Whatever the the reason if you have a friend or family member that has a large garden or perhaps you know someone that owns a larger bit of land where you may be able to have your reception.

This is becoming very popular in this financial climate and is a great idea, much more relaxed and you have a blank canvas to work with.

Image by: L’Oliver Floral Atelier

By Alfred Sung

By Basia Zarzycka

• formal meal with waiters
• sit down buffet (fork buffet)
• standing buffet (finger buffet)

This decision should  really depend on the style of wedding that you are having, a very formal wedding should have a formal meal not a finger buffet!

Hotels and restaurants usually provide sit-down meals for wedding receptions although many will provide a buffet if requested.

Formal Meal

When choosing the menu it important to choose items which most people will find acceptable rather choosing the more exotic dishes in the hope of impressing guests. Safe dishes include soup, chicken, roast meats and vegetables while. For dessert fruit salad or apple pie are acceptable. Hotels and restaurants may offer a choice of two three choices for each course but they will charge extra for the service.

Guests should notify hosts when accepting invitations if they require vegetarian or special diets.

Sit-Down Buffet

The sit-down buffet allows is less expensive than a formal meal but allows you to determine the seating plan and guests are ensured a table place. Guest usually serve themselves from the buffet and then return to their places. Because a variety of foods is on offer to guests some experimental or exotic items can be included with the standard buffet items of cold meats, vol au vents, salads, sausage rolls, canapes, sandwiches etc.

Hot food can also be included in a sit down-buffet. Dishes which guests can easily help themselves to include curries with rice, pasta with sauce and casseroles.

Standing Buffet

This is the most informal eating style. The food is normal laid at one end of the room and at the appointed time guests help themselves. Because at least some of the guests will be standing while eating they will not be able to use cutlery and therefore the foods should be suitable for eating with the hands. Clips are available for attaching glasses to plates. This frees one hand for picking up food.

Some seating should be provided. Although guests do not have set places most people will want to sit for at least some of the time at the reception, particularly if they are elderly.

Content by Weddings

DO put a large amount of items on your gift list. It’s better to have too many things than too few, giving guests more variety of choice.

DO make sure there is a broad range of prices. Some guests may not choose to spend much, while others will want to club together with other friends and be looking to spend more.

DON’T leave it too late to organise your list. Details should be available to guests when the invitations are sent out around eight weeks before the wedding.

DON’T just ask for money and vouchers. More traditional guests may be a little offended by this, so it is a good idea to set up at least a small, practical list.

DO consider an alternative list. If you’re the couple that has everything for your home, how about setting up a wine list, a gardening list… or even a charity list?

DO mention your gift list discreetly in your invitations if you like, but it can be wise not to mention it to guests invited to the evening-only party.

DO set up more than one list if you’d like to. One could feature practical items and the other could be a more alternative list, although more than two lists could get a little complicated!

DO check exactly what your gift list includes. Many companies will offer free delivery and incentives such as a discount on anything that remains on your list after the wedding.

DO choose a list that is easy for your guests to use. Some friends or family may not have access to the internet so it’s important that they can order presents over the phone or by visiting a store in person.

DO choose your list together… and be fair! There might be some items that one of you really wants and the other doesn’t so you may have to employ a little give and take before you make your final decision.

One of the most important decisions you’ll make while planning your weddings is whether to have a sit down meal or a wedding buffet, as it changes  the feel of your reception.  Instead of toiling over a long list of pros and cons, get the best of both options by having a bowl food party.

Bowl food is a middle ground between canapés and a formal dinner. It designed to be eaten standing up, but is a more substantial and chic alternative to canapés. One of the most appealing aspects of the buffet is that it encourages mingling; however, having bowl food achieves the same goal without making your guests stand in line. One of the advantages of a sit down meal is that the guests are served, which makes the event feel more formal, but bowl food can be served by catering staff giving the same elegant feel, but is at lower cost and saves the stress of who to sit where and with whom! Bowl food is significantly cheaper than a three course sit down meal, but will leave your guests feeling satisfied. Furthermore, a selection of bowl food will leave picky guests content; you can serve bowl food for meat lovers, fish eaters, vegetarians, health conscious guests, etc. Bowl food allows one to be creative and suit all tastes; it can even be tied in to the theme or weddings colour scheme. Have a strawberry pink mousse to match the bridesmaid’s dresses or a selection of mezzes to tie in the honeymoon destination.

Well Dressed Tables offers a selection of five ceramic bowls, square dishes and mini saucepans and woks ideal for bowl food. Also, think outside the box by using the cubix cube glassware range originally for drinks, but perfect for desserts and shrimp cocktail or even utilize the stunning colours available in the Globerock glassware range to showcase your dinner.

Well dressed Tables

Tell us what you chose for your first dance at your wedding or planning to use for your up and coming wedding.

Things such as fairy lights, napkins and lanterns will probably be cheaper to buy at places like Ikea and you can always sell them on afterward.

Whereas there are other items such as chair covers or large decoration pieces such as candelabras that would be best to hire, as buying with will cost you a third more.

You also need to think about storage for any items that you do buy, where are you going to keep it after the wedding? Especially larger items.

If you do hire certain items, think about the delivery and pick-up charges, these are usually worked out on a mileage basis, so your costs can quite easily add up.

• Save on flowers and use wheat as an alternative centerpiece arrangement.  Bunch together wheat and tie with large silk ribbon matching your wedding colour scheme.

• Tulips are a great flower to buy in bulk and are fairly cheap.  Gorgeous colours enable you to create a bold arrangement.  Use a large amount of tulips placed in a clear vase for fantastic wedding decoration.

• Replace a few flowers with greenery, to help bulk out any flower arrangement, using fewer flowers and saving money.

• Save money on your wedding cake buy simply decorating a plain iced cake using ribbon and a few of your chosen flowers.

• A hand full of calla lilies are perfect in the summer, use for centerpieces, or your bouquet.

• Choose small short vases with a handful of chosen flowers.

Remember that using flowers that are locally sourced and in season are much cheaper, and will really help you save on your flower budget.

Images: Above – Flickr

Below – My Wedding Flowers

Do you and your husband-to-be have a love for music? Why not show your passion for it through your wedding?  A music themed wedding can be a beautiful and romantic theme, with a slight vintage feel.

Your decorations and colour scheme will depend on the type of music you are planning on using, for example rock, classical, country etc.  For  a classic music wedding theme look at choosing soft colours such as peach, baby pinks and yellows as a base colour for you theme.

With music theme weddings you will want to carry the theme into the decorations and the favors. So going with the classic music theme, favours could include, music note keyrings, bookmarks or even chocolate cd’s.

Music stand placecard holders or piano placecard holders are just brilliant for this wedding theme.

You could have cookies shaped in or decorated with iced music symbols.

I also really love music sheet cones for petals or flowers, could be a great table decoration.  Music sheets are great for this theme and can be used as favour box decoration or even to decorate your wedding stationary.

You can have live musicians play the music. You can have a soloist sing the songs throughout the wedding and reception. It is up to you. Most people however, have the music piped through a system or from a DJ. A great idea if you dare is either the bride or groom may sing one or more of the songs themselves. This is a wonderful thing to do at any reception.