Breakfast
or Brunch Reception
A brunch reception would
take place at about 10 or 11 am. Serve various types
of pastries, muffins, bread, fruits, and other breakfast
foods. Of course the advantages to a brunch reception
are that it is very inexpensive and you can leave
for your honeymoon on the same day. However, the
early
reception leaves you less time to get ready and
may cause problems
for guests who are driving a long distance.
Luncheon Reception
A luncheon reception occurs
in the afternoon following a late-morning wedding.
Typical spreads
includes sandwiches, pasta salads, garden
salads, fruit & vegetable trays, etc. Again
a luncheon reception is fairly inexpensive. However
you might have to sacrifice the DJ and dancing.
I wouldn't count on guests getting down
on the dance
floor
during
the
middle of the day.
Dessert or Tea Reception
Perfect for a large guest
list with a small budget. The menu consists of finger
sandwiches, nuts,
cake, and your favorite desserts. This type of
reception would be held from 2 to 5 pm. The biggest
drawback to this type of reception is that you
are not offering your guests a full meal. However
the dessert reception is the most inexpensive wedding
reception food.
Cocktail Reception
Typically held from 4 to
7 pm, the cocktail reception is a great way to have
an evening reception on a
tight budget. Simply serve various appetizers,
hot and cold, on buffet tables or have them passed
around by servers. A cocktail reception can be
very informal or formal, and allows you to offer
your guests a wide
variety
of foods. Again the major disadvantage is that
the guests are not offered a full meal,
even though
it is dinnertime.
Dinner Reception
There are many options
for the food at a dinner reception. If the budget
permits, you could serve appetizers
during a cocktail hour before the meal. The dinner
is served as either a sit-down meal, a buffet or
in food stations. The cuisine varies largely, but
usually consists of several side dishes and salads
along with a few different choices
for
the
main entree.
While dinner receptions are the most expensive
option, they are also typically the most fun!
