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| Reception
Information |
There are a variety of post-ceremony celebration
options available to the newlyweds. The most
popular choice is a lunch or dinner reception,
the sites for which are virtually unlimited.
It is important to keep in mind that this
is your day...plan the reception to satisfy
your own style.
Since cost is always a consideration, investigation
of the reception packages available in your
immediate area is in order. The charges for
an all inclusive sit-down dinner reception
at a suitable restaurant or hotel, or privately
catered at a location which does not offer
food services, can range from approximately
$15 per person to $100 per person, including
tax, tips and liquor. The package price will
vary, depending on such factors as day of
the week, time of the year, style of the party
and the menu selection.
If you are planning a large reception, it
is important that you start the planning process
early, since there are a limited number of
sites that can accommodate such a gathering.
Investigate the available locations and arrange
appointments to explore all of the sites that
appear intriguing. Make your reservations
well in advance of your wedding date. If you
plan to be married during the wedding high
season, it is suggested that you book your
location as early as one year in advance of
the intended date of the celebration.
A private catering service can provide reception
services at a variety of locations, including
vineyards, boats, golf courses, hotels or
at your home. You can either locate a reception
site which does not provide catering services,
and then employ an off-site catering service,
or you can first choose an off-site caterer
and then seek the caterer’s recommendation
with regard to a suitable site.
As with the other wedding related services,
do not allow for any surprises on the day
of the event. Make sure that the terms of
the package purchased by you are set out in
a writing which clearly sets out the menu,
the maximum seating, the room decorations,
any catered services, number of waiters and
bartenders, entertainment, quality of silverware
and chinaware, dance facilities, parking,
after event janitorial services, etc.
The events and procedures at the reception
are matters of your preference and choice.
There are no hard and fast rules. Usually,
following the ceremony a receiving line is
set up at the reception site, at which time
the bride and groom are allowed an opportunity
to meet and speak with their wedding guests.
The newlyweds are commonly joined in the reception
line by their parents, the best man and maid
of honor, and any special guests who attended
the proceedings. Either before or after the
wedding guests are received, the bride and
groom should retire to an adjoining room,
together with the wedding party, family members
and special guests, for the formal wedding
portraits. Plan on 15 minutes to an hour for
the formal portraits and approximately 20
to 30 minutes for the reception line introductions.
Typical proceedings thereafter include,
in order:
- Introduction of the new couple by the
entertainer or best man;
- Informal visits by the bride and groom
to the guests’ tables, if they are seated,
or intermingling with the guests, if they
are not;
- Service of the buffet or sit down lunch
or dinner: If a sit down, the bridal party’s
table is situated where it can best be
viewed by the guests with the bridal couple
in the middle, maid of honor to the groom’s
left, best man to the bride’s right, and
the other attendants alternating man/woman
as space permits. Tapping of a crystal
glass announces that the bride and groom
should kiss; If a buffet, the food line
should start with the bride, followed
by the groom, the maid of honor, best
man, attendants, parents and guests.
- Toast by the best man shortly before
the wedding party is served [or before
the cake cutting];
- Reply by the groom and bride, if they
so choose;
- Any other toasts by persons present;
- Service of the meal [background music
during meal];
- First dance by bride and groom alone
followed by dance of bride with groom’s
father and groom with bride’s mother,
later joined by wedding party, later joined
by guests.
- Cake cutting;
- More dancing if time allows;
- Bouquet toss followed by garter toss.
- More dancing if time allows; and
- Departure of the bride and groom under
hail of rose petals or birdseed [rice
should not be used].
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