| To some couples, the finest wines and the choicest delicacies
are worth splashing out on, for others, food is secondary
to entertainment, bridal attire and flowers. The choice
is yours but, as a general guide, an average 40% of the
entire wedding budget is spent on the reception. You will
find more detailed advice and a breakdown of costs in our
article, Budgeting
For Your Wedding.
Once you have established a budget, it is time to decide
on a venue. Many civil ceremony venues also have room for
your reception, but if you are marrying in a church, register
office or venue that cannot accommodate your reception then
you might choose a hotel, stately home, hall or pub for
your celebrations. If you want to hold your reception at
a private house then be sure you have plenty of space to
comfortably accommodate all of your guests.
If
you have a strong theme for your reception then incorporate
a menu to match. For example, a Mediaeval banquet with wild
meats, bread and cheese, pints of ale and plenty of garden
vegetables would go down a treat. You could be proud of
traditional English food and serve bangers and mash followed
by Bakewell tart or traditional roast beef and Yorkshire
pudding followed by spotted dick or jelly and ice cream!
For a wedding with a blue or green colour scheme, try a
seafood theme for your reception food. A salmon salad starter
followed by a tuna steak main course will provide some variety
of texture, your dessert could be served in shell-shaped
brandy baskets and your wedding cake be decorated to match.
If you and your groom have differing tastes then why not
serve his favourite dessert to your male guests and yours
to the girls? Or, why not break with tradition and offer
an English garden reception? Instead of hiring a marquee,
provide your guests with a picnic hamper packed with goodies,
a bottle of wine or soft drinks per couple and a rug. This
is a very romantic way for guests to mingle with each other
and add to the informal atmosphere of your celebrations.
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