By Georgina Clatworthy

Whether it’s eco-friendly, organic or green, going environmentally friendly with your wedding is becoming a hot trend.   So as your reception constitutes the biggest element of your wedding celebrations, it is a good idea to create a green wedding reception and give something back to the environment at the same time.

There are many ways in which you can green-up your reception and some may surprise you.  From ingredients in the catering, to what happens to the leftovers, you can make some small changes or go all out and green-ify your entire wedding!  Here are some suggestions:

Catering – choose organic, Fairtrade and locally produced ingredients.  They will have been grown in an eco-friendly manner without the use of pesticides and other chemicals, you will support local business and cut down on carbon emitting food miles and if you have to have ingredients which are imported, then choose those that come under the Fairtrade umbrella.  Fairtrade products are produced with a pledge to look after the environment and to pay a fair wage to producers and their employees.

Ask your venue/catering company if it has a green policy and what happens to all the food waste.  Food waste is a huge environmental problem so if you can cut down on wastage or ensure that organic waste is turned into compost do so.  Find out what happens to packaging, glass and plastics too.

Wedding Cake - as above look for a local baker who can make your wedding cake using organic ingredients.  The availability and range of organic produce is increasing all the time and although a little more expensive than conventionally produced ingredients, there is a taste difference and of course it is better for the environment.

Stationery – try to use recycled papers and cards in all your reception stationery and which includes your table menus, placecards and numbers.  If you cannot find any recycled materials that you like then choose paper and card from sustainable forests instead.

Wedding Favors – there is a growing range of eco-friendly favors available made from sustainable and recycled materials.  Plantable seed cards, bamboo coasters and candles made with bees wax are all examples.  Alternatively give the money to an environmental, fair-trade or ethical charity.

After the Wedding – once the celebrations are over, then comes the big clear up.  Now this maybe something you will not have to do, but you should still make sure that it is done with a minimal amount of waste and with one eye on the environment.  If there is a lot of food left over, perhaps from a buffet, then arrange for it to be either shared amongst your family and friends or sent to a local shelter, hospice or other such organization where it can be given to people who need it.  Make sure your catering company or venue are happy to do this and that leftover food is properly stored.

If you have lots of floral arrangements and centerpieces have them sent to the local hospital, nursing home or hospice where they can bring joy to others.  You could also give them away as gifts to family and friends but I think the first idea is nicer!

By Georgina Clatworthy

Your wedding reception centerpieces will be one of the main elements of your wedding decorations and will be important for unifying any theme or scheme you want to create.  Whilst traditional centerpieces are usually floral arrangements made by your florist, there is a growing trend for brides to make their own, and many come up with some novel and creative ideas.

Your first consideration needs to be your budget.  If you have a lot of tables to fill, not forgetting the top table, then elaborate centerpieces will cost you a lot to achieve.  Likewise, even small floral arrangements made by your florist can cost you a couple of hundred dollars if you need a lot.  You also need to consider the style of wedding you are having and if you need to create formal looking arrangements or something less formal with a slightly whimsical appearance.

Your top table also needs careful consideration because traditionally the top table is a long table at the top of the reception room, whilst your other tables will often be round.  You will need to calculate how many centerpieces you will have on the top table and whether or not your bouquet will take center stage in front of you and your groom.  Think about the size of your centerpieces as well.  Those on the top table will need to be narrower than those on your other reception tables. 

Height and width are important considerations.  Tall centerpieces can prohibit your guests talking with each other across the table, whilst small centerpieces can look lost on large tables.  Conversely you don’t want your centerpieces to swamp the table because they are very wide, it would leave too little room for your place settings and glassware.

Begin by looking at what you will put your centerpieces in.  Vases, footed bowls, novelty containers, dishes, plates etc there is a wealth of vessels to choose from.  If you want to use fresh flowers then your containers will need to be water tight.  Color will be important too so your centerpieces match your wedding colors.  Clear glass is obviously the easiest choice and can be lined with leaves or colored fabric to match your color scheme.

If you want to use candles for your arrangements then ask your wedding venue if it is ok to light them.  Some venues will not permit because of the fire hazard.  Fresh flowers are wonderful but expensive, so consider alternatives such as silk, fabric or paper flowers, or dried flowers.   If you really want fresh flowers but are worried about your budget, then there are a couple of tricks you can employ.  Firstly use more green foliage and have a handful of large flowers in your arrangements.  If you are having lots of bridesmaids then use their bouquets as centerpieces, just arrange for some vases to be in position before you arrive at the venue.  Alternatively use garden flowers or potted plants such as mini roses, violets or hyacinths.

By Georgina Clatworthy

A garden makes for a beautiful venue for a summer wedding and it is worth being creative with the way in which you plan your garden wedding reception to help you make the most of it.  Gardens can lend themselves to a number of potential wedding themes or use them to create a stylish and memorable backdrop to your wedding day.

Your first consideration needs to be the venue itself.  Private and public gardens are all available for weddings or just for a reception site, the tricky part for you is knowing whether or not a potential site is big enough to accommodate your guests, tables, chairs and any entertainment you want put on.  Finding garden venues which regularly host wedding receptions will give you some idea as to the numbers that can be accommodated and the size you will need to enable all your plans!

Next you will need to think about having a marquee or whether you will chance the weather and have an open air reception.  A combination of both is the ideal scenario and you could have your wedding breakfast out in the open air and use the marquee as a retreat when the cooler evening sets in.  Marquee’s are a cost effective alternative to a traditional bricks and mortar venue and can give you the best of both worlds should find a beautiful garden venue.

Location will be another key factor in your decision making.  As with any reception venue it shouldn’t be located too far from your ceremony venue and should be easily accessible for your guests, particularly any who are elderly or disabled.  A location which is difficult to find could see you short on many of your wedding guests when you arrive at the reception!

You will also need to consider other practicalities, such as bathroom facilities, electric, water and noise from other sources.  Think about where to site your marquee (if having one), where your caterers will set up and serve the food from, where your evening entertainment will be and how you will arrange your tables, chairs and other furniture.

You may also be able to have your wedding ceremony at a garden venue which can save you time and money by having both your ceremony and reception in one location.  However, with your venue set up for the ceremony, you will need somewhere for you and your guests to retreat to so that the reception can be set up ready for the wedding breakfast.  It is therefore important that you find a venue which is large enough to be ’separated’ into various areas where you and your guests can go as each element of the wedding day is being set up.

A garden wedding reception is a wonderful way to celebrate your wedding but you will need to think carefully about the logistics and practicalities of any venue before making a final decision.  There are many garden venues available that regularly play host to weddings or you could take a leap of faith and choose a site that has never played to host to such an occasion. 

One final consideration is the time of year of your wedding.  One particular feature of gardens is the foliage – plants and flowers which grown in it.  Find out how the garden will look on your wedding day – will it be in full bloom, and awash with color or will the flowering season be over and the plants be looking decidedly past their best?  Formal flower gardens will work best for a late spring and summer wedding; whilst tree lined parks create a wonderful backdrop for fall and winter weddings.

By Georgina Clatworthy

Your wedding reception will be the biggest party you will ever organize and host so it can be useful to pick up as many wedding reception tips as you can as your progress with your wedding planning.  A good source of tips and advice is from real brides – they have been there and done it, so they can offer you up some tried and tested tips which could make a big difference to your day.

Here are a few real brides tips to help you with your wedding reception planning:

‘Don’t loose sight of the budget and spend money on silly things’ – The golden rule of wedding planning! Your budget will dictate everything so keep it in check and avoid the temptation to overspend on little details for your wedding reception that you don’t really need.

‘Don’t get caught up in the details, people are there to see you married and have a good day.  Make sure you have a good time and everyone else will’ – In essence, spending all your time worrying about whether or not the ribbon on the wedding favors is the right shade of blue rather than finding some fab entertainment or fantastic catering could leave you and your guests a little disappointed.

‘We saved money on most things by making sure that we shopped around to products and services that give us the best value’ – always shop around and get quotes for everything before making any final decisions.  It will help your budget and you can find yourself with many more options than you thought possible.

‘Get family members to help you make things like favors and stationery’ – not only will this save you money, but it will also add the unique and personal touch to your reception.

‘Look for favors that can double up as place settings’ – have your guests names printed onto your wedding favors or include them on some pretty tags.  Doubling up on things like wedding favors and place cards will save you money and time.

‘Use the internet, I was never off it.  I found lots of bargains, offers and tips on websites that saved me money and gave me lots of ideas’ – the internet has revolutionized our lives and our weddings!  Use it wherever possible for supplies, decorations, favors etc.

‘Hold the speeches before the meal so the men can relax and enjoy their food’ – wedding speeches can be nerve racking for those who have to give them, so give them a break and get them over with sooner rather than later!

For other tips and advice from real brides check out your bridal magazines and sign up with online wedding forums where you can chat with other brides-to-be, brides who have just got married and many other wedding professionals.  They can be a fantastic source of tips, ideas and useful resources, so make the most of them.

By Georgina Clatworthy

Although we wouldn’t like to admit it, sometimes we just cannot afford to have everything we want! And in these difficult economic times, couples everywhere busy with their wedding planning are having to scale back their ideas.  Having a cheap wedding reception is usually top of the list as this party is the most expensive part of any wedding.

But how can you create a cheap reception without compromising on your own dreams and one the level of hospitality you give your guests?  What is comes down to is being creative, shopping around and learning the fine art of negotiation!

Firstly you will need to find your reception venue and a package you can afford.  Having set a realistic sum within your wedding budget for the venue itself you need to set about arranging appointments at various locations.  One way in which you can save yourself a fortune on venue hire is to have your wedding reception at home in your garden or that of your parents.

If you, your parents or someone you know has enough space to erect a marquee, or if you trust the weather, to simply have the entire party outdoors, then ask them if you can hold your wedding reception there.  Two things though – they may not want hundreds of people using the facilities of there home, so you will need to arrange bathroom facilities on site.  Also consider your catering – how will you make and heat all the food needed to feed everyone?  More on that later.

A marquee is a cheap solution to hiring a bricks and mortar venue, but you can think outside of the box and look for other unusual venues such as barns, halls, and municipal buildings, all of which will cost you less than hiring formal function rooms at hotels or country clubs.

Catering a wedding reception can be very expensive. However, if you have your wedding late on in the day you need only pay out for food once and supply one meal for all your daytime and evening guests.  Consider a buffet which is often much cheaper to lay on than a formal sit down three course dinner.  Or go for classy sophistication and have a later afternoon cocktail party with simple canapés and champagne.  You could also cater the reception yourself or ask your guests to each bring along a dish for a buffet.  Coordinate it so you don’t get two or more of any dish and so you get enough food to go around – you could be surprised at what turns up!

You will need tables and chairs, glassware, crockery and cutlery, as well as table linens and napkins.  If you are having a marquee then you will probably get all of this within the package.  Some catering companies will add in crockery, cutlery, glassware and table linens into their packages and most venues will have all of this in place too.  Your other option is to find a hire company and negotiate a price for hiring everything.  A props firm is a good idea as you can also get your room and table decorations from them too.

Save money by making your own reception centerpieces.  A tall pillar candle in a glass vase with some pebbles in the bottom, is a simple and inexpensive centerpiece. Or beg, borrow or steal some decorative vases, dishes, bowls or plates to use.  Use garden flowers or even your wedding favors as centerpiece decorations.  Have mini cakes or cupcakes instead of a formal wedding cake and hand these out as wedding favors too.

Finally, save money on your drinks bill by using sparkling wine or Cava instead of champagne for the toasts and have a pay bar in the evening.  You could even dispense with the champagne altogether and simple have everyone’s glasses refilled with whatever drink they prefer for the toasts.

By Georgina Clatworthy

Finding perfect wedding reception sites can be as troublesome as finding your perfect wedding dress!  You may have an idea in mind, but can you find it?  Reception sites are wide ranging these days, so finding the right one can really come down to whichever steals your heart.

Typically, reception sites will be hotels, restaurants, function rooms and halls.  But there are also other more abstract and unusual sites to consider.  How about some of these:

• Parks
• Gardens
• Zoos
• Fun fairs
• Museums
• Ranches
• Vineyards
• Farmyards
• Barns
• Country clubs
• Country houses
• Private homes or gardens
• Sports venues
• Beaches

Much really depends upon your budget and the style and theme of wedding you want.  The time of year of your wedding is another crucial factor. Outdoor weddings are popular for warmer summer months, with parks, beaches and gardens being favorite venues; whilst ranches, barns and country houses play host to weddings all year round. 

Consider how a certain type of venue would fit with your wedding, and in particular your wedding theme (if having one) and the look and feel you want for your day.  If you want a traditional and formal wedding, then a country house, club or ballroom would probably be more suited to you; whilst a relaxed, casual wedding would fit better with a beach location or garden.

Try to visit several different types of wedding reception site and get a feel for the atmosphere that could be created and how it would fit with your wedding.  If a particularly perfect venue is out of your price range, then think about how you could recreate it elsewhere.  Perhaps a large marquee in a park or garden would provide the perfect blank canvas for you to work with.

There are several other considerations for wedding reception sites.  The most important of which is accessibility.  Can your guests find it easily, particularly those from out of town and what about elderly or disabled guests?  Does the venue have all the facilities you require?  What about catering, furniture and car parking?  The perfect venue may not seem so perfect when you take into account all the additional expenditure required to create your prefect wedding reception.

Whilst there is a case for letting your heart rule your head – it is your wedding day after all – you do need to keep some perspective.  Try to visit any potential venues at different times of the day to get an idea of what the light is like and any views.  A beautifully light venue could look very different in the late afternoon and your wonderful reception could be plunged into gloomy darkness.

All wedding reception sites need to be considered on their merits and terms of how they fit with your wedding wish list and budget.  I am firmly of the belief though that you will know when you have found the right one, from the minute you walk through the door!

By Georgina Clatworthy

Your wedding reception will be the biggest party you will ever organize and one of the most expensive, so it is important you approach wedding reception planning properly.  Many of the details and elements you will consider during your wedding planning will be for your reception, including table centerpieces, wedding favors and the catering. 

After deciding on your wedding date, the style of your wedding and your guest list, it is time to consider the format of your wedding reception.  You may want to have a wedding theme, which will help you to design the entire look and feel of the day; you should also choose your wedding colors at this point.  From here you can begin thinking about the smaller details such as catering, your wedding cake and how you will decorate your reception venue.

Of course, all of this is elementary if you do not have a venue in which to hold your wedding reception.  So after choosing your theme and color scheme it is time to start looking at venues.  Take your time and visit as many as you can, however do not delay n your final decision as the best venues will be booked up early and you could end up disappointed.

Be sure to check that any potential venue can accommodate the number of guests you intend to invite, is not too far away from your ceremony venue and most importantly is affordable!  Also question whether the venue will fit with you wedding theme if you are having one and ask to see the room where your reception will be held.

Next you will need to think about the catering.  Your venue may be providing this for you or you may have to source external caterers to meet your needs.  Whichever it is, arrange to meet with them to discuss menus and to have tasting sessions.  You should also enquire about table linens, crockery, cutlery and glassware.  If you don’t like what is on offer then again you will need to source these externally.

Put together a scrapbook or designers mood board to help you coordinate your color scheme and details such as your centerpieces, table settings, wedding cake design and wedding favors.  Doing this can help you to see how colors and designs will fit together and give you a clear plan to work to when setting up the room.  Your next task is to think about your centerpieces which you may have made for you by your florist or you may want to make them yourself.  Finally you will need to coordinate your favors to match your finished scheme.

Aside from all the fancy details you will also need to think about the layout of the room and where your guests will be seated.  Check the furniture that is in the reception room already and enquire whether this is what will be available to you, also ask if they will arrange the room for you.  At the same time you should also be giving some thought to whether or not you want live musicians playing during the wedding breakfast as you will need to accommodate them somewhere within the room.  Put together a seating plan which shows the layout of the room and where each guest will be seated.

Towards the end of your wedding planning you will need to confirm final numbers with your caterers and reception venue.  Now you can work with these vendors to plan your schedule for the day as not having a clear schedule could lead you to be charged staff overtime charges and other expenses for running on longer than expected.

The day before your wedding you will need to set up the room ready for the next day.  Some venues will be happy to allow you access, whilst others will do the setting up for you in part or in whole.  Make sure you arrange with them from the beginning when it will be possible to gain access to set up the reception.  Most brides will want to oversee this at the very least so make sure you can.

By Georgina Clatworthy

Your wedding reception venue will be one of the most expensive elements of your wedding budget so it is important that you make the right choice.  You may have several potential venues local to you but there are several considerations you need to make before you book one for you wedding day.

First and foremost you need to make sure you allocate a realistic sum to your wedding budget for your reception venue.  Remember this sum will usually only cover the hiring of the room and may not include extras such as furniture, cutlery, crockery, staff and decorations. Basically you will need to assign a figure for someone unlocking a door!  Make a few phonecalls to local venues to find out what they offer and how much they charge, this can then help you to set a sum within your budget which should prove sufficient when the time comes to make a booking.

Reception venues will often offer up certain packages which can be tailored to your needs.  These packages typically include the room hire, staff, furniture and linens.  Extras could include catering, if the venue is a hotel or restaurant, crockery, cutlery, glassware, table decorations, sound system and perhaps a separate room for your evening party.  Large venues often have a designated wedding coordinator who will organize every element of your reception for you according to your wishes.  Smaller venues such as halls or public buildings are unlikely to have such a person available to you so you will need to organize everything yourselves.

When you go to view potential venues you both should attend.  Make an appointment and ask for any brochures etc to be sent to you prior to the appointment.  When you attend the appointment there are some key questions you need to ask:

• Is your wedding date available
• How many people can be accommodated within the function room/area
• Is there a larger room available for the evening party – important if you are inviting more guests to the evening do
• What is included in the price
• Can you provide your own caterers
• Can you provide your own drink
• Is a bar available
• Is there sufficient car parking available
• How far is it from your ceremony venue (if held at a separate location)
• How far are the restrooms from the function suite
• What are the payment terms
• What extras are included or charged separately
• What if you run overtime
• Is staff included in the price and if so how many
• Are there any other weddings/functions booked for your wedding day
• Can you get any discounts/extras/freebies – for instance can you get a discount for booking the hotel up with your guests

Take your time and don’t feel under any obligation to make a booking there and then.  Some venues may try to get you to sign on the dotted line as quickly as possible but you should take the time to discuss the merits and shortfalls of each venue between yourselves before making a final decision.  It is worth arranging a second appointment for those venues that you like the most before you make a final booking.

When it comes to booking a venue make sure a proper contract is drawn up which lists the obligations and responsibilities of both parties and make sure that any quote given to you includes all the extras and any charges applied for things like damage or running overtime.  It is usual to pay a deposit at the time of booking to secure the date and facilities so make sure you have your credit card with you!

By Georgina Clatworthy

Your wedding reception will be one of the biggest parties you will ever organize and one of the trickiest tasks you will need to complete will be organizing the seating plan.  You may be thinking ‘why do I need a seating plan?’ well, without one, your guests will simply all file into the reception room and mill around wondering where to sit and who with.

A seating plan will give you greater control over who sits were and with whom so as to avoid any potential conflicts between people who do not get on and also with the aim of creating a happy wedding atmosphere by sitting people together who you are sure do or will get on.  Giving your guests some guidance on where to sit will also speed things up and you will get everyone seated and ready eat in no time at all.

Seating plans are particularly important for a large formal wedding and even if you are not having a sit down meal, you may still have tables set out so a seating plan is still a useful tool for a buffet style reception.  If your wedding is small and intimate then you may find that a seating plan is not necessary and in that case it can be wise to intimate to your guests that it is a ’sit anywhere’ event.

Traditionally, the reception venue will be laid out with a long table at one end of the room, known as the top table, with several smaller square or round tables laid out to one side of the top table.  The aim with the arrangement of the smaller tables is for your guests to be able to see the bride and groom from wherever they are sitting.  Now of course, some of your guests will have their backs to you but make sure there is sufficient space between the tables so they can turn their chairs to you when the speeches and toasts commence.

The tables nearest to the top table are traditionally reserved for the families of the bride and groom and all other guests are then fitted on the remaining tables.  The top table will consist of you and your husband in the center, your mother and father on either side, the groom’s father and mother to one end and the best man and chief bridesmaid to the other end.  There are many variations of the top table, particularly to accommodate parents who are divorced and remarried.  The one constant is that you should both sit in the center and you can organize everyone else in a way that works best for you.

When working out who will sit where it is a good idea to write the names of each guest on pieces of card, followed by a larger card with the table numbers on.  You can then arrange each guest around a table in a configuration which works well for you.  There are some considerations though:

• Try to sit people of the same age together
• Avoid placing singles on tables of couples, try to put at least two single people together on a table but avoid any matchmaking!
• Keep couples and those with children together
• Try to sit people together whom you think will get on together well

You aim is to try to achieve lively tables where everyone can engage with each other in a friendly and cheerful manner.  Once you have worked out where everyone will sit you can go ahead and have a seating plan board made to display at the entrance to the reception room.

By Georgina Clatworthy

For many brides how to decorate their wedding reception venue can be something of a headache.  Having a wedding theme can make choosing your wedding reception decorations that much easier, but those who don’t have a theme deciding on what to use as decorations can take much creative thinking.

Your venue will ultimately dictate the type of decorations you use around the reception room, with existing decorations, fixtures and fittings all needing to be included in your final design.  So when considering the type of decorations to purchase here are a few ideas to inspire you:

Balloons have always been a popular and inexpensive choice for weddings.  With the wide range of colors available coordinating them to your wedding colors shouldn’t be a problem.  There are many companies who will design all sorts of features with balloons ranging from giant arches to centerpieces.  A friend of mine had centerpieces made from pink balloons which were inflated inside of ivory balloons for her wedding.  You will need to inflate them with helium so they stand upright and use balloon weights to weigh them down on tables.

Bunting is nice for informal weddings and good for marquees.  It can be made from paper or fabric and is actually very easy to make yourself.  Check out party stores for laser cut bunting in intricate designs and websites like Etsy for vintage style bunting.  You may also be able to get hold of bunting printed with your names which could be hung behind your chairs at the reception.

Floral arrangements are one of the most popular ways to decorate a reception room.  Ranging from tall arrangements on pedestals to center pieces for the tables, floral decorations are also one of the most expensive options.  However, you could make decorations from dried flowers, silk or paper ones.  Wreaths hung on doors, from the back of chairs and on the walls are very pretty and you could give them away as gifts to guests afterwards.

Fairy lights are lovely for creating a romantic ambience later on in the day.  Not just for Christmas, fairy lights are now available all year round and in many different designs.  The wide choice of designs available makes them easy to coordinate to your wedding.  Try stringing them behind some sheer fabric like voile for a soft, diffused light effect.

Paper decorations where once the mainstay of many wedding receptions, with white paper bells and concertina style streamers. This type of decoration looks good in a very large room with high ceilings, in smaller rooms they tend to overwhelm and make the room feel much smaller.

Paper lanterns in round or square styles are wonderful for outdoor weddings and marquees.  You don’t have to have them lit up, although they do look amazing in a garden setting strung from trees and lighting the scene with softly glowing light.  Unlit lanterns however look just as effective when hung in different sizes from the roof or ceiling, where they can look like orbs of color floating around the reception!

Plan out your decorations carefully and put together a mood board with pictures of various types of decoration, colors and pictures of other peoples wedding receptions that you like.