The Reception

After the ceremony comes the reception. You may want to hold this in a hotel or restaurant, in a club or even in a marquee in the garden. You may prefer a fully catered option with the venue providing the food & drink or perhaps you want outside catering. Many weddings have a reception, followed by an evening event, possibly at two different venues and with entertainment at one or both of them.

The reception is likely to be the single largest expense in your budget and thus deserves careful consideration. Once you have worked out your catering budget and the number of guests that you want to invite, you can work out the cost per head. You can decide on the type of venue you would like and visit several to get a good look at what they have to offer. Ask to see menus and prices for the various catering packages that may be available and try to choose somewhere within your budget which suits the style of wedding you have in mind. If you choose a hotel and you have guests travelling some distance, you may be able to negotiate a favourable room rate or a block booking of rooms. You should bear in mind that some venues are very popular and you may need to book up to 12-15 months in advance to be sure of getting your chosen place.

If you intend to use caterers, again ask to see menus and try to select dishes, which will suit your guests. Again, you need to book well in advance.

With regard to drink, most receptions start by offering guests champagne or sparkling wine whilst red or white wine is offered with the meal. You should allow half a bottle per person and also provide soft drinks. Whilst it is undoubtedly cheaper to buy your own drinks from supermarkets or wine merchants, many venues will charge you corkage at a rate that makes buying your own uneconomic. At an evening party, guests normally buy their own drinks from the bar – a free bar may land you with an enormous bill.

The final catering item is the cake. You may have a friend or relative to make the cake or you may prefer to have it done professionally. Whilst traditional, multi-tiered, iced fruitcakes are still popular, it is possible to vary the style and content according to taste. You need to order the cake around 6 months in advance and it is likely to cost between £50 and £450.

One other thing to consider is the provision of favours for guests. This has become a popular trend at modern weddings and varies from sugared almonds through to miniature cricket bats or other items that reflect the wedding themes. You may wish to do the favours yourself although there are also companies that will do them for you.

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