Do you know about - Ensuring Picturesque Wedding Reception Halls

Before booking a wedding reception hall, that is in all significant points closely resembles that of your dream venue, you must consider several things.

How is Ensuring Picturesque Wedding Reception Halls

You must be aware that most of the memorable and significant moments in your wedding day will happen during the reception party. Your photographer must capture these things.

Since the background for these moments will be the wedding reception hall of your choice, make sure to consult with your photographer first before booking it up. A picturesque reception venue will help the quality of your memorable wedding moments to be heightened.

However at odds the two priorities in choosing wedding reception halls can be, it is important to find a way to unite them. Get the photographs you want at the setting you appreciate and love.

As per expert photographers, here are several things to consider in achieving your purpose of having a picturesque wedding reception hall:

1. Lighting - when considering a reception venue, put good lighting high on your priority list. Once you have booked for the venue of your dreams, secure a written guarantee that they would cooperate with the photographer with regards to issues of reception lighting during the setting up day.

Most photographers opt for ambient light in order to capture elegantly the memorable moments during the reception.

Most photographers also depend upon natural light in a wedding reception hall in order to capture unplanned or unexpected moments during the reception.

Some also like that a wedding reception hall is flooded with lots of natural light streaming from windows during a late afternoon wedding. For night weddings, though, drama can be captured through lots of candlelights.

2. Personality - some photographers would be most comfortable shooting at wedding events even without good lighting as long as your wedding reception hall has great personality in it.

3. Schedule - photographers are always looking for the natural, unguarded and unplanned moments to capture in a wedding. It makes it doubly sentimental to be photographed in a truly poignant moment, a real moment.

Thus, if you are hiring a wedding coordinator to supervise the program in your reception, then make sure that she or he does not interfere too much with the photographer's purpose.

These are but a few salient points in finding the wedding reception hall you most appreciate and would be the best background for your most important photographed moments.

Charisma Ballroom Catering / Banquet Hall / Reception Queens New York (Kew Gardens Hills) Video Clips. Duration : 1.82 Mins.

Do you know about - Wedding Reception Protocol - Who Says What and When?

A wedding reception can be formal or informal, but you must make sure you do it right -- in other words you should follow the normal wedding reception protocol as that is what people will expect. Note however that the protocol is not as rigid as you might think, and can be regarded more as a set of guidelines. But what is the traditional wedding reception protocol?

How is Wedding Reception Protocol - Who Says What and When?

A formal wedding reception is normally held in the restaurant of a hotel where facilities and staff are on-hand for a full sit-down meal -- sometimes still referred to as the "wedding breakfast". An informal reception with a buffet menu can be a less expensive option.

When the guests arrive at the reception, they should be greeting by a receiving line. This is normally the bride's mother and father, the bridegroom's mother and father, the bride, and finally the groom -- in that order. If there is a large number of guests you might want to simply have the bride and groom welcoming the guests.

Guests are then normally presented with a drink, and when everyone has arrived they can start to look for their name cards in the dining area. The bride and groom should have sorted all this out well in advance, and the only point of protocol here is that at a formal wedding reception there is normally a top table for the principal members of the wedding party.

At some point the cake is normally cut -- this is either at the end or part-way through. The bride holds the knife in her right hand, with the groom's right hand on hers, and then the bride's left hand on top of that. This is a big photo opportunity and the couple will have to stand in that position with a smile on their faces for several minutes! The cake is then whisked away by the restaurant staff to be cut up ready to be given out at the end of the reception as people are leaving. You may want to rescue the top tier to save for the christening of the first-born.

After the cake-cutting comes the highlight of the reception: the speeches.

The first to speak is the bride's father. He will normally say a few words and then propose the main toast: "Health and happiness to the bride and bridegroom" (or something similar).

The bridegroom then responds, thanking the bride's parents and the guests, and he ends by proposing a toast to the health of the bridesmaids.

The best man then speaks, replying for the bridesmaids, reading out the congratulatory cards and telegrams. The best man will also relate some stories about the groom (and bride, if they are friends too).

That is it as far as tradition is concerned but, if they wish, the bride, bride's mother, and the maid of honor (chief bridesmaid) can all make speeches -- but it is best to check with the bride and groom first.

Any and all of the speeches can be serious or humorous, but giving a speech is a high-stress activity for many people. You may want to consider using a pre-written speech. This is worth considering, and there are several web sites offering such material, and you can edit what they give you to make it completely suitable and applicable to your wedding reception. Getting someone else to do the work is not only a great time-saver, but relieves you of the large amount of stress -- and you can have confidence that what they give you will work. Such pre-written speech templates can be bought for next to nothing -- and trust me: paying for them is worth it as they have been created and honed by professionals.

If there is to be dancing, the bride and groom are first on the floor. they are followed by the maid of honor and the best man, and then members of both families.

At some point the bride and groom will slip away to change into "normal" clothes and will then return to say good-bye before heading off on their honeymoon. Just before they leave, the bride throws her bouquet into the air -- and tradition has it that the female to catch it is next in line for marriage. Sometimes the groom will toss the bride's garter to the men, and the one who catches it is then expected to place it on the leg of the girl who caught the bouquet.

The bride and groom then get into a car that has been decorated by other guests and drive off into the sunset for their honeymoon and the rest of their lives together.

Finally, remember that the whole point of the wedding is for the benefit of the bride and groom, and that wedding reception protocol is, after all, just a set of guidelines. It's what the guests will be expecting, so if you plan to deviate from tradition it's probably best to let everyone know in advance so as to avoid disappointment.

Plan it carefully, then relax and enjoy yourselves!

Do you know about - Wedding Reception Protocol - Who Says What and When?

A wedding reception can be formal or informal, but you must make sure you do it right -- in other words you should follow the normal wedding reception protocol as that is what people will expect. Note however that the protocol is not as rigid as you might think, and can be regarded more as a set of guidelines. But what is the traditional wedding reception protocol?

How is Wedding Reception Protocol - Who Says What and When?

A formal wedding reception is normally held in the restaurant of a hotel where facilities and staff are on-hand for a full sit-down meal -- sometimes still referred to as the "wedding breakfast". An informal reception with a buffet menu can be a less expensive option.

When the guests arrive at the reception, they should be greeting by a receiving line. This is normally the bride's mother and father, the bridegroom's mother and father, the bride, and finally the groom -- in that order. If there is a large number of guests you might want to simply have the bride and groom welcoming the guests.

Guests are then normally presented with a drink, and when everyone has arrived they can start to look for their name cards in the dining area. The bride and groom should have sorted all this out well in advance, and the only point of protocol here is that at a formal wedding reception there is normally a top table for the principal members of the wedding party.

At some point the cake is normally cut -- this is either at the end or part-way through. The bride holds the knife in her right hand, with the groom's right hand on hers, and then the bride's left hand on top of that. This is a big photo opportunity and the couple will have to stand in that position with a smile on their faces for several minutes! The cake is then whisked away by the restaurant staff to be cut up ready to be given out at the end of the reception as people are leaving. You may want to rescue the top tier to save for the christening of the first-born.

After the cake-cutting comes the highlight of the reception: the speeches.

The first to speak is the bride's father. He will normally say a few words and then propose the main toast: "Health and happiness to the bride and bridegroom" (or something similar).

The bridegroom then responds, thanking the bride's parents and the guests, and he ends by proposing a toast to the health of the bridesmaids.

The best man then speaks, replying for the bridesmaids, reading out the congratulatory cards and telegrams. The best man will also relate some stories about the groom (and bride, if they are friends too).

That is it as far as tradition is concerned but, if they wish, the bride, bride's mother, and the maid of honor (chief bridesmaid) can all make speeches -- but it is best to check with the bride and groom first.

Any and all of the speeches can be serious or humorous, but giving a speech is a high-stress activity for many people. You may want to consider using a pre-written speech. This is worth considering, and there are several web sites offering such material, and you can edit what they give you to make it completely suitable and applicable to your wedding reception. Getting someone else to do the work is not only a great time-saver, but relieves you of the large amount of stress -- and you can have confidence that what they give you will work. Such pre-written speech templates can be bought for next to nothing -- and trust me: paying for them is worth it as they have been created and honed by professionals.

If there is to be dancing, the bride and groom are first on the floor. they are followed by the maid of honor and the best man, and then members of both families.

At some point the bride and groom will slip away to change into "normal" clothes and will then return to say good-bye before heading off on their honeymoon. Just before they leave, the bride throws her bouquet into the air -- and tradition has it that the female to catch it is next in line for marriage. Sometimes the groom will toss the bride's garter to the men, and the one who catches it is then expected to place it on the leg of the girl who caught the bouquet.

The bride and groom then get into a car that has been decorated by other guests and drive off into the sunset for their honeymoon and the rest of their lives together.

Finally, remember that the whole point of the wedding is for the benefit of the bride and groom, and that wedding reception protocol is, after all, just a set of guidelines. It's what the guests will be expecting, so if you plan to deviate from tradition it's probably best to let everyone know in advance so as to avoid disappointment.

Plan it carefully, then relax and enjoy yourselves!

Do you know about - Wedding Reception - 42 Questions To Ask The Reception Venue Manager

When reviewing wedding reception sites, it helps to come equipped with the questions you need answered before making your decision. Here is what you will need to find out from your reception site manager:

How is Wedding Reception - 42 Questions To Ask The Reception Venue Manager

Costs Involved

First and foremost-you will need to determine the cost of holding your wedding reception at the site. Sounds like a given, right? You will discover that most reception sites break down their costs differently, and what may seem to be less expensive may wind up more costly once all of the figures are totaled. Avoid confusion by requesting an itemized list of fees-or take this one with you-and tally the costs of each fee and service you will most likely use for your event. (Have an idea of your guest count beforehand-this will influence the estimated costs) Then you can compare your lists to accurately determine which site is the most cost effective for your needs.

Already confused? Not to worry-we have compiled a complete list of typical costs and fees charged by wedding reception sites. If the facility does not provide one of these services, such as an onsite caterer, factor in the estimated cost of contracting the service from an outside vendor when tallying your total expenses.

Questions to ask:

o What is the facility rental fee?

o What is the cost-for food? (sites typically offer more than one menu package; determine which menu package you will most likely utilize for your wedding reception-and use that amount in determining your estimate.)

o What is the cost-for beverage? (save time by having an idea of what beverage package you would like to serve, whether a full bar, limited bar or non-alcoholic bar)

o If you can hold your ceremony on site, what is the ceremony fee?

o What is the set-up/break-down fee? (some sites charge per chair, others charge a lump sum)

o What is the staffing fee? (including bartenders, waiters etc.)

o What is the overtime fee?

o Is there a fee for security personnel?

o Is there a fee for parking or valets?

Packages

Just when you think you've got a handle on the costs involved in renting a reception site, a facility offers a complete wedding package. Wedding packages can be both cost-effective and convenient, as long as you take care to inquire about exactly what is and what is not included in the package.

Also remember to inquire about the exact descriptions of the items included in the package. For instance-if you have your heart set on an elaborately adorned 5 tiered fondant cake and the package only offers your basic buttercream-the package may not be for you - no matter what the potential savings.

Ask the site manager:

o What is included in the wedding package? Make sure all the basics are included:

o Facility Rental?

o Food and Beverage?

o Ceremony on site?

o Set up and Break down?

o Staffing?

Other items that may or may not be included:

o Cake? (if so, how many does it serve? Can you customize the design?)

o Flowers? (does the package include all floral, or just buffet arrangements or bouquets? Can you customize the arrangements or do they only come in standard varieties?)

o Linens? (what do they look like? How many?)

o Is purchasing the wedding package a requirement? (Many facilities allow brides the option of purchasing the entire package, purchasing a partial package and eliminating specific items or foregoing the wedding package altogether.)

Services

Determine what essential services the reception site provides and what you must contract from an outside vendor:

o Is there an in-house caterer or a list of preferred caterers? If so, are they the exclusive caterers, or can you provide your own?

o Are there on-site kitchen facilities? (off-site caterers will charge extra if they have to bring their own stoves and refrigerators)

o Does the reception site have a list of recommended vendors? Access to a list of vendors with working relationships and knowledge of the site will prove extremely beneficial during the planning process.

o Can you hold your ceremony on site? If not, are there suitable locations nearby?

o Does the reception site provide staff such as an on-site coordinator, waiters and bartenders?

o Does the reception site provide items such as tables, chairs, plates and glasses? (remember, renting these things yourself can drive up costs)

o Does the reception site provide adequate parking space or valets? What are the costs involved?

o Does the reception site provide on-site security. What are the costs involved?

Amenities

Some important extras that may help you determine the perfect venue for your wedding reception:

o Are there changing rooms for the bridal party?

o Does the facility provide guest accommodations or are their convenient locations nearby?

o Is there a bar area or can one be set up?

o Are there picturesque locations for photo opportunities? Both inside and out?

o Is there a dance floor?

o Are there sufficient restroom facilities?

o Is there, or can you set up, a coat room?

o Is the facility in a desirable location? Consider the view and any potential noise interruptions. Is it easy to get to? Is it close to any nearby attractions? (keep your guests entertained for the entire weekend!)

Terms

Don't forget the conditions of the contract! Make sure it meets your needs.

o What is the length of the facility rental? Is there an overtime fee if your wedding reception lasts longer?

o Do you have use of the entire reception site? If not - what areas can your party use?

o What is the deposit and when is the remainder due?

o What is the cancellation policy?

o Does the site have any music or noise restrictions?

o Are there any decorating restrictions?

o Will there be another party during, before or after yours? If so, how will this affect your event?

Do you know about - Ideas for a Small Wedding Reception in Las Vegas

If you are planning a Las Vegas wedding and only want to have a small wedding reception, there are many options available to you. A lot of Las Vegas wedding chapels and banquet facilities offer small, intimate reception packages that are elegant and affordable.

How is Ideas for a Small Wedding Reception in Las Vegas

Little Chapel of the Flowers is one of many Las Vegas wedding chapels to offer reception packages. The receptions are held in their Desert Falls and Garden area which is an outdoor garden patio that features a waterfall. The Little Chapel of the Flowers reception packages start at just 0 and can include cider, wedding cake, appetizers, coffee, tea, and photography services.

The Grove at Silk Purse Ranch is another great location for a small wedding reception in Las Vegas. This wedding venue offers a wedding ceremony and reception package for 50. The package includes a garden ceremony, pictures, video, flowers, and limo service and a one and a half hour reception in their Garden Bistro restaurant for up to 35 guests. The reception includes a wedding cake, champagne toast, vegetable tray, and table centerpieces. For an additional cost, they can also arrange for appetizers or dinner.

You may also want to consider some of the fabulous restaurants that Las Vegas has to offers as an option for a wedding reception. Upscale Las Vegas hotels like the Wynn Resort, Bellagio, and Paris offer wonderful gourmet restaurants with intimate atmospheres perfect for a small wedding reception.

These are just a few of examples of what Las Vegas has to offer if you desire a small wedding reception. Thoroughly research all your options before settling on a location for your gathering. You will be surprised by the vast amount of venues in Las Vegas that offer wedding receptions. There is something for every taste and every budget!

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When you think about wedding entrance songs, you probably think about the song being played as the bride and groom enter the reception hall to rousing applause. That is only one of many you will need to choose. Here are some others to consider and we will start from the beginning.

Your wedding ceremony entrance songs include the first song of wedding where the parents walk down the isle to their seats. This is the first processional or the parents processional. Next, you will need a song for the bridesmaids to walk. This is the second processional. If you do not have a lot of parents and grand parents walking in, there is no reason why you can't combine the first and second processional as one song. Finally, you will need a third song for the brides processional.

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The wedding reception entrance songs start with the grand entrance. You will want some upbeat wedding party entrance songs, either one for all or one for each couple. Next, you will need a song for the bride and groom to come in to. You may think that that is all for the wedding entrance songs reception music, but you can always play "entrance" type songs for when you bring out the single guys for the garter toss and the single girls to the bouquet toss. You can even play walking over music for the cake cutting.

Notice that we are only talking about one tiny part of your wedding music. There are a lot of elements that your entertainment handles over and above the wedding music. This is why as you set your budget, you should not try to find the best bridal price on your entertainment. You can find the best bridal prices on things that won't have such a big impact on your wedding, like your flowers, wedding accessories, or your cocktail hour veggie platter! The best bridal prices on entertainment are the ones that help you secure a true professional that specializes in weddings.

The wedding reception is the part of that special day where the most time is spent and the most activities take place. There is much tradition attached to wedding receptions. These traditions need to be considered in the planning stage of the wedding. Some traditions can be altered to fit the desires of the couple and the expectations of the guests. The reception hall is going to be the center of all of this activity. It is a good idea to give some thought to the overall design theme of the reception. The design theme will determine the overall look of the reception hall and a carefully planned and executed design theme can add a great deal to the wedding.

It is important to match the design theme to the hall where the reception is to take place. There has to be a match here. It is important to have a complete idea of just how the hall is going to appear at the time of the reception. How many tables will there be? What kind of chairs are being used? How large is the dance area? Where will the head table be located? These are the types of questions that must be answered before a design theme can be planned.

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The key elements to the design theme are centerpieces and flowers. The centerpiece and the table top decorations are the key areas of advancing the theme of the design. One good idea is to consider the season. If a wedding is in spring, a more normal design of bright and colorful flowers would be fine, but a fall wedding might feature a design theme more suited to autumn. A winter wedding can use a winter theme.

One good centerpiece idea is a floating rose display. You can make it easily by starting with any large clear glass container filled with water. Add some pink or red floating candles to the water and sprinkle artificial rose petals into the water and around the table top. The artificial rose petals can be purchased from wedding supply stores or candle shops. They are made of acetate, a silk like material. The sky is the limit for centerpiece design.

The other important element of the reception design is the floral arrangements. It is generally recommended that the actual placement and removal of floral arrangements be left to professional florists. It is not that you will be unable to create the arrangement that best expresses your design scheme, but rather that you are going to be very busy elsewhere on the wedding day itself. Once again, the decorating theme should match the hall. Large and tall arrangements work best in large halls. They fill space and also make a bold statement. Flowers can be part of the centerpiece design, and there are limitless ways to express a design theme with them It is a good idea to place an empty vase with water at each bridesmaid table for her bouquet. This not only preserves them, but they then become part of the table design.

Designing a seating chart for your wedding reception is difficult if you do not have a plan. Likewise, you need a straightforward understanding of tradition and how the rules of decorum impact your choices. It is difficult, but it is also valuable because a wedding meal often lasts for two or more hours. As a result, your wedding will have the greatest likelihood of success and the smallest potential for a disaster if you carefully consider your seating arrangement.

Of course, the seating arrangement of the head table is your first and, quite possibly, your easiest decision. How do you want to seat your groomsmen and bridesmaids? Do you want to pair them? Do you want to have all the bridesmaids on the side of the bride and the groomsmen beside the groom just as they were in the ceremony? Do you want parents and grandparents at the head table?

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Or would you prefer to simply plan a romantic table for two like in a Parisian cafe. It could be just the two of you, or your whole bridal party could be at small tables around you. Or...? Do not hesitate to enjoy planning the seating chart for the head table. A little originality could go a long way toward making your wedding celebration unforgettable.

Designing the seating plan for the rest of your guests is a bit more challenging, but with persistence you can find a practical arrangement. Here are ten tips to assist you in achieving success.

1. Focus on what will make the most people happy. That is the goal after all, isn't it?

2. Place close family and friends closest to the bride and groom. This protects against hurt feelings.

3. When assigning specific seats, be sure to use place cards. This can be done with 'tent' cards or if you choose you can develop the theme of your wedding decor by choosing place card holders.

4. When using round tables couples are traditionally seated next to each other and then seated in the same alternating male, female pattern.

5. When using long tables, couples are customarily seated opposite each other and in an alternating male, female pattern.

6. Avoid tables that are a sole family group. Part of the idea is to get your guests to mingle with the rest of your guests. Though you are attempting to seat your guests in such a way that they are comfortable, you cannot forget the other goal - getting your guests to mingle. You have to find a proper balance.

7. Make sure that everybody is seated with someone they know well enough to be comfortable with.

8. Where feasible cluster your guests (especially those who do not know each other) by interests to encourage interaction. For example, you have a friend from college who will be attending who is an avid skier and your groom has cousins who everyone says lives on the slopes. This might be a good pairing.

9. When similar interests are not known, you could potentially achieve the same thing by designating your reception tables by the names of significant places to you along with a story about why that place is significant in your life. It might spark some conversations and for those in the back it is better than sitting at table number '43'!

10. Do have fun seating singles together, but do not be obvious and avoid at all costs a table just for single people. Such an arrangement is exceptionally uncomfortable for most everyone at the table.

Start work on designing your seating chart immediately after making your guest list up and finding out whether your guests will be seated at long tables or smaller round tables. You can do this simply by buying a bag of poker chips and write each guest's name on a chip. Then you can set up a table with the layout of your wedding reception hall on it so you can lay your seating chart out visually and easily revise it as often as you need to revise it. Another option is to use a spread sheet like Excel to lay out your seating arrangement. You can even find software to help you with the process of planning your wedding reception seating chart.

However you do it, the key is that you take the time to start designing your seating chart now. The benefits will come in a smoother wedding reception celebrating your new marriage.

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Wedding reception is the fun time of the occasion after a wedding. It is a happy event, where the invited guests mingle with each other and meet the bride and the bridegroom. It is the part of a celebration to have dancing, drinking, fun and laughter. So, when planning for a wedding reception, always keep in mind the venue. There are number of places to have a Wedding Reception.

Planning for a wedding reception is a lifetime event. It is important to choose a location that follows the theme and spirit of the wedding itself. Wedding receptions can be held in the same place, where the wedding have taken place or in a fresh location. There are myriad of places to have a wedding reception but choosing a place depends on the type of reception the couple likes to hold.

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The choice of wedding reception venue should be well researched. The first thing to consider while choosing a location is the budget. There are many options to choose from such as romantic restaurants, outdoors, theatres, a cruise or a club. There are also cities which have historical sites that a couple can choose to hold a wedding reception. These historical sites sometimes go well with the theme of the wedding. It can also add an authentic setting and greatly enhances the wedding reception.

There is new trend going on of having wedding receptions at museums. This is really helpful when planning for a larger wedding reception as the place in the museum would fit the occasion. It poses an elegant setting to a wedding reception.

Outdoors are great places to have a wedding reception. Mansion courtyards and public parks are wonderful places to hold an outdoor wedding reception. They have great sceneries and views already with them. These are large open places and can hold large number of guests.

Romantic hotels and restaurants are ideal places to have a wedding reception as they create a wonderful setting with candles, flowers and light music. Music is played live in hotels and the good food and wine would make the guests comfortable and happy. There is also space for dancing and holding activities and games.

When choosing a place to have a wedding reception, always hold in mind the parking area. So pick a location that has a convenient parking lot for the guests. Wedding receptions should be planned well ahead of time if looking for a popular location that is booked often.

The biggest thing in finding a place to have a wedding reception is to have a good time and a memorable evening. So be creative and make your wedding reception a special one.

Whether it's a wedding reception, a fundraising event, or a small networking function, ordering food for your catered function is not always an easy and straightforward task. Let's face it, most of us planning those events are not exactly specialists in Food and Beverage. It can get tricky navigating through the lists of hoers d'oeuvres and appetizer platters, trying to figure out what kind of food to order and how much.

That's where a knowledgeable and trustworthy catering company can come in very handy. You caterer should be able to advise you on the menu choices and suggest the amount of food required. How often have you heard stories about receptions gone wrong? All food is finished in the first half an hour, guests are hungry, and hosts are embarrassed. It can happen to the best of us. To avoid it, answer a few simple questions about your reception before you start planning it.

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1. What is the purpose of the reception?
2. What is the time of the reception?
3. How long is the reception?
4. What are the guests' expectations for food?
5. What is the budget?

If you organize a networking event at your local Chamber of Commerce, the food you might decide to provide is just a snack, something to munch on while people are mingling. Even if the event takes place after hours, no one will be expecting it to substitute their dinner. In this case 4-6 pieces of appetizers per person will be sufficient.

The time of the reception plays a significant role in calculating the amount of food for your function. If you're planning your wedding reception for 7 pm, your guests will be expecting a dinner-like meal. Even if you don't offer a plated or buffet dinner, the amount of food should be planned accordingly. Allow 15-20 pieces of hoers d'oeuvres per person.

There are also budget considerations. To plan a reception in lieu of dinner will probably cost you almost as much as a sit-down dinner. Sophisticated, creative hoers d'oeuvres come with a price. They're time and labor intense to prepare, use high quality ingredients, and require a lot of wait staff to serve them. If you don't have budget for a dinner-like reception, try to avoid hosting it during dinner hours. If that is not an option, make it very clear in your invitations what type of meal will be served (i.e. cocktail reception, wine and cheese reception, light fare reception). It's your wedding reception after all. You can have it any way you want but manage your guests' expectations to avoid misunderstanding and to guarantee that everybody is having a good time.

The length of the reception needs to be taken into account as well. If you're organizing an afternoon reception for 1-2 hours, you would base your food order on 8-10 appetizers per person. If the reception is longer (2-4 hours), you would need to increase the numbers to 10-14 pieces per person.

And lastly, how much coffee to order? This is always confusing. Usually coffee is sold by gallons. One gallon is about 20 cups - not your Starbucks "grande" size, but smaller cups that are normally offered in restaurants. For a 100 people reception, you would order 5-7 gallons of coffee depending on how caffeine-addicted your guests are. It's also recommended to offer some decaffeinated coffee and tea.

Whatever your reception is, food is an important part of your catered event and can make a huge difference. Take into consideration the time and the length of the reception, always stick to your budget. Know your guests and manage their expectations accordingly. And most importantly, find an experienced catering company that will give you solid advice and recommendations.

Wedding reception jokes are among the things that can add color and fun to a wedding reception. Especially if you are the master of ceremonies, delivering good jokes is one thing that you can do to make the guests at ease and to make the celebration fun and exciting even from the start.

Wedding receptions should not be some stiff and boring celebration and set of rituals and wedding speeches. As wedding emcee, you can actually make it fun for both the newlyweds and the guests.

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If you are thinking about cracking some jokes on the wedding reception, there are also important points that you need to take into consideration, as weddings are also sensitive celebrations that you would not want to spoil. Of course, you don't want to spoil the celebration by insulting or putting the groom or the bride in an embarrassing situation. Wedding etiquette should always be observed - in wedding speeches especially when it comes to wedding reception jokes.

If you are tasked to become the wedding MC or master of ceremonies, it is important to consider wedding etiquette always. Keep in mind that weddings are not the place to make lengthy stories. For sure, you don't want to take away the focus from the bride and groom. Make your jokes short and witty. One liners are often best as wedding reception jokes. Jokes about marriage in general can also be a good one.

As wedding reception emcee, successfully cracking a good joke at the start of the celebration allows you to make the guests at ease and break the stiffness of the celebration. If you want a fun and exciting reception, you have to make a good start as well. A good joke will also help you overcome some nerves at the start of your wedding reception hosting task.

Keep in mind that a wedding MC is not just there to introduce and keep the flow of the program. You have to be an entertainer at the same time. In fact, you can have a collection of one liners and wedding jokes at hand to make the celebration a fun one. However, make sure that your jokes and punch lines sounds natural and conversational. Do not just read them off your list. Master it beforehand and make sure it serves the purpose you want it to be.

Delivery is very important as well. You have to practice to deliver the joke if you want to make it effective. Make sure also that your wedding reception jokes are appropriate and suited to the audience. Of course, it helps to have tasteful and funny jokes.

Be sure as well to avoid pulling off a joke that may embarrass, offend, or insult either the groom or the bride and even their families. It may be helpful to know a little bit of the background of the newlyweds so you will know what topics or joke subjects you would not want to bring up during the reception that may put them in an embarrassing situation.

You set the date for your wedding, determined the approximate number of guests, reserved a banquet hall, and started shopping for a catering company. As exciting as it might seem, it can also get quite overwhelming and stressful. It is not easy to navigate through numerous menu options, compare prices and levels of service. Different caterers use different price structures. Some companies prefer packaged prices, others operate on a la carte basis. While looking for a caterer for your wedding reception and reviewing different options, it is important to compare apples to apples. You need to be aware of what is included in the price and what is not. Keep in mind that food cost is just a portion of your bill. Service charges, rental fees, taxes - all these extra charges can significantly increase your bottom line. Do not just look at the listed dinner price in the catering menu, call the catering company, inquire about extra fees, ask for a full quote. Be aware of the following items:

China and cutlery - are they included in the price of the dinner? Glassware (water and wine glasses) - it's not unusual that plates, cutlery, and serving dishes come with the dinner (as they're required to serve the food), but glasses are not included in the price. Table clothes and napkins - unless you are looking at the packaged price, linens and napkins will be extra. Keep in mind that tables come in different sizes - traditional rounds of 8 and Jumbo rounds that accommodate 10 people. Table clothes also come in various sizes - standard and floor length. The bigger the table cloth, the more expensive it is. Ask if your catering company can provide linens and how much it will cost. It might be cheaper to do it yourself, but sometimes it's not worth the hassle as you'll have to deal with a rental company directly. Labor charges (servers, bartenders) can be a big expense. For a buffet dinner you will need approximately 1 server per 25-30 guests.Sit down dinners require more staff and therefore are usually more expensive. Catering company will calculate the total time (including travel, set-up, serving, clean-up, etc). Corkage fee - if you bring your own alcohol, ask you catering company if there's a corkage fee. Set-up and clean-up fees - most likely, if you're getting charged hourly for wait staff, it will include set-up and clean-up. But double check it anyways to avoid any unpleasant surprises. Gratuity can be anywhere from 10% to 20% of your invoice. Most caterers will charge gratuity on food subtotal only. Taxes - there's no way around it, and it can be a big chunk of money. Keep in mind that you pay taxes on total amount (including gratuity)

Banquet Halls

Let's look at the example. You're planning a wedding reception for 150 people. You've chosen dinner buffet ( per person) which includes food, plates and cutlery. You're planning a standard 4 hour reception. Banquet hall is providing tables and chairs. 150 dinner buffet will require about 5-6 servers for a minimum of 6 hours. You also need table clothes. Let's assume that you'll use standard (90") round table clothes ( each) and matching napkins ( each). You probably want to serve wine at the dinner table, so you would have to rent glasses (150 wine glasses and 150 water glasses). Is that it? Not quite - you need to add gratuity (15%) and sales tax (10%) Let's add it all up: Food: per person X 150 people = ,500.00 Servers: per hour X 36 hours =0.00 Table clothes: per item X 19 items = 0.00 Napkins: per item X 150 items = 0.00 Glasses: .5 per item X 300 items = 0.00 Gratuity: 15% X ,500.00 (food subtotal) = 5.00 Subtotal 1 = ,565.00 Tax: 10% X Subtotal 1 = 6.50 Total: Subtotal 1 + Tax = ,221.15

With the rising costs of weddings every year, couples everywhere are trying to find ways to extend their budget while still planning a wedding and reception of their dreams. Many couples are starting to use other themes for their wedding receptions instead of serving a large dinner, or a cake and punch reception only, and the ideas are getting more and more creative. A dessert reception theme is starting to take off. You may have looked into it without knowing where to start or what to serve. Here are some of the most popular ideas for desserts in your dessert only reception. You can choose to implement only one of these ideas, or several for more variety so that everyone can have their favorite.

1. Make a Cookie Table

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Many bakeries, caterers, and even grocery stores can make large platters of assorted cookies at an affordable cost. You can either use the platters they come in, or arrange them yourself on the table using the decorations of your choice to dress up the table. An assortment of chocolate chip, peanut butter, oatmeal raisin, snicker doodles, double chocolate, or a special favorite of yours will be sure to grab your guests attention.

2. Rent a Chocolate Fountain

Chocolate fountains are starting to be used more and more at receptions as they can be very beautiful, smell wonderful, and make a great dessert table! They rent relatively cheaply, and then include your favorites in large bowls around the fountain for guests to dip or have drizzled with chocolate. Some favorites include pretzels, marshmallows, strawberries and other fruits, Oreo cookies, graham crackers, and much more!

3. Ice Cream Sundae Bar

Seriously, who doesn't like an ice cream sundae? This usually works best with a caterer since they have the appliances to keep everything cold throughout your reception, but if you can find a way to do it yourself, more power to you! Start out with vanilla or chocolate ice cream and then have bowls set out of different things for your guests to add to their sundaes. Chocolate sauce, sprinkles, nuts, cherries, whipped cream, chocolate chips, and much more! Definitely a reception your guests will not soon forget!

4. Make a Candy Table

Making a candy table at your wedding reception is another idea growing in popularity. This is mainly because it can be doubly used as wedding favors. Put large bowls of your favorite kinds of candy on the table(be sure you have enough), along with little take home boxes and scoops in the candy for each guest to help themselves to their favorite and take home for later.

5. Wedding Cake

Duh. Seriously, you still want to have your wedding cake, and most everyone is going to want to try it. Have one of your dessert tables at your reception include both wedding cakes, and have someone slice up your cake so that each guest can come by and have a piece of your beautiful wedding cake.

Not everyone will be able to handle a dessert reception with sugar filled snacks only. Be sure to include some sugar free snacks and candy for anyone with diabetes. You will need something for your guests to drink, and the most popular refreshments for a dessert reception is coffee, tea, and of course, milk!

Thinking about A Spanish Wedding Theme for your wedding reception? Here is a delicious menu that can be cooked up in advance and is oh so good!

A Spanish themed wedding menu of savory spinach empanadillas, a tapas table of almonds, olives, and marinated cheese, a hearty main entree of chicken and seafood paella, a mixed green salad with peppered oranges, fresh strawberries, and candied almonds, rustic breads with flavorful infused oils, hand blown pitchers and goblets full of sangria, and Orange Kiss Me Wedding Cake with white divinity icing make for a simply delightful wedding reception.

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It is true! You could cook up most of this menu in advance and save a bundle on the cost of your reception!

Savory Spinach Empanadillas

Savory Spinach Empanadillas are delightful pastry pockets that can be prepared and frozen in advance.

A Tapas Table of Almonds, Olives, and Marinated Cheese

A simple, yet delicious Tapas Table of Almonds, Olives, and Marinated Cheese is a breeze to prepare.

Chicken and Seafood Paella

Chicken and Seafood Paella can be cooked up a month or two before the wedding and frozen in airtight ziplock storage bags. With a few special touches added just before serving, your guests will think you were up cooking all night!

Mixed Green Salad with Peppered Oranges, Fresh Strawberries and Candied Almonds

Mixed Green Salad with Peppered Oranges, Fresh Strawberries and Candied Almonds is a quick fix salad that can be assembled in no time!

Rustic Bakery Breads with Flavorful Infused Oils

If you are not into baking your own breads, then just order the breads from a good bakery and have a friend or family member pick up the bread on the morning of the wedding.

Sangria

Orange Kiss Me Wedding Cake with White Divinity Frosting

A delicious, easy recipe you can easily bake up yourself.

Would you like to learn the secrets and strategies on how to create your own unique dream reception on a shoestring budget? Sign up for Kathi Dameron's next teleseminar for Brides!

Abundant Blessings!

Kathi Dameron

Wedding Reception Teleseminars For Brides

Learn How To Self-Cater or Semi-Cater Your Own Wedding Reception

850-422-3599

© 2006 Kathi Dameron, Kathi Dameron and Associates

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