wedding reception can be exquisite without being expensive
Corin Hoggard Staff Writer
It's just about over. Your wedding is complete, but you want to send your guests away with tales they'll recount for years to come, and the reception is your last chance to make an impression. How do you make it stand out?
The amount of money you're willing to spend to impress is the main factor. The reception is the most expensive part of the wedding, but there are methods to save money and still have a reception to remember.
Heather Hammond's family didn't have bottomless pockets, and her guests had varying tastes. With her limited budget, she rented a covered area in a state park on a lake, a relatively inexpensive locale.
She recruited her younger brother and his friends to serve as cooks and set up six barbecues, one for each chef. Each barbecuer had a specific menu from which visitors could choose their meals. She rolled a few kegs onto the top of a coupleof picnic tables and let the party begin.
"We had over 100 guests and didn't spend more than $1,000," she said delightedly.
Municipal settings are significantly cheaper than private rooms in restaurants or hotels, yet they can symbolize a transition for the marrying couple, as a Pasadena, Calif., City Hall wedding and its reception did for Maya Nishikawa.
She and her husband, Shawn Johnson, live in Springfield, Mo., but she squeezed one last memory from her California origins.
"It was meaningful to celebrate at an important landmark in my home town," she said. "Kind of a blast from the past to the future."
Though her reception was exquisite, she cut costs in many places, saving her father a bundle by using the municipal setting and her own caterers - a Japanese company that specializes in all sorts of Asian food.
From City Hall itself, an imitation Italian Renaissance beauty, to the carved fountain in its courtyard around which a dance floor was constructed to the huge buffet, Nishikawa planned an ornate, if inexpensive, party.
"It just takes time and effort to save money," she said.
If the budget is not a concern and time is of the essence, a wedding consultant can help arrange everything.
Ann Jones from Heaven on Earth has consulted on several receptions at the business' estate - an elegant, timeless plantation reminiscent of Gone With the Wind.
While the packages she offers cost as much as $18,000, the ice sculpture of the bride and groom will undoubtedly leave each guest with an indelible image of the happy couple and the wedding. Guests are treated to formal seated dinners and served a five course meal by white-gloved waiters.
A relatively new trend in receptions is to take a cruise. Star Fleet of Houston offers hourly rates on their full-service ships.
Their lambaste kitchen chef will tempt the palates of the guests without seasickness at a formal dinner and cocktail-style reception for between $300 and $700 per hour, depending on the time and day of the week.
Even a wedding consultant can help cut costs. Karen Brown of Memories in Bloom likes to hire a harpist, rather than a DJ or big band, to provide subtle, calming music.
She keeps expenses down by minimizing the catering.
"Finger sandwiches and hors d'oeuvres are classy, but cheap," she said.
To get the planning underway, Brown said, just compute your budget and figure your needs. Apply the money wisely and you're on your way.
Whether you can afford the lavishness of a Gone With the Wind reception or not, yours can be a fantastic memory with proper planning.