wedding reception

August 24, 2010

Wedding Reception Logistics: Creating A Workable Schedule

Wedding Day scheduling considerations are arguably more crucial for the earlier part of the day which comprises the ceremony and wedding pictures, so it’s easy to underestimate the importance of time management with respect to the .

The two most important issues in determining a workable and flowing Reception plan are: (a) Is there a Receiving Line? (b) The timing of the Speeches.

Without a Receiving Line, its all good.  Now, some couples have their Receiving Line immediately after the Ceremony (ie) inside the Church.  Here, the amount of time allocated for the pictures, including, Family, Wedding Party and Couple Shots could be adversely affected if the Receiving Line takes too much time.  Then, depending on how much time there is, the Newlywed’s pictures may be rushed in order for them to make it to the Reception on schedule - and these are the last pictures you want to hurry through.

Back to the Reception.  It of starts at about 5:30.  Guests begin filtering in.  Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres are consumed.  Dinner is usually served at 7pm.

Let’s assume you begin the Receiving Line at 5:30.  When will it go until?  Depends on the number of people.  Most will have about 150 guests.  If you and/or your guests are talkative you might be looking at 7:00.  On average, if you estimate 30 seconds per guest, then it will take 75 minutes.  If there are 250 guests or more, there may be issues (ie) Dinner starts later, which could threaten the quality of the food.

For the wedding photography, it’s basically irrelevant whether there is a Receiving Line or not, or how how much time it takes.  Anything and everthing will be photographed.  What is undeniable, though, is that the Receiving Line can be tiring for the Newlyweds - who have recently had their ceremony, and who, in most cases, have just arrived at the Hall from doing their pictures.  After all that, they are expected to stand and receive people for a long time, with permanent smiles throughout.  At the end, most Couples are toast.  At least dinner is usually not far off at this point.

For many cultures, the Receiving Line is a must. No doubt, for these folks, because it is simply a normal part of the day, having a Receiving Line may even be enjoyable.  However, if you can, you may be partial to giving it a pass.

What do you reap by avoiding the Receiving Line?  (1) The Couple can take a load off for a short time, maybe 15 minutes, once they arrive at the Reception Hall.  After freshening up they can actually be a part of the Cocktail hour - instead of having to spend the entire time standing in one spot; (2) Participating in the Cocktail hour with their guests will allow them to connect in a more meaningful way than in the Receiving Line (ie) more creative wedding photos; (3) In absence of the Receiving Line, the Newlyweds can also connect with their guests at their tables between dinner courses.

The other part of the Reception which can impact the timetable concerns the Speeches.  How many and how long?  Invariably, most say there won’t be many and they will be short.  While that is sometimes the case, once the Wedding Day happens there are frequently more Speeches than originally anticipated, and you can usually expect one Speech that is surprisingly long.  Remember too that once Speeches happen, there has already been a good amount of liquor consumption.

So, when is the best time to have the Speeches?  Well, a sit-down dinner that usually takes about 2 hours.  Speeches usually take anywhere from 30-60 minutes.  Therefore, if you are planning on having the Speeches after dessert everyone will be sitting on their butts for up to 3 hours - at least.  That serves to deaden the party before it has even begun.  Having the Speeches spaced out throughout dinner works very nicely, concluding with the happy couple speaking as dessert is served.  That way, at the end of their speech, the party is on.

If Speeches begin after dinner the guests may become impatient and head to the bathroom or outside for fresh air or cigarettes - which can be disruptive and even disheartening.  Also, most Couples have their First Dance at the conclusion of the Speeches.  If the Speeches take place during dinner then as the guests are finishing dessert the Newlyweds can say a few, or a lot of, words and then head straight to the dance floor and have their First Dance.  In this case, most of the guests are still at their tables.  On the other hand, if the Speeches are done after dinner then by the time they finish and it’s time for the First Dance, you’re probably looking at a half-full room on your hands.

By the way, some Couples decide to have their First Dance when they enter the room at the beginning of dinner.  In this case, they have a captive audience and all eyes are on them.  One possible disadvantage is if the space is naturally well-lit it is usually still light at about 7pm and that may not be as dramatic as evening lighting.

Now, by Reception time the Bride and Groom have been up since early morning.  A boatload of energy has been spent.  So, creating a Reception Schedule that flows nicely and isn’t burdensome can contribute enormously to realizing a memorable wedding day.

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June 30, 2010

The Wedding Reception Is Very Important

There seem to be a lot of couples out there that are more concerned by the main wedding event than the reception and whether or not it will be in a church and what the weather is going to be like. So many couples forget that the majority of the day is actually spent inside the and not the location in which you get married.

 

Some people really do completely forget about the location of the itself and this is because they just do not deem it to be important. You have to make sure that you are choosing the right place for the too or you are just going to have the whole day in ruins. Here are some of the key locations that people seem to enjoy.

 

Barns

That’s right an old converted barn is often the way forward for many couples on their wedding day and this is because you can actually have the wedding in the barn and then have it turned into a reception area and whatever you like. There are many, many things that can be done with a location like this one, hence why people choose it.

 

Gardens

A garden, usually the couples own, is not often cheap but is a good alternative to going to somewhere like a barn and this is because people feel like they can have a much better time when they are in somewhere they recognise. Although the day is not simply about getting drunk if you do have one too many at least you do not have to worry about getting home.

 

So there are just a couple of ideas for you to look out for, make sure you have the right that wedding photographer so they capture the moments you want in the right way. Don’t worry if you haven’t got that wedding photography Hampshire you wanted but make sure you get someone that can take decent wedding photographs.

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June 23, 2010

THREE Musts For A Perfect Wedding

First of all,the time of year that you’re getting married will partly determine what sort of places are available. In summer,you’ll find it is very hard to book wedding venues Sydney,because marriges in summer become more and more popular.Your wedding day is the most special day of your life, and so you’ll want everything to be perfect. It’s essential that you don’t choose a wedding venue, or your menu or accommodation on cost alone. When you look back your wedding beyond the years,fond memories is more important and worth than saving little bit of money.
Next,you will want to determine the guest list for your wedding early on in the planning process, and then assume that most will also attend the . When you have decided the scale of your wedding,then you can set out to select the wedding venue of the reception.Your choice of wedding reception venue largely depends on your budget and personal tastes. If your wedding scale is not so big,then you can consider to hold your reception at home? There are many companies that now offer catering and drinks facilities in your own home, at a fraction of hotel prices. So this can be a hassle-free and affordable way of having the that you want in the comfort of your own home.
Last but not the least,you might want to choose a place with a special meaning for you both. Perhaps it is the specific town you grew up,or the very place you two met,or first went away.With no adoult,you will choose your own menu by yourself. Perhaps you’ve already got some ideas of what food you want served for your wedding breakfast, or at your reception buffet.For a larger wedding reception, it is well worth asking, as part of your invitation, if anyone has any food allergies, this way you can make sure that there are no nasty surprises on the day!

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