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Dream reception 1247 views
Everyone dreams of hosting the reception of a lifetime. Louise Hartnett provides some pointers on making yours the best it can be.
Starting off
Like everything wedding-related, organising a reception demands a combination of time and money.
If you're on a budget, this is not the time to blow it, because, unlike one-off extravagances such as a designer dress, the reception is a multi-faceted affair whose costs can all too easily escalate out of control. If you have set your heart on a particular feature, such as a chocolate fountain or an elaborate ice sculpture, it's a good idea to compensate by economising in another area.
Themes
Talk of wedding receptions invariably includes the question "What's your theme?" Even if there isn't a topical theme, there's usually a colour-related one, with couples striving to match their napkins to their centrepieces and their flowers to their curtains. If you are indifferent to this level of co-ordination, rest assured that it is possible to have an exquisite wedding without worrying about such matters, and that it is a rare wedding guest who goes home grumbling "I had a terrible time because the tablecloth didn't match the chair covers."
That said, it can be fun to let your imagination run wild with a colour-related or topical theme. Let's take a Japanese-inspired wedding as an example. A red-and-black colour scheme, bonsai trees as centrepieces, and sushi or noodles on the menu are just a few of the ideas that could get your creative juices flowing. Add to that Japanese flute music and a tied-in favour idea - ornate chopsticks, for example - and you could be on your way to a unique occasion.
Favours
The subject of favours can be an emotive one. Many's the bride who has lovingly slaved over hand-made objets d'art, only for tipsy wedding guests to overlook them, or not realise that they were supposed to take them home.
If you're worried that you might be offended in this way, you could skip the favour idea altogether and spend more on food or drink. Alternatively, plump for edible favours, which rarely get left behind. Almonds and dragees are traditional, and can be packaged in all sorts of ways. The Very Nice Company stocks these and other favour ideas, while the 'Weddings' section of Martha Stewart's website has some excellent suggestions for home-crafted favours that look simple and elegant while not costing the earth. The 'bird's nest favours' and the 'cherry favours' are especially pretty.
Table plans
If you are having allocated seating at your wedding, a well thought-out table plan is essential to the smooth running of the day. Talk through all the possible combinations of guests to minimise the chance of personality clashes at any table.
Some guests are fantastic socially, and will bring out the best in whoever they are with, while others will be mortally offended if they are not sitting next to their best friend. Take all this into account, but don't worry yourself overly - some people can find cause for complaint no matter how hard you've tried to accommodate them.
Communicate!
Once you've decided where everyone's sitting, consider how you will communicate this information on the day. This can be as simple as typed-up lists on A4 paper pinned up on a notice board, or as elaborate as a framed calligraphic masterpiece which can be kept as a memento of the day. If you're feeling creative, make your own; if not, enlist an expert. Mandalay Bride and The Table Planner have some striking choices.
Another way of directing guests to the right table is using seating cards. Usually arranged alphabetically on a table near the reception entrance, these small cards - whether 'tented' like place cards or presented in little envelopes - display guests' names along with their table numbers.
Entertain
Entertainment is usually a priority to anyone planning a reception, and a good DJ is likely to feature on most people's wish list. A personal recommendation counts for a lot, but even without this, it's easier than ever before to find exactly what you're looking for in your area. Try www.mobiledj.co.uk.
Tribute bands are another popular choice. The Gordon Poole Agency has a good selection to choose from. If you're after something non-musical, a caricaturist can be a humorous and unexpected choice that gives guests a bespoke (albeit irreverent) memento to take away with them. Try entertainment agency Alive Network to book one.
There's no telling what will appeal to guests on the day - sometimes they're just more interested in catching up with friends than in admiring the stunning food, the decor of the room or the impressive entertainment you've laid on. If you've done your best to make the occasion go with a bang, all you can do is relax and let things take their course. It's your day, so make sure you have a ball.
Louise Hartnett is a freelance journalist. Stephanie Brockman is a California-based photographer
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