For most couples, the wedding reception is the biggest expenditure on the budget – usually adding up to 45% of the total wedding cost. Budget-consious couples are now choosing alternative menus over the traditional sit-down or buffet wedding dinner. However, using non-traditional menus can add an element of fun without breaking the bank.
The Morning Wedding Brunch
Want to start off your day with the wedding? Have a 10 a.m. ceremony, then allow your guests to snack on a mix of breakfast and lunch foods. The good part about a wedding brunch? Relaxed, fun atmosphere and lower cost. Bowls of fruit can add a whimsical touch to the decor, and an early start means an early end to the wedding, and an early start to the honeymoon. The bad? Guests who have to travel will have to get up at the crack of dawn, and it means early morning preparation for you and everyone in your wedding party.
Menu: Juice, mimosas, Bloody Marys, muffins, danishes, pastries, bagels and lox, fresh fruit. Want to add an extra special touch? Add caviar or smoked salmon to the menu.
The Night Owl Wedding
For people who feel life doesn't begin until 10 p.m., a late evening ceremony, around 7 or 8 p.m., with an late-night after party. The pros of a late night wedding? Fun and partying, dancing all night long. May be preferable for weddings with a large crowd of younger folks. The cons? Aside from extreme exhaustion, it's important to check at your venue whether you can stay late and whether there are rules against loud music.
Menu: canapes, finger foods, booze and soft drinks, as well as bottled water for those who are dancing hard. Start the night off with roasted meats on tiny circles of breads or crackers, or heavy dips. Mini cheeseburgers, known as sliders, or even tiny pizzas are great. Or do something really special like bringing in a hot dog or popcorn cart.
The Afternoon Tea
Think English tea in the garden after an early afternoon ceremony with tiny sandwiches, light salads, petit fours, punch, and of course, tea. The good? A tea reception can an old-fashioned, fun time and very affordable. The bad? Brides who want a modern wedding should skip this one, and it may be somewhat feminine for male guests.
Menu: finger sandwiches, bruschetta, pasta salad, veggies and dip, cheese spread and crackers. For drinks, supply water, soft drinks, punch, assorted teas or flavored lemonade, and fun drinks such as Long Island Iced Teas, champagne, or apple martinis.
Susan Beam - Currently writing for a weekly newspaper, the Columbia Ledger, in Columbia, PA, and for Lancaster County Woman.
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