Ego Vinterop Wedding Designer

We are having a rather large wedding reception and would like to have blended margaritas ready to serve for our guests. We don’t want anyone to have to be working during our fun night is there anything we can rent such as a slushy machine or some type of frozen fountain to have the margaritas ready to grab and go for our guests?

It all depends on your venue. Margarita machines are quite common- but you really need someone to pour for your guests. It’s a liability issue. Who is going to check IDs? You have to ensure that minors do not drink. Your venue’s insurance will most likely require a licensed bartender/bartending service. Plus, who will keep the machines full and unclogged? But you can definitely rent the machines.

My husband and I recently got married with a small, private ceremony with just 12 family and friends. We plan on sending out wedding announcements that say just married, accompanied by an invitation to a "reception". I am not sure what to call the "reception" though, because it really is not a reception. It is to last only 2 hours, from 2-4pm. We are having salad, cheese tray, finger sandwiches, cookies, other little desserts, and the wedding cake. What should I call this? A dessert reception? A cookie reception?? Im out of ideas! please help. Thank you!!!!

A Celebration or party would be best. I would go with something like…

Please join us in celebrating our marriage! Light appetizers and dessert provided.

There. No reception need be mentioned.

My husband and I recently got married with a small, private ceremony with just 12 family and friends. We plan on sending out wedding announcements that say just married, accompanied by an invitation to a "reception". I am not sure what to call the "reception" though, because it really is not a reception. It is to last only 2 hours, from 2-4pm. We are having salad, cheese tray, finger sandwiches, cookies, other little desserts, and the wedding cake. What should I call this? A dessert reception? A cookie reception?? Im out of ideas! please help. Thank you!!!!

A Celebration or party would be best. I would go with something like…

Please join us in celebrating our marriage! Light appetizers and dessert provided.

There. No reception need be mentioned.

I’ve been asked to coordinate a wedding reception (setup, etc.) The bride said it should be about 5-6 hours… how much should I charge? I’ve always helped out w/ receptions, but this is the first one that I am actually charging. Thanks!

You need to ask around locally, because we don’t even know what country you’re in. And if you’re in the US, we don’t know what state, and I can guarantee it will be more in Manhattan NY than Manhattan KS.

It also depends on how much you’ll be doing, which is largely a function of how big the wedding is.

I want to have a wedding reception in the Chicago suburbs, but I want it to be more casual. I want to serve foods like fried chicken, beef and pasta. However, I can’t seem to find such a place. Any help will be appreciated.

Brookfield Zoo
You can have your wedding there

Garden Terrace Banquet
They have a picnic dinner meal
They have a wedding buffet that have steak and a few chicken choices, it comes with 4 hour open bar.
They have a dinner package with fired chickens
Elk Grove Park District

The Women Club of Wilmette
You can rent this and have a caterer
Then you fine the cater that will do the food you want

We are having a casual wedding reception one month after our destination wedding. For our reception, we are having barbeque catered for the dinner, having kegs, and would like to have some sort of alcoholic punch (for people who don’t drink beer). Does anyone have any neat ideas for good, and simple, punch that people would enjoy. I’d also appreciate unique serving ideas.

Also, what do you think of the bride wearing her dress again for the reception? Some thing I MUST wear it, and others think it doesn’t really matter.

Thanks!

how about matching the punch to the month you got married in/or the month of the reception?so,you can do a spiced cider if its october,a mulled wine if its christmas (there is a white mulled wine as well as the usual red) or a summer cocktail if you got married in the summer.or how about taking your favourite tipple and making a cocktail from that?you can even take an existing recipe and just change the name (try to play on your names)

~ add elderflower cordial to champagne/sparkling wine (in fact,save some cash and get a decent sparkling wine,don’t waste money on champagne,you’re only paying for the brand name).this will make the fizz go a bit further too

here are some easy recipes:

http://www.grouprecipes.com/35077/super-easy-alcoholic-punch.html

http://www.alcoholpunch.co.uk/recipes/pinky-punch.html

http://allrecipes.com/Recipes/drinks/punch/ViewAll.aspx

vodka and rum based drinks will go down well,and you can replace gin for vodka in most gin based recipes.i know you want unique,but punch bowl is fine – although you can get a drinks fountain

as for your dress,i fall into the camp of wanting you to wear it because i want to see it- it’s fine if it’s simple.if it isn’t simple,then get a white/ivory dress that is more casual and have your wedding dress on display on a mannequin (i was told of one bride who did this with her dress because she changed into a reception dress):

http://www.coast-stores.com/VICTORIA-JANE-DRESS/Ivory-Dresses/coast/fcp-product/2224752106 – something like thi would be perfect

We’re having a small, private wedding ceremony and then heading to a restaurant to celebrate with all our friends and family. Because it’s at a restaurant, it’s not a typical reception. Does anyone have any suggestions for kicking off the reception right with people who will just be seeing us for the first time?

The best man can welcome everybody, and offer congratulations with a toast. If either of the Dad’s want to speak they can. Then you eat, and leave if you’re ready. It sounds really nice.

I would like to incorperate some non traditional events during my wedding reception that will be held August 13th 2011 @ 4pm… What types of things could i do on a low-ish budget. I am 21, my fiance is 23 and i have a 3 year old daughter. Our reception is going to be alcohol-free, so keep that in mind, please.

Well if you are doing photos after the ceremony you could use various board games or card games as center pieces for the tables at the reception. This keeps your guests entertained while they wait for your arrival. Also since it is a 4pm wedding you could have fruit set out for the guests to munch while they wait for dinner.

I think the best way to get creative and be non traditional yet traditional is through the decorations. You can have all the traditional dances and stuff but where you will stand out is in the decorating.

My fiance and I will be having a fall wedding (Mid-october) and we’re having trouble coming up with a menu. The wedding is going to take place in the morning, so we’ll be serving brunch or lunch at the reception.

We love the idea of using balled melons, squash soups, etc. Think fall plate. But what main course do we serve?

Unless you’re planning to have the reception at your home and do the cooking yourself, the menu will be limited either by the venue for the reception or by your caterer. So, what choices are they offering you? Either go with luncheon or go with brunch. If you go with brunch, then might a brunch buffet be an option? Will say that breakfast type foods are generally less expensive. This should allow a greater variety to offer. If you go with a luncheon menu, then you are generally confined to the usual choices of fish, beef, or chicken.

Since my fiancee and I are having our wedding and wedding reception at a baptist church there will not be dancing or alcohol. I would hate for it to be boring for people though so is there anything else that can be done at a wedding reception?
There will be music in the background playing so if someone WANTED to dance they could but there will not be a large dance floor or anything.

A wedding reception averages 3 hours.

TIME OF DAY IS KEY if you’re not gonna have dancing. Have it early enough during the day, like 2 pm, who wants to dance at 2 pm?

Read this link – it is interesting.

http://offbeatbride.com/2007/11/dance-free-wedding-reception

A quote from this link — "…… a wedding photobooth, fortune tellers (psychics are fun!), or even wedding karaoke, etc. …….. That said, never underestimate the value of good food and a little background music. If you keep people happy with lots to eat and drink (even non-alcoholic), chances are good that no-one will miss the dancing."

No games, that is childish and cheap. Let your guests mingle and entertain themselves, with some background music, that should be fine.

Cut the cake early enough before they get bored and leave.

Good luck.