How to Make My Own Wedding Reception Ideas
Hiring a wedding planner is expensive and you still may not get exactly what you want. To save money and ensure the wedding reception matches your vision, do it yourself by consulting homemade wedding idea resources and drawing on your own creative instinct. When creating your own wedding reception, it is important to remain organized so you do not forget anything.
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Instructions
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Choose a venue that accommodates your budget and the number of wedding guests you plan to invite. Rent a large room in a community center, a hotel banquet room, an open-air park shelter or any other venue that has enough space for your guests. Consider what the venue offers in regard to kitchen facilities, tables, and chairs. If the venue does not come with chairs and tables, you will have to rent them separately. Remember that sparse venues can be spruced up with centerpieces and other decorations.
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Meet with caterers for a menu-tasting session. Choose your caterer based on how well you enjoy the food and the cost of the service. Check with the caterer to make sure the venue's facilities can accommodate any cooking, food preparation or serving needs. Some venues offer or require the use of their own in-house caterers. For more casual, less expensive wedding receptions, family members may prepare the food ahead of time for a buffet-style meal.
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Meet with wedding bands or DJs in the months leading up to the wedding. Hire a DJ or band that plays the music you and your guests enjoy. If hiring a DJ or a band does not suit your budget, create wedding reception playlists on an iPod and rent or borrow speakers. Ask a friend to arrive at the reception venue early to set up the music.
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Create table decorations with the help of friends and family in the weeks leading up to the wedding. Create centerpieces that fit with the wedding's theme and match your wedding colors. Arrange floral bouquets for table centerpieces or fill vases or baskets with seasonal fruit to create a centerpiece. To create a romantic mood, light the tables with a smattering of twinkly tea-light candles. Create handmade place cards out of folded card stock. Rent plates, glasses and cutlery if they are not already provided by the caterer or the reception venue. Ask a few friends to arrive at the reception venue early to arrange the tables according to your vision.
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Infuse your own unique personality into the reception. Consider your unique characteristics as you plan the reception and brainstorm ways to incorporate them into the reception. For example, if you have a favorite candy, fill bowls or jars with that candy and use them as edible centerpieces. Or, if you are a basketball lover, give the guests mini basketballs as wedding favors. Remember that it is the personal touches that will set your wedding reception apart from any other generic reception.
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References
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