reception or no reception?

minndev

I'm getting married in December. Budget wedding, strictly immediate family only (still 30 guests). I'm not sure what to do as far as a reception. Can we skip it and go to a local restaurant as a group? please help

jemmini6

A reception is simply a hosted event where you can thank your guests for coming and they can give their congratulations to you.  This can be anything from cake & punch for an hour after the ceremony, or a 7 course dinner with top shelf open bar and live band.

Taking your guests to a restaurant is a perfectly acceptable option as long as you are covering the costs. 

MyNameIsNot

Going to a restaurant sounds perfect.  

If you are low on funds, hosting everyone in a backyard or basement for snacks and punch would work too.  

minndev

Thank you for your responses. I am definitely trying to have a wonderful dream wedding and stay within a budget. I can't remember the last wedding I even went to. Jemmini- I like the idea of cake/punch. Probably would be cheaper than paying for everyone to eat out. Haha

Maggie0829

If you do decide to do just the cake and punch, make sure that your ceremony and small reception are not held during a normal meal time (such as noon or 6pm).  If you want to hold it during the traditional meal time then you should provide a full meal or enough heavy apps to constitute a meal

TiffannieF

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_reception-or-no-reception?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:5Discussion:85f5b97d-50d5-4726-9ba2-93f3a3270840Post:846c45f0-9e61-4306-ab6d-814256a372b9">Re: reception or no reception?</a>:
[QUOTE]A reception is simply a hosted event where you can thank your guests for coming and they can give their congratulations to you.  This can be anything from cake & punch for an hour after the ceremony, or a 7 course dinner with top shelf open bar and live band. Taking your guests to a restaurant is a perfectly acceptable option as long as you are covering the costs. 
Posted by jemmini6[/QUOTE]

This

Rummi302

Just curious, what do you mean by a dream wedding?

minndev

Maybe not a dream like every one else has, but more about pride in a way. My fiancee and I are paying for our own wedding, and i'm planning it on my own. It's going to be or very own, long story short haha

jennipea382

I think a small reception at a restaurant would be great. Maybe see if the restaurant can do a buffet or offer a couple options like you would do at a traditional reception. I also think a cake and punch reception or a cocktail reception with some appetizers would be nice. I'm sure there are plenty of ways to do that without spending a ton. Maybe serve some champagne and have some cheese and cracker plates, fruit and veggie trays, and maybe some other simple apps.

rlavach

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_reception-or-no-reception?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:5Discussion:85f5b97d-50d5-4726-9ba2-93f3a3270840Post:ae46bca4-a46e-4f66-b0a4-1e872cefd7ba">Re: reception or no reception?</a>:
[QUOTE]Maybe not a dream like every one else has, <strong>but more about pride in a way. My fiancee and I are paying for our own wedding, and i'm planning it on my own</strong>. It's going to be or very own, long story short haha :)
Posted by minndev[/QUOTE]
That statement confuses me a bit. We're paying for our own wedding (75% me, 25% fiance) and I'm planning it myself also. A lot of the women on here are in a similar boat. Not sure what pride has to do with it. I'm not really 'proud' of it because that's what I'm supposed to do.

melb2013

If you host your family and friends at a restaurant, it is a reception.  I think it's lovely to go to a restaurant.  This is what my parents did when they got married.  My grandmother brought a wedding cake.

minndev

Rlavach- wasn't meaning to confuse or upset you. You asked what my dream wedding was, and to me my dream wedding is... Me/us planning and paying for everything. We have pride in knowing we did it ourselves. Hope that clears everything up

roseofdeborah

Since it is all family you could see if people would be interested in doing a pot luck whether its for a dinner or just for desserts. That way you have a bit of options on things and it is a true family affair. 

RealHappyGal

My wedding is about your size (35guests).  We are doing a brunch reception.  Very inexpensive.  The base cost was like $35pp.  I added a few upgrades and the beer & wine and am having the ceremony ther so, it increased the cost quiet a bit.  However, If you WANTED a reception, with that many people, its still do-able.  You can still do your cake cutting, first dance and whatever else you desired.  If a resturant is what you WANT then do it.  But, it doesnt have to be that if its your second choice.
Bonus with the reception hall is you can pay in increments.  Start now and pay a certain amount monthly (or whatever works) untill the time
But, dont feel like your small wedding isnt important

minndev

Real happy gal- brunch sounds wonderful. We decided to continue the 12 theme (wedding is 12-12-12) and have it at noon-prime lunch time- so that's why i'm so stuck... Might need to see about affordable caterers or like someone suggested, potluck... Thanks for everyone help, gave us a few options to consider!

RealHappyGal

If you dont mind me asking. what is your total budget?  For me it was 5k
reception/ceremony together - $3500 (ceremony at reception hall)
cake  - included above
dress - $500
photgraphy - $600
Music - $0 going to play amplified IPOD
decorations/centerpieces - $200
tux rental - $100
and thats it... I guess plus beauty of the day

You can def pay atleast $1000 less on the brunch by having no alcohol and I pd extra for chefs to make omlets and crepes on site

minndev

We haven't set an exact budget yet.. But i'm going to cut costs where I can. I'm crafty and want to do as much diy as I can. My dress is $550 (but going to see if it will go on sale), going to rent tuxes, haven't priced my cake yet nor location. I'm still in the beginning stages of planning. All I know for certain is dress, cake design/topper, my new ring set/his ring, and theme of wedding (winter-not holiday though) and already bought favors. Hopefully within next 2 Weeks I'll have location/preacher...

RealHappyGal

winter is nice.... u can use ornaments that go with the colors u want, like whites and icy blues if u want... U can do alot with hot chocolates and pepermints or cinnamin.... ooo good luck. 
When I started I just sat down and listed out as many places as I could and called them all.  I asked if they could accomodate my sized wedding.  Some said yes, some said no.  And I had a start.  Then I saw that the prices were running about 2k-4k for the amount of people I needed and having the ceremony space there.  Then we were off to the races.  6months to go.  I cant wait.  Im actually just making the deposit at my venue 2marro & the photographer on mar2.
I got a photographer that will be there 7hrs and take the photos, do the photo shop, some black & whites and some sephias with the touch of color and a wedding book for $600.  Then he'll email me the pics and I can use any pinting co I want if I want prints

minndev

Oh nice! we currently don't go to a church, so i'm not sure where to start... not opposed to church or preacher either. Who else can officiate a wedding? I know magistrates can (but prefer not to go to court house)... And i'm having trouble finding photographers in my area (tried theknot and google). Heck I can't even find invites that I like that cost under $200!

RealHappyGal

where do you live?