DIY Wedding Reception Basics

Okay,  you can’t afford a reception in a lavish hotel,  that doesn’t  mean you can’t have a gorgeous party or wedding that you can do yourself with the help of family and friends.  Remember to plan the time of your event in such a way that your helpers can have time in the morning to set it up.  If this is not up your alley I’m sure you have a friend or relative who just loves doing this kind of thing and would be happy to step up to the plate.  The basics of this kind of affair can be done the day before (such as setting up tables, making decorations, getting the candles and flowers done, etc.) so just the last minute touches can be done the morning of.

First step:  Don’t be intimidated!  You (or Aunt Sue) can do this!  It does take some organization to help things go smoothly, this is where lists and pictures are very important.  Cutting out pictures from magazines gives you inspiration and helps you to picture what you are trying to accomplish.  Remember, your guests won’t have the picture of what you are trying to do and compare it to what you’ve done, so relax, they’ll just see a beautiful event and you (or Aunt Sue and her helpers) can have all the bragging rights.  Keep in mind this is not something you will be doing yourself, you want to enjoy the day before and the day of by pampering yourself and enjoying every moment of being the bride.   Aunt Sue and  your friends  will take over when it’s time to carry out your plans (or her plans).

Little white lights and votive candles,  if it’s an evening event,  will give it a very romantic look.

1) Group your “worker bees” into different categories.  One group sets up the tables and then sets them  (you might need some guys to help set up the tables and chairs, then they’ll be happy to leave so the fun stuff can begin), another  helps with decorating the tables another can work on the buffet, etc.  If you have at least a team of two for each task, that will work very well (you know what they say about “two heads being better than one”).  You’ll find those who love you are anxious to help if they can and would really enjoy it, and many just need some direction and they’re great assistants.

2)    Make up a list for each of your helper teams.

3)  The Buffet:

When your wedding reception guests enter the reception hall and see the buffet table you want to hear “Ohhhhs, and Ahhhhs!”

The appearance of your buffet is just as important as how good the food tastes.

So here’s what you need to do.

1. You need to go for the “eye appeal.” Colorful foods, fill in between the dishes colorful flowers, greenery, ribbons, streamers, or pyramids of fresh fruits and candles.

2. Have a special centerpiece ready. Ice sculpture, water fountain, fresh flowers, a heart, candelabra, etc.

3. Mirror every dish. In other words, have two dishes of the same food, one at each end of the table.

4. Elevate the food. Don’t put dishes of food all flat on the table. Use books to elevate the food under the tablecloth or napkins. Make a staircase of books for example.

5. Garnish the food trays. You don’t need to spend hours making wedding bells out of radishes but you must add something. Try these ideas.

Frame each dish with a lettuce leaf
Add parsley
Add huge fresh strawberries
Add melon slices, especially watermelon if possible
Add fresh pineapple chunks
Add fresh flowers.

Sample setup on an eight foot table

Plates, forks, and napkins are laid out nicely on the left front corner.
Next to it, a fruit  display
Center goes the finger sandwiches
Then another fruit  display
Then on the right of the table, goes the punch bowl and cups.
Next to the centerpiece, on each side, put a candelabra
On the right, behind the candelabra, put the pickles and olives etc.
On the left behind the other candelabra, put 2 trays of cheeses and vegetables

To sum up: The important thing to remember when creating an attractive buffet is to do different levels on the table.  You want high and low displays for flowers, the food, etc.  Once you cover the table with a cloth, you can turn pots upside down, large cans of food, empty boxes, etc. and cover them all with a matching tablecloth (scrunch them up so they drape over your props) and  they create different levels accross the table.

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