How to make our reception reflect our personalities

Re: How to make our reception reflect our personalities

• tldh member

  

  February 2012 edited February 2012

  Don't think that you have to have a theme.  They are not at all necessary.  It's really easy to get caught up in it and it's best if it is in small touches if you have one at all.  For example,. my cousin and his wife love to travel so each table at the reception had a picture of them in a different place and a small story behind it (for instance - pic of them on skates with the explanation that cousin surprised FI with a trip to NYC so he could take her ice skating in Central Park).  For my Philadelphia wedding, we had Ben Franklin quotes on the programs, welcome letters, guest book, on the bottle of beer in the OOT bags...
  
  As for what style wedding you want, set a budget (always the first thing you need to do) and find a venue that you both love.  That should set the style of your wedding for you.

  
  AKA GoodLuckBear14

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• LeiselEB member

  

  February 2012

  To be honest, I feel like the idea of making a wedding reflect your perosnalities is a bit silly. I see that phrase tossed around on all the wedding blogs, but these weddings aren't all that different from one another.

  
  

  Pick out stuff that you two like, think is pretty, enjoy, etc. Make sure your guests have a good time. You don't want to bombard them with every single interest of yours combined into some theme. 

  
  

  Just have a wedding that you'll enjoy. Theme not necessary.

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• Elinetrouwt member

  

  February 2012

  I hate themes for weddings, but I do agree that searching for a venue is a bit easier if you know what kind of reception you want. A barn reception or a museum reception are pretty different. Do you already know how many people you want there?

  
  

  Clearly, for you guys food is very important, so I think you should start from there. Do you want to bring in a caterer you know and trust, or do you want to pick the venue with food included? Depending on the number of guests, you could choose a restaurant you really like for your reception. Start looking for venues with the best food reviews, and the most interesting food options, in the area that is most easily accesible for your guests. You will find one that you'll like enough. Based on the setting, you can decide on the atmosphere for your wedding.

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• RealHappyGal member

  

  February 2012 edited February 2012

  Im not a big "theme" person myself but, from what you talked about there.  If you were going towards the rustic thing you could have black and white pictures of you guys, the motorcycle, and other things you like... If you go farytale....that wouldnt fit in so nicely.  IDK... we are going kinda generic...lol 

  

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• cwill6212 member

  

  February 2012

  Start small. Get a budget in mind. Look at some venues. Throw around some color scheme ideas and see if you can agree on a couple.  Discuss reception menu ideas. With just a few simple decisions, your wedding "theme/feel" would already begin to take shape. This would help you decide if you wanted a more warm, rustic wedding or a more classy, elegant wedding. No specific theme is necessary.

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• trixie549

  

  February 2012

  Ditto PP - a wedding theme isn't necessary (the theme is "getting married"). Focus on great food and drinks, since it sounds like that is a huge priority to you. You could also incorporate some your hobbies/interests into your table numbers, cake topper or other detail at the reception.

  

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• TiffannieF member

  

  February 2012

  We had a fall theme because it was in fall and we both love fall.  It was an obvious choice for us.
  
  Since it is not obvious to you I would just say pick some colors and that could be your 'theme'.
  

  November 2011 Siggy Challenge: The First Kiss
  
  Fall Wedding Bio
  

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• TiffannieF member

  

  February 2012

  Now I think about it I do have some suggestions:
  
  1-since you guys love food, make sure you guys have lots of good food.  For drinks maybe pick your favorite cocktail for the cocktail hour.
  
  2-Maybe incorporate some Chinese traditions into your ceremony or reception.
  
  3-Maybe a grooms cake that has to deal with mechanics?
  
  4-For favors you can get some "test tubes" and put some candy in it.
  
  5-For your guest book you can create something like a book with a picture of the you two and a theme (ex. on 1 page a pic of you 2 by/on the motorcycle).
  
  6-Table numbers can be different things that you two share in common.  (Instead of having Table #1, you can lable it "Forest Gump, our favorite movie").
  

  November 2011 Siggy Challenge: The First Kiss
  
  Fall Wedding Bio
  

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• the woolats

  

  February 2012

  Thanks everyone.

  
  

    I know weddings don't have to have a theme, I was just asking because there are hundreds of venues and the prices aren't always obvious so maybe starting with a theme could be easier.  We sort of have a budget but we're beginning to realize that weddings are outrageously expensive so I don't know what we'll be able to do.

  
  

    I guess my real question is how to look for a venue?  Do you literally go through every single wedding venue in your area and look at the prices?  This is also complicated because I can't tell if it's better to get all the peices myself or to just go with an "all inclusive" package.

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• Olexa1979 member

  

  February 2012

  I too struggled with this concept, and we are similar to you, so ours is, Eat, Drink and be Married, yes this is a real one you can google, I have got wonderful 16oz beer glasses with this on it, and Beautiful invites from Zazzle, and our colors are Black, white, and sparkle!! 
  
  It will come to you....dont worry it took me a little while as well to figure it out!! 

  Best Wishes, Melissa

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• vexie member

  

  February 2012 edited February 2012

  I'd suggest you research the various venues in your area and see which ones suit your budget...then go visit them.  Just like buying your dress... you 'll just know when you've walked into the right venue.  Once you have the venue the decor will naturally follow
  
  edited to add:   We went to see completely opposite venues because we were uncertain of the 'feel' we wanted for our wedding as well.  One was at a ski chalet the other at an old church that was converted into a fine dining restaurant. At the first venue the meal was MUCH cheaper, but we would have had to hire a decorator, pay fees to decorate etc etc, at the second the meal was more than twice the first, but, because it was such a gorgeous church we didn't have to decorate at all.. so the only fees were the food and drink.    We priced it all out and discovered the second venue actually saved us money (and a lot of stress, planning and aggravation!) in the long run so that's what we chose.   The resulting ceremony and reception was much different than if we had made a different choice, but it ended up perfectly reflecting us

  84 73 11 Wedding date: June 11, 2011

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• ljones725 member

  

  March 2012

  Think outside of the box and take your interests into consideration when looking for a venue - you both like the outdoors, look at a conservatory or local wilderness center. He likes cars - check out some car museums or motorcycle - dealerships have lots of space in their showrooms.  I kind of liked theme weddings when they're done to reflect the couple and not like a kids birthday party. Or take some of TiffanieF's suggestiions and incorporate little details to bring your personlized interests. Call a local car club and find someone with a great classic or muscle car to drive you instead of renting a limo, use beakers instead of vases or love the test tube favors suggested. Use a scientific equation as your "logo". People who know and love you will get it and smile and remember that.  No one is going to remember great linens or if you had rose petals on your table.... 

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