Reception Blues: Which is wiser: To have my wedding reception, Plated or Buffet style?
96677
Absolutely Buffet,less hassle,less expensive and happy guests :o)\n\nThe only ones who get served are those at the Wedding Party Table.
887233
Everyone will most likely say photographer.  I will agree to a point, but I am actually being more particular on the food and beverages.  I want the food that I am going to be serving my guests to be wonderful.  If i had to rate them in importance to me it would have to be:\n\n1.  food\n2.  photographer\n3.  decorations/location\n\nEverything else I am flexible with...
249967
I helped a friend of mine last year with her wedding.  They rented a small but beautiful space near the lake at the city park and had everything right there, reception was chicken and fixins from a local restaurant, cake from the grocery deli and music was a cd player with their favorite smooth jazz tunes.   It was Labor Day weekend, so the guests were in casual attire and it was beautiful.  Remember, you have to eat the next day, and the day after that and the day after that, the most important thing is to make the marriage work.  So many people waste money to impress people who really don't care, so keep the main thing the main thing, making a beautiful life together!
22088
If you are referring to serving styles at a banquet or other food service event:\n\nFrench Service\nFrench Style is when the food is plattered tableside. The platters are presented to the guests and the guests pass and serve themselves. This requires more space and service can be slow.\n  \nRussian Service\nWaiters serve wedding guests individually from a silver platter. Each course is served to each guest individually.\n  \nAmerican Service.\nCompleting one table at a time, waiters carry the food, which is already plated in the kitchen. \n\nNote, however, that there are some differences in what people consider to be French and Russian service. Some notion that Russian service is derivative of French style service.\n\nIf you are using this to plan a banquet just make sure that the caterer explains what he or she considers each service style to be.
633812
First of all, buy a dress on sale.  Also, get married in a church. The flowers should be simple. Shop around for bargains.  Instead of a large sit down meal, do a cake and punch reception. You can get a cake from Albertson's or Stater Brothers. They will do an excellent job for a low price.  We had musician friends play at the reception and a friend agreed to MC.  Keep it simple, but elegant.
617732
Just invite your closest friends and relatives.It gets overwhelming if you have to many people there.Remember you have to feed all the people that you invite.I just got married two weeks ago and we spent alot on food and the cake and we ended up with food left over.
281776
Your wedding reception is the same day as mine!  I say take the gifts and send them a thank you.  What would be the alternative?  To hand it right back to them and tell them again that you would prefer no presents?  A lot of couples keep the ceremony itself to immediate family only and then invite the rest of the guest to join in the celebration with them.  Gifts are not for the ceremony alone, they are for the unity of the two.  They are for the celebration in general.  Also, many times when the couple expresses the "no gift" preference, it can also be read as "we prefer money."  It's your wedding!  Open a gift or two!  It may even be something the two of you could really use.
33707
I had a small wedding.  It wasn't nearly as expensive as a big wedding (so more money for the honeymoon and other day-to-day living costs).  The small setting was very nice and left me calm without stressing over every little detail; I was actually able to enjoy the wedding.\n\nI had initally started to plan a big wedding but realized very quickly that everyone had their hand out for money.  I realized that it could become very easy to loose focus on WHY I was planning a wedding.\n\nThe small wedding was fun for everyone and didn't eat up the entire day for me, the groom or anyone in the family.
1146084
Because is family and you are doing it together as a couple, give the price per plate plus some.\n\n$ 150 or more is appropriate.\n\nConsidere it an investment, your wedding will come soon too and they will reprocicate in kind.\n\nGood luck
298249
I am not sure if this is the same thing as a "come and go" event, but we have a very large family and often hold what we call "open houses".  I advise a 2-3 hour time frame for the event.  Refreshments can be very simple, especially if you hold the shower during the afternoon hours of 2-5 or 1-4 since this is after lunch and before dinner.  Use small plates, 6 or 8 inch and provide finger foods - fresh veggies with dip, cut-up fresh fruit, small appetizers such as little quiche or little sausages wrapped around crescent roll dough.  Dessert can be sugar cookies made in hearts with the wedding date or bride and groom's names written on them.  Miniature cupcakes would be cute, too.  Provide something that will "unite" all the guests since they won't all be there at the same time.  Maybe provide a recipe card and a 3x5 card in each guest's invitation.  Have them bring a favorite recipe on the recipe card and some "advice" for the happy couple on the 3x5 card.  Have a pretty basket available to put the card in.  As each guest leaves, give them something small as a momento since you won't be able to do much in the way of games.  Perhaps a small votive candle or a little potpourri wrapped in tulle and ribbon that match the colors of the bride's colors.  After the party, as the bride-to-be unwraps each gift, take a digital or poloroid picture of her with the gift and send it in the thank-you card to the giver.  Make sure everyone has a name tag since the guest list is large.  Another option may be to consider a different venue for the party.  A church social hall, a school gym or cafeteria, a park with a gazebo, someone's back yard, may be possibilities to allow all guests to be there at the same time.  Also, if you have anyone nice enough to ask what they can do to help, be sure to accept their offer and see if they can either help set-up or clean-up or perhaps bring a veggie tray or make cookies.  This will help financially and will be less stress for you.
715207
With yellow and white being your colors there is one very logical "theme" for your reception - daisys.  For table centerpieces you could have daisy votive floating candles (floating on water) in a brandy glass (or vase) - they have guest books, pens, champagne flutes, etc. in the daisy theme.  \n\nBest wishes
625626
First of all, figure out something about who you are as a couple that you can use as a theme in your wedding – something you like to do, a place you love to go to, your first date… try to think of ways to bring that theme in, whether it’s setting up karaoke if you love that, or basing everying on Moulin Rouge.  There are other unusal things you can do, too.  One thing I’ve heard of is to have a photo booth brought in to your reception site – it can give you and/or your guests some fun mementoes.  One of my friends named her tables after different spots that held memories for her and her fiancé – at each table was a card with a picture of the place and a short story or explanation on the back.  With the right location, you can set your reception up so that it flows through different rooms – one room for appetizers and cocktails, done up all in blue, then the next room for the main meal, done all in white, then another room for dancing and cake, done all in pink; this can be done with different themes/colors/etc, or all the same theme.  You can set up a little “lounge” area, with couches and comfy chairs for people to hang out.  The website below has some other interesting ideas.  Good luck, and congratulations!
868182
if it's something they can use before the wedding then before. if you are giving a toaster or set of glasses or a 'general' gift then after would probably be best.
911418
Good for you 'old coots' and I hope you enjoy the gift certificate.  You'll actually enjoy it.  Cloth napkins, fancy dishes, it's all good.  Just remember your manner...help your new lady with her chair and her coat...and order your most favorite dish.  A country boy like yourself can probably find a good steak on the menu...you can splurge on desserts...and a bottle of wine if you prefer.  Won't it be fun to dine in and not worry about the check.  Be sure to write a thank you note to the person who gave you the gift certificate and you've got the rest of your life to dine at BK.  Jazz up your clothing for the event (no overalls), help your new bride with the door and be whomever you want to be for the evening.  Just be sure you save some energy for the fun you'll have when you return home.  Enjoy....and good luck.
536646
The first thing you need to do is decide on the date you want to hold the affair and how much money you/your family want to spend. The next is to decide on the type of venue you want: a very small affair at home, in a garden setting, with 50 people; intimate, casual and small affair (80 people or less, let's say); medium sized with about 100-130 people, or large, with 150 people and up.\n\nYou could hire a wedding planner and they will do almost everything for you, but it is an added cost on top of renting the hall (they provide the food, but you pick out what you want), hiring a band or DJ, photographer, etc. There is nothing quite like planning the event yourself though- it is a lot of work, but it is yours.\n\nIf you decide to do it yourself and have decided upon a date, start by looking around at wedding halls to see what types of venues they offer and how much they cost. Sometimes they offer packages that include music and other services: photographer, table flowers, etc., in addition to the catering services but sometimes they don't. Write a list of questions you have so that you are prepared. As a separate note: Your groom will have to tip the people hired for the wedding, including waiters and waitresses, the bartender, DJ, etc. \n\nOnce you've decided what space you want, you need to reserve the space immediately because space books up quickly. I am an event planner (not weddings though, but I know the event business)and I urge you to make sure you reserve the place quickly.\n\nYou can always do a home wedding, especially if cost is a concern, and they can be quite nice. However, remember that if you do someting like this you are responsible for renting tables and chairs for your guests, hiring waiters and clean up staff, hiring a band or DJ, photographer, florist, a caterer, arranging to have someone remove the garbage, especially if you live on your own and are leaving the next day for the honeymoon, and making sure your sinks and toilets are working properly. When I got married the second time 6 years ago, my kitchen sink got clogged from the clean up crew! We couldn't unclog it and the water sat there for 3 weeks while we were away. So, this is something to consider.\n\nAs for the other stuff, like bouquets, etc. First, you need to decide what kind of dress you want to wear (along with headpiece, veil, etc), and how many bridesmaids you want (Match the number of bridesmaids to the number of groomsmen your groom wants). Think about the color theme of the wedding (this applies to your tablecloths and napkins, too, as well as the girls' dresses). The number of bouquets is based on the number of girls in the wedding, as are the number of lapel flowers the men will wear. Don't forget lapel flowers for your father and the groom's father, corsages for the mothers, etc. \n\nDo you want a ring bearer and a flower girl? Color choice and flowers apply to them, too.\n\nBefore I forget: Make sure you buy two pairs of shoes. One pair will be dressy, and perfect for the ceremony, while the other should be flats - perfect for dancing. If you only wear heels I can guarantee you that your feet will kill you after a while. You will be moving around a lot - for pictures, greeting guests, etc..so be prepared. Don't forget to pick out your earrings, and start thinking about your makeup, etc.\n\nYou will have to go for numerous dress fittings (as will the girls), so be prepared to devote a lot of time for this. The guys will have to be fitted for their tuxes that the groom needs to choose.\n\nIn between this, you will buy rings with your partner! That's always fun... and of course, you and your fiance need to decide where you want to go for the honeymoon.\n\nBest wishes!
329428
Is it similar to a wedding ceremony? If so then just go by that. If it is different you could still use one of them. I think that is really nice.
676406
First you need to figure out what your budget is for this.  I don't think you need to go full-out 5 course meal for your guests.  A nice dinner dish with a salad or side dish would be fine.  Whatever you do, I would recommend having at least two choices for people so everyone can find something they like.  I went to a wedding that served a salad, then a grilled chicken breast with veggies.  It was great, without be over-filling.  Remember, they will need to have room to have the cake! :)