Image via WikipediaThe reception can be the single biggest expense in your wedding. If you want to save a lot of money on your wedding, then this is the area where you can achieve that.
You need to take the time to focus on researching and planning the reception carefully to avoid unnecessary spending.
The three main elements that can have a huge impact on the cost of the reception is the number of guests, the reception venue and the menu.
Where To Hold The Reception
There are a lot of options available these days where you can hold your reception depending on the type of wedding you're planning, the number of guests and how much work you are willing to do yourself.
Some of the options you might like to consider include:
A function centre
Restaurants
Clubs
Someone's backyard
A local hall
A park or garden
Here is a guide to some of the pros and cons of each of these options:
A Function Centre
The biggest advantage is that they specialise in weddings and their packages usually include everything from the food, the drinks, the staff, the decorations and flowers, the linen, glassware and cutlery etc. The disadvantage is that they are the most expensive option. Most function centers set a minimum number of guests and a set timetable and may charge extra if they allow you to go overtime.
A Restaurant
They can cope with smaller weddings and usually have more options when it comes to the menu. They are ideal for more informal weddings. The downside is that the size of the room is often limited and so the layout of the tables may not be ideal or may be no room for dancing. Parking space may also be a problem as restaurants tend to be in more crowded areas where there is passing traffic.
A Club
Many clubs have different sized function rooms and offer low room hire fees. Clubs also tend to be less formal and more relaxed giving you a lot more choice as to how formal you want your reception to be. They also tend to have large carparks so parking shouldn't be a problem.
If you decide on holding your wedding at a club make sure you check out the quality of the food as sometimes the standards are lower than you'd expect at a function center or restaurant. The menu choices may be limited and while they provide all the crockery and cutlery and service staff, you may have to provide your own table linen and decorations.
Someone's Backyard
This option gives you free reign on what type of reception you want to have. It can also be the cheapest option, saving you a lot of money. The biggest downside is that you will have to do all the work yourself or hire in caterers and staff.
It takes a lot more planning but the end result can give you a reception that is more personal and romantic. The problem may be finding a backyard that is large enough and suitable to hold a reception. Some of the other challenges with a backyard wedding is providing adequate rest room facilities and parking for guests.
A Local Hall
Cost of hiring a hall can be very cheap and economical. They are usually big in size and have good restrooms and some have kitchen facilities. As with the backyard reception, you will need to do a lot of the organizing and work yourself or hire caterers.
Most halls lack the right kind of decor or ambiance for a wedding so you may need to do a lot of decorating to get it looking like a wedding reception.
There is usually adequate car parking but you may be limited to a set amount of time you can hire the hall, especially if it's in a residential area.
A Park Or Public Garden
You have a lot of flexibility with this option however you will need to obtain permission by the local council to hold a function on public property. You will save on decor as you will have the surrounding gardens to provide the backdrop. You will still need to provide all the catering yourself or hire caterers.
The downside is that you can't predict the weather, you will need to provide a backup plan if the weather turns bad. Not all parks have adequate toilet or parking facilities and you may have to put up with outside visitors to the park as it's a public property.
Some Unusual Options
If you would like a more unique wedding reception some other places that I’ve known people booked for their wedding reception is an art gallery, a local museum, hiring a boat and a winery. You are only limited by your imagination when it comes to places to hold your wedding reception. A lot of these options are not only unique but can be very inexpensive and so can save you a lot of money.
The most important thing you need to do is to look at all your options very carefully and then try and be flexible with your decision. You should pick a couple of options and then set out the costs for both choices to see which one will give you the best wedding at the best price. No matter what type of reception you are planning, the key to a good reception is choosing good food, having a pleasant and comfortable setting and providing good service.
Good luck with the wedding planning.
Regards,
The Wedding Fairy
Visit weddingfairyplanner.com
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Best Time To Hold A Wedding
Image via WikipediaOne of the factors that can have a major influence on the cost of your wedding is timing. Timing in relation to:
The Season
The most popular seasons for weddings is spring and summer in cooler climates or spring and autumn in warmer climates.
Winter is the least popular season in northern hemisphere countries because it clashes with the holiday seasons.
Costs can rise considerably during the most popular seasons and around the holiday weekends. So to save money it's best to plan your wedding outside these times.
The Time of The Week
Saturday is still the most popular day of the week for getting married. However, with people's busy schedules and tight budgets, there is a growing trend to host a wedding on less popular days and times.
If you want to save money on your wedding reception, some other popular choices would be:
A Friday wedding - usually held as an evening event so that guests have to take less time off work.
A Sunday wedding - save costs on the amount of time you need to hire the venue, as Sunday functions usually finishes earlier than a Saturday wedding because people have to go to work on the Monday. This may also mean that you could also save money on drink costs if people drink less alcohol.
The Time of Day
The most popular time of day for a wedding is in the mid-afternoon for the wedding ceremony then the early evening for the reception. Here are some cheaper alternatives that will give your wedding a bit of interest and a more personal yet elegant touch:
A Wedding Breakfast
You would be able to save money on the two most expensive aspects of the reception: the food and the alcohol. You could serve a buffet style breakfast and serve sparkling wine for the toasts.
A Morning Brunch
The menu could be a little more conventional than the breakfast menu but still be a little less formal than a dinner menu. You could also serve lighter beverages besides alcohol to keep the costs low.
An Afternoon Tea
Similar to the popular "high tea", you could serve finger food such as dainty sandwiches, hor d'oeurves and cakes with tea and coffee. The only alcohol you'll need is the sparkling wine for the toasts.
A Cocktail Reception
This is an evening affair and tends to last for only 2-3 hours. There are no formal seating arrangements and guests tend to wander around mingling in groups while the food is served on trays.
TIP: If food is just placed on tables and guests are left to help themselves, you risk some people hogging the food tables and not leaving enough food for other guests.
It's important that you make it clear on your wedding invitation, as to what type of reception they can expect.
The biggest advantage of this type of reception is that people can socialize more freely that at a formal reception. The key to a successful cocktail reception is to make sure that the food is good quality.
Good luck with your wedding planning.
Regards,
The Wedding Fairy
Visit weddingfairyplanner.com
The Season
The most popular seasons for weddings is spring and summer in cooler climates or spring and autumn in warmer climates.
Winter is the least popular season in northern hemisphere countries because it clashes with the holiday seasons.
Costs can rise considerably during the most popular seasons and around the holiday weekends. So to save money it's best to plan your wedding outside these times.
The Time of The Week
Saturday is still the most popular day of the week for getting married. However, with people's busy schedules and tight budgets, there is a growing trend to host a wedding on less popular days and times.
If you want to save money on your wedding reception, some other popular choices would be:
A Friday wedding - usually held as an evening event so that guests have to take less time off work.
A Sunday wedding - save costs on the amount of time you need to hire the venue, as Sunday functions usually finishes earlier than a Saturday wedding because people have to go to work on the Monday. This may also mean that you could also save money on drink costs if people drink less alcohol.
The Time of Day
The most popular time of day for a wedding is in the mid-afternoon for the wedding ceremony then the early evening for the reception. Here are some cheaper alternatives that will give your wedding a bit of interest and a more personal yet elegant touch:
A Wedding Breakfast
You would be able to save money on the two most expensive aspects of the reception: the food and the alcohol. You could serve a buffet style breakfast and serve sparkling wine for the toasts.
A Morning Brunch
The menu could be a little more conventional than the breakfast menu but still be a little less formal than a dinner menu. You could also serve lighter beverages besides alcohol to keep the costs low.
An Afternoon Tea
Similar to the popular "high tea", you could serve finger food such as dainty sandwiches, hor d'oeurves and cakes with tea and coffee. The only alcohol you'll need is the sparkling wine for the toasts.
A Cocktail Reception
This is an evening affair and tends to last for only 2-3 hours. There are no formal seating arrangements and guests tend to wander around mingling in groups while the food is served on trays.
TIP: If food is just placed on tables and guests are left to help themselves, you risk some people hogging the food tables and not leaving enough food for other guests.
It's important that you make it clear on your wedding invitation, as to what type of reception they can expect.
The biggest advantage of this type of reception is that people can socialize more freely that at a formal reception. The key to a successful cocktail reception is to make sure that the food is good quality.
Good luck with your wedding planning.
Regards,
The Wedding Fairy
Visit weddingfairyplanner.com
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