5 Unique Wedding Reception Alternatives
Your choice of wedding reception will shape so much of your wedding day. It will define your guest numbers, your style, and most significantly, your budget; according to Easy Weddings’ 2023 Industry Report, the average couple spends 43% of their budget on their reception venue.
A typical and traditional wedding reception may include the hire of a wedding venue for a sit-down dinner. Wedding venues who offer this service are usually a well-oiled machine, re-creating events for hundreds of newly-weds on their property over the years. They generally have pre-set furniture, a set menu, some decorations, documents and timelines that take some of the stress out of organising for the newlyweds. For those seeking an easy, all-inclusive venue, this is the most straight-forward choice for a wedding reception.
However, sit-down receptions aren’t for everyone, and there appears to be an increasing trend of couples looking for alternative reception options for a myriad of different reasons. For some, it is simply not in the budget to pay for an all-inclusive venue with a $150 per head cost for all of the guests that they wish to invite. For others, it’s more of a personal preference or stylistic decision to do something a bit different. Regardless of the motivation, couples are increasingly looking outside the box for ways to celebrate their marriage in a non-traditional way. So, we’ve researched and come up with five unique reception alternatives to give you some inspiration as to what you can do for the greatest party of your life.
Post-Ceremony Picnic
The ceremony is the most significant part of the day; it is the moment when the couple commits themselves to each other, and legally signs off their marriage. For some couples, hosting a relaxed and well styled picnic just after the ceremony is all they want and need to celebrate the occasion.
Think extravagant grazing tables, iced punch and champagne, and perhaps even a donut or icecream truck for dessert. Consider acoustic live music, picnic tables and umbrellas, lawn games and picnic rugs.
Finish with speeches under the trees and send your guests off in the late afternoon sun. You may even like to finish with a sunset photoshoot, just the two of you, in a final moment of intimate appreciation for the day that was.
Afternoon Festival
For a playful reception, consider an afternoon festival. Hire live music, food trucks for a meal and dessert, and festival style games for guests to enjoy. For those looking to embrace their childhood spirit, bring in a popcorn or fairy floss machine. For something extra special, hire a cartoonist or painter to capture guest’s portraits.
Allow guests to wander and participate in the activities and food of their choice, and enjoy the laughter and frivolity of a fun day out with your favourite family and friends.
Twilight Garden Party
With fairy lights strung through the trees and bubbles in hand, your guests will love the relaxed ambience of a twilight garden party. Hire a pizza truck for something more relaxed, or black tie catering service for canapes and drinks for a more formal affair.
End the night with a jazz band and outdoor dance floor and a final twirling photo under the stars.
Cocktail Soiree
For those wishing to move indoors, a cocktail soiree could be a lovely alternative to a sit down meal. Provided there is adequate seating for people who may wish to rest for a spell, cocktail receptions can often provide a more relaxed atmosphere for people to mingle where they are not confined to their seat.
Select a venue with the look you’re after; an industrial concrete warehouse, or a rustic barn. Hire canapes or a buffet for guests to help themselves to food throughout the course of the night.
And of course, cocktail environments tend to lend themselves to an easy transition to the dance floor!
Intimate Restaurant Dinner
For some couples, spending hours being the centre of attention in a large reception with every aunt, cousin and family friend in attendance feels like a nightmare experience. Coming out of the pandemic, smaller and more intimate weddings have definitely become a trend. It is becoming more acceptable to simply invite your inner circle and enjoy a quiet ceremony and/or reception with your nearest and dearest.
Perhaps for some couples, they may opt to invite a large guest list to their ceremony, and perhaps have a laid back afternoon tea for all invited. For others, they may choose to elope, or perform their vows in front of a select group. Regardless, newly weds may then opt to end the day with an intimate restaurant dinner, with a small party of family and close friends.
Consider booking a private room in your favourite restaurant, and enjoy the final moments of your wedding day by candlelit meal with those you love the most. You’ll feel comfortable, have a chance to speak to everyone, and save a fortune! And perhaps you’ll have a moment to sit back, take a deep breath and take it all in; slow, intimate, full of good food, and surrounded by your favourite people.
I hope this has been helpful in providing some ideas and inspiration for a unique wedding reception. In the end, it’s your day - may you find a beautiful, authentic and special way to celebrate with the ones you love!
Much love,
Laura xo
