The bride's mother with the groom's father, the bride and the groom, and the
groom's mother.The bride's mother with the groom's father, the bride and the groom, the groom's mother, the maid of honor, and the bridesmaids.
The bride's mother with the groom's father, the groom's mother with the
bride's father, the bride and the groom and the maid of honor.

The bride' mother first, the groom's mother and father, the bride and the
groom, and the maid of honor with the best man.

Divorced parents should not stand together in the receiving line.
Traditionally, the bride's father sponsors the reception and is the host of
the occasion. He does not stand in the receiving line, but mingles with the
guests and makes everything is running smoothly.

If more guests are invited to the ceremony than to the reception, consider
having the receiving line immediately after the ceremony, outside the
entrance.

Arrange to have the receiving line is the location that does not requires
guests to crowd into a small space. Traffic should flow easily from the end
of the receiving line into the reception.

When you are in the receiving line, welcome and thank each guest for coming to your wedding, then introduce them to the person standing next to you.

Keep your conversations brief; remember, your guest is waiting for you. Be
sure to offer refreshments to those waiting.

THE GIFT TABLE
The gift attendants are in charge of your gifts at the reception. Ask them
to make sure cards are securely attached to the gifts. They should have
scotch tape with them in case them in case of any loose cards. When the
gift is a card, they should make it "card only". Have someone take the
gifts or to pay your hotel after the reception.

GUEST MEMENTOS/PARTY FAVORS
It is a tradition to give your guests a small item as a memento
of your wedding. Popular party favors includes: candy coated almonds in
netting tied with colored ribbon, personalized matches, personalized
napkins, personalized box of mints, personalized box of toothpicks, truffles
and chocolate roses.

TOAST TO THE NEWLY WEDS
The best man traditionally gives the wedding toast just before the meal is
served. The guests should be seated and severed something to toast with.

THE FIRST DANCE
The bride and the groom's first dance takes place after the meal is served.
Before the first song ends, The Master of Ceremonies should instruct the
rest of the wedding party to join in their respective partners. Sometime
during the celebration, the bride dances with her father while the groom
dances with his mother. The bride and groom should also dance with their
now in-laws and their honor attendant.

TOSSING THE BOUQUET AND GARTER
These events usually happen toward the en of the reception, or after the
cake-cutting ceremony.

The Master of Ceremonies asks eligible ladies to gather together for the
bouquet toss. The bride turns her back to the crowd and tosses the bouquet
over the head. It is said that the person catching the bouquet will be the
next to marry. Consider having two bouquets. Use a smaller, less expensive
one specifically made for tossing so that the wedding bouquet can be
preserved.The master of ceremonies then asks all eligible men to gather for the garter toss. The groom should bring a chair out for the bride to sit on.
He removes the garter from the bride's leg, turns his back to the crowd and
tosses the garter. It is said that the man who catches the garter will be
the next to marry.

THE NEWLYWEDS' GRAND EXIT
Traditionally, the bride and the groom leave after the bouquet and the
garter toss. Today, however, it is acceptable for you to stay and dance and
mingle with your guests. If you are leaving early, you may want to change
into- going-away outfit.

TOSSING RICE
Traditionally, rice is tossed over the bride and groom after they leave the
ceremony or the reception. Other popular items to use include birdseed,
flower petals, confetti, or blowing bubbles. Check with your site directors
about any restrictions. Have someone hand these out to your guests as you
are changing into your going-away outfit.