Inexpensive wedding reception ideas

A brunch reception at 11 a.m. of fruit, bread, muffins, mimosas and other breakfast foods

A luncheon reception follows a late morning wedding. You can easily make this food yourself, sandwiches (finger sandwiches are nice), green salad, pasta salad and fruit.

A dessert reception is the most inexpensive wedding reception food. The menu is self -explanatory. Just serve your favorite desserts, could even be made by you. This type of reception would be held from 2 to 5 p.m.

The cocktail party reception is less expensive than dinner and is held from 4 to 7 p.m. Serve hors d’ouvres. (Supermarkets offer hors d’ouvres trays pretty inexpensively. Redo them with your own garnish and make them really pretty.)

Then there's the dinner reception, but you can still save by serving it buffet style with a nice presentation.

Choosing flowers for your wedding

Flowers symbolize the Spring of your new life together. What kind of flowers do you use?

Durability. You don’t want wilted flowers, do you? Consider the weather and temperature conditions. For example, fragile flowers won’t do well in the heat of summer, or will rumple in the strong breeze of a seaside ceremony and reception. Delicate blooms include gardenias, tulips, wild flowers, and lily of the valley.

Your motif. Choose flowers that match the theme and color scheme of your wedding. Give your florist a swatch from the cloth used for the dresses of your entourage, and inform her whether the wedding will be during the day or the night (it affects how formal the bouquets should be). You should also consider the venue itself: is it indoors or outdoors, casual or elegant?

Creativity. Roses and carnations are practically wedding staples. For a unique look, consider mixing them with other blooms, or asking for a particularly unique flower arrangement or bouquet style. Some florists will incorporate crystals, sinamay cloth, ribbons or lace.

Meaning. Some flowers are known to symbolize certain things. For example, tulips mean passion, gardenias mean joy, and orange blossoms mean purity.

Something new, something old

On the day of the wedding, the bride is asked to wear or carry something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue. This tradition is a simple process and a sweet way for the women of the brides’ family, particularly the brides’ mom, to acknowledge the changing status of the bride and to show their love and support.

Usually the “something old” takes the form of some personal items given from mother to daughter, sometimes as accessories that the bride is to wear on the day such as a necklace or earrings.

The “something new” stands for the new family that is about to be formed, and bracelets are a common choice for this.

The “something borrowed” is supposed to come from a happily married women. By lending the bride something to use on her wedding day, they also lend some of their married bliss to carry into their new family.

Last, but not least, is the “something blue”. The color is associated with purity and modesty. While the color is pretty, it doesn’t quite go with all the white. Perfect solution: it is common nowadays to have a blue and white garter.

Where your wedding money goes

Generally, the biggest expense you'll incur is your reception. It normally accounts for about 48% of your total expenses.

The next is the cost of getting your photos and video. A really good, professional photographer is expensive. But they do capture a once in a lifetime event.

Then comes the cost of your gown. Typically, it is usually a dress that you will only wear once, but it comes up to about 10% of the total expense for your wedding.

The flowers and decor takes about 8% of the bill, as does the music and entertainment.

The remainder of the wedding bill (19%) is split between the cost of your wedding rings, transportation, the invitations, the actual ceremony and your bride and groom gifts.

Wedding ceremony programs

A wedding ceremony marks the beginning of a marriage, and a couple’s life together.

From the bride’s march down the aisle to the wedding reception, there are a number of wedding traditions and aspects that make a wedding ceremony special. It is important that the couple ‘include’ their guests and the people around them in the celebration by guiding and informing them of what is happening at any given time. This is made possible by wedding ceremony programs.

A wedding program is a personalized guidebook for the guests in a wedding. It is essentially similar to that of a program at a theater play, and serves the following purposes:

1. A record of the wedding ceremony, providing guests with the order and details of the events that will happen in the ceremony.
2. They help guests understand what is happening, making them feel included.

Wonderful, yet inexpensive wedding

Is there such a thing as a wonderful, yet inexpensive wedding?

Spending your life savings on your big day is crazy. You can have an elegant, beautiful wedding without breaking the bank.

Do your online research and you’ll find suggestions for great weddings that are also relatively cheap weddings.

Cheap weddings doesn’t mean giving up style or sentimentality. It means using your imagination, using your own hands or the help of friends and family.

Planning a cheap wedding is still planning a dream wedding but having cash left over for other things. Consider that you could end up with money to put down on a house, or buy a car or take a fabulous honeymoon.

Bridal Shower Favors

Your marriage is one the most significant events of your life. When you look back in forty or fifty years, you want to remember everything that happened on that special day.

The bridal shower is meant to be a special time for the bride, shared with close friends and family members. Whether it's your daughter, sister, cousin, niece, or best friend that's getting married, you want to make sure that it's a great event that will be remembered for a lifetime.

Bridal shower favors and wedding favors can be large or small, elegant or simple. There are also unique one-of-a-kind items that can't be found anywhere else.

Whatever you end up doing, make sure you have unique party favors that everyone will love!

[By Jon Wuebben]

Hire a videographer?

Only half of brides surveyed before their wedding considered a video of their wedding a needed service.

When the questions was asked after the wedding, 75% of brides consider videography a top service.

Of those brides who decided to pass on a videographer, 63% now somewhat or strongly recommend to hire a professional videographer.

Why is it so important to hire a videographer? Well, those brides surveyed stressed how video captured the emotions of the day, recorded history better than photography, and that they would enjoy showing their children their wedding video over photographs.

Choosing a Florist

Flowers can really enhance your affair. However, finding a florist is not that easy. A good florist will be busy, so book early, well before your wedding.

First, ask the location where you are having the reception at for the florists they recommend.

If that doesn't help, then ask friends and family for suggestions. Call friends whose weddings you've been to and whose florists created beautiful arrangements. Most importantly, ask if they had an easy time planning, and working with that florist.

Once you have gathered a few names, call and get price estimates and make appointments to see their work. Most good florists will not give an estimate over the phone.

When you meet with the florist it is good to bring some fabric from your bridesmaid's gowns, so that the florist can help you with the colors and types of flowers to use.

Reception themes and food

The part of the wedding that takes the most preparation is usually the reception.

First, decide on a wedding theme, as this may help determine the food at your party. For example, if you go for a more traditional Mexican ceremony, you may wish to go with Mexican food at your reception.

On the other hand, you might have chosen a destination wedding, say in Hawaii, in which case a luau or a buffet may be more your type. This can be wonderful since the atmosphere is more relaxed and your guests would also feel more free to mingle at this kind of party than a more formal affair.

Of course, there's also western style. Instead of having someone cook up fancy dishes, why not ask your family and friends to participate in the ultimate American pot-luck?

The important things is for you to have fun as you start your married life together.

An inexpensive Dream Wedding

Every girl wants a dream wedding. Unfortunately, dream weddings are really expensive!

There are ways to have an inexpensive dream wedding. For example:

Start by working on your guest list. The fewer the guests, the smaller the expense. Go for an intimate wedding with your family and closest friends only.

You can make your invitations yourself. There are a lot of computer software that can help you if you aren’t very skilled in the graphic arts.

Nowadays, brides can get married in almost any decent outfit, such as a suit or dress that you can use again.

Your entourage can also provide their own dresses; just give them the theme to follow.

Or rent your gowns. Some shops and online stores carry one time only clothes. Likewise the groom and groomsmen’s suits can rent their tuxedos or wedding suits.

Ask a friend who is skilled in make-up and hair styles to help out.

Ask your friends to bring their cameras and take pictures of your wedding for you.

Keeping it simple and from the heart is what will make it a dream wedding.

A Wedding Planner

Your wedding is a major event, and wedding planning a major undertaking. That's why there are wedding planners!

A wedding planner, and some online helps, can offer you an overview of what needs to be done to prepare for your wedding. And checklists can give you a clearer idea of how to fit things into your timeline. Such a wedding checklist gives you an idea of what to prioritize, in addition to a list of tasks you need to accomplish.

Most wedding planners have a list of great places to check out in your area as far as where to hold the ceremony and the reception. Visit the websites and narrow down the ones that matches your budget and ideal.

Coordination once the Ceremony is over

Your job as the wedding coordinator isn't over just because the wedding ceremony is.

Other things to attend to include:

Ensure toast, first dance, cake- cutting etc. are all orchestrated on time. Coordinate this with banquet staff.

Assist the bride and groom as necessary in getting their meal.

If there is not a cake-cutting ceremony, be sure bride and groom receive a piece of cake, and if they desire, save the top of the cake for them.

Instruct caterer on what to do with leftover food.

Assist the bride and groom as they exit the reception for their honeymoon.

Coordinating the Wedding Day

For the person coordinating the Wedding Day, prepare for a long one. You need to be present a couple of hours prior to start of ceremony to greet and direct vendors as they arrive.

You'll need to assist the bride and bridal party as they get ready, as well as getting the bridal party and families to any pre-wedding photographic sessions on time.

Make sure they are in time for the arrival of the first guests for the ceremony. And you need to watch the time very carefully and monitor guest arrival flow of traffic to determine when to start ceremony. When this time arrives, get bridal party, families and everyone queued up and ready for processional.

Do the final check on boutonnieres, corsages, flower arrangements, ring on ring-bearer's pillow or with best man. Cue the music, start the processional, and monitor to ensure the bride's entrance is flawless.

After the ceremony, you escort the bridal party to a designated place to take photos.

Coordinating the Wedding Rehearsal

A wedding coordinator's role concerning the Wedding Rehearsal includes:

Set the date, time and coordinate all participants for the rehearsal including bridal party, family, officiant, musicians, etc.

Orchestrate processional, recessional in order and to music desired.

Assign ushers, guest book attendant, who will place party favors and by what time on the wedding day, go over job descriptions with each key player, what time they are expected to be there, etc.

Assign bridal party the designated place and time of arrival, etc.

Pre-Rehearsal and Wedding

If you choose not to hire a professional wedding coordinator, you must be preapred to have a friend or relative help orchestrate your wedding day. It is recommended that no member of the wedding party (including bride, groom, bridesmaids, groomsmen, parents or family of the bride or groom) take this on.

Prior to your Rehearsal and Wedding, you will need to:

Create and finalize master time line of all major wedding events and places: from rehearsal, ceremony, to cake cutting, first dance, toasting, arrival of vendors, etc.

Send master timeline to all vendors, within two weeks of your event: Be prepared to re-do and re-send as many times as necessary until everyone is in sync.

Make sure any and all specially requested touches or family traditions are integrated as requested by the bride throughout the pre-wedding process and wedding day.

Order of Events in the Recessional

1. Bride and Groom exit

2. Flower Girl & Ring Bearer exit

3. Maid of Honor & Best Man exit

4. Bridesmaids (each accompanied by an usher) exit

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Alternative Exits for the Bride and Groom

Leaving your wedding in a shower of rice is the traditional grand exit. However, many brides are creating other options. Alternatives to throwing rice include:

Toss birdseed.Pros: It’s organic and if the birds eat the free meal, no one has to clean up.

Toss colored confetti or paper streamers. Pretty and relatively cheap.

Blow bubbles. Gives an affect of childlike innocence and fun.

Release butterflies or doves. Very dramatic.

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Order of Events for a Wedding Reception

First Hour:
Cocktail hour (waiters serve guests champagne and hors d’oeuvres)
Formal photograph’s taken (of Bride and Groom, family and wedding party)

Second Hour:
Announcement of wedding party
Traditional order: groom's parents, bride's parents, flower girl and ring bearer, bridesmaids escorted by ushers, maid of honor escorted by best man, Bride and Groom.
Bride and Groom's first dance
Champagne toast (marks the end of cocktail hour and cash bar begins)
Dinner served

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About Your Wedding Reception

At the bride and groom's table, where does the bride sit?
The bride is seated on the groom's right.

Who reads the congratulatory telegrams aloud?
The best man reads any congratulatory telegrams.

Is the groom obligated to dance with someone besides his bride?
Yes, he is obligated to dance with his mother, mother-in-law, and the maid of honor.

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Tips For Making a Wedding Toast

Think about what you are going to say. Many brides have said they regretted the impromptu speeches of their loved ones because they didn’t say anything meaningful.

Use a microphone if necessary. There is nothing worse than loosing the audience’s attention because they can’t hear what you have to say.

Be brief. Limit your speech to 3 or 4 minutes.

Don’t isolate parts of your audience. If only 15 out of 100 people understand the inside joke, then don’t tell it. Likewise, if you a mention a person that many people don’t know, use a label to clarify their relationship to you such as, "Maria, my cousin".

Back characteristics up by using an example. For instance, "This couple is so adventurous. Did you know that on their first date they went bungee jumping?" This keeps the audience’s interest, but also makes the speech more memorable.

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The Wedding Toast

Asuggested order for toasting during the Rehearsal Dinner is:

The best man toasts the bride

The bride toasts the groom

The groom toasts the bride's mother

The bride's father toasts the groom's parents.

Tips About Giving The Toast:

Keep the toast 3-5 minutes long and maintain eye contact with the bride and groom as you deliver it.

Stand and deliver! Sit down if it's for you. If you're giving the toast, you should stand up.

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Best Man’s Speech

Deciding whether to crack everyone up or keep it safe and serious is one of the dilemmas many Best Men face when it comes to the “Best Man’s Speech”. Since developing a speech can be a challenging responsibility, we include some examples of speeches that are sure to make the moment memorable and even touching.

Here are some basic tips to keep in mind:

Identify yourself and your relationship with the bride and groom (not everyone will know who you are).

Speak slowly, clearly and loud enough for everyone to hear.

Thank the parents of the bride and groom if they paid for the event. If the bride and groom are footing the bill themselves, thank them for inviting everyone to share the big day.

Tell a story or use an inspirational quote.

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How NOT to Faint at the Altar

Many brides and some grooms fear that they will faint once they are at the altar. Here are a few tips to keep in mind, just in case you feel you are going to "keel" over!

The day of the wedding, avoid eating heavy meals but rather try eating lightly throughout the day. Do make sure you eat though.

Eat chicken or fish, cold salads, cheese and crackers, toast, scrambled eggs, bagels, and lightly seasoned pasta dishes (avoiding spicy tomato sauces and try for pasta in light olive oil

Avoid gas-producing foods such as beans, cauliflower and broccoli.

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San Diego Wedding Tips, hosted by Brookside

Brookside Farm, just east of San Diego on the 94, offers you a lovely, park-like setting for your San Diego wedding, reception or event, comfortably handling up to 150 guests.

Our open air San Diego wedding and reception location is available April through October and offers a series of romantic, shaded terraces towered over by billowing oaks and a formidable natural rock formation. So you can host your reception outdoors on tiered terraces under an enormous native Californian oak tree, and dance surrounded by twinkling lights! —Whatever your wedding or reception theme, Brookside provides a private, exclusive and magical setting that will create memories you will cherish for years to come.

We have a well qualified staff who will be more than happy to recommend experienced professionals who will assist you with all the coordination details of your big day to make your dream of a perfect wedding and reception come true.