Want A Smaller Wedding Reception? | Alternative Ideas To Tradition
“If you’ve already budgeted for a larger wedding and have money to spare, why not splurge on something you’ll really enjoy?”
A lot of couples will have different wedding timetables, but the most common follow a Ceremony — Wedding Breakfast — Wedding Reception timeline. That’s not to say your wedding has to follow this schedule; everyone has their own way of doing things, and that’s what makes every wedding unique. With the current wedding limitations due to COVID-19, people are opting for smaller weddings rather than postponing their celebration, and while that may be downsizing for some, it doesn’t mean your wedding will be any less magical! If you’re looking for alternatives to the traditional wedding reception (dancing, buffet, etc) then you’re in the right place — we’ve got great suggestions to think about when planning your reception!
For starters, how about hosting an afternoon tea for your daytime reception? A reception needn’t be in the evening and well on into the night, and you could arrange all your favourite tea time treats for your guests to indulge in! Scones, macaroons, little decadent cakes, fancy triangle cut sandwiches — and of course, different blends of tea to offer your guests! You can hire a pastry chef or caterer to custom bake your favourite desserts to share with your guests, and if you’ve already budgeted for a larger wedding and have money to spare, why not splurge on something you’ll really enjoy? Alongside any tea blends (e.g. Rose, Assam) you could also include some light champagne cocktails as an alternative to heavier alcoholic beverages.
If afternoon tea isn’t your thing, then how about having a small outdoor party and hiring some food vans? It can be any type of food you like — crepes, fish and chips, oven-baked pizzas, Chinese food, even a portable bar! You could also discuss the idea of a Build-Your-Own-Cocktail bar with a catering van or the bar at your venue so that guests can get creative with the liqueurs on offer. This can also help with COVID safety, as the catering vans will have their own safety measures and none of your guests will have to share cutlery or plates. Catering vans may be taking a hit during the pandemic, as many outdoor markets and events will have been cancelled, so booking them for your wedding can also keep this amazing business(es) going. Plus, this would really give a great festival theme to your wedding, to help make up for any festivals or events you’ve missed over 2020.
Other than catering, there are plenty of other parts of the reception you can have fun planning, such as entertainment. Having a COVID safe wedding means you’re not likely to be playing giant Jenga on the lawn but that doesn’t mean you can’t play around. If you and your friends attended the weekly pub quiz, why not bring that occasion to your reception? Your DJ can be the announcer, or you could ask someone in your wedding party to come up with questions and round themes so that you and your partner can also take part. You could have a general knowledge section, a music quiz, picture quiz, even niche themes that you and your guests would enjoy like Star Trek trivia! You could even add a prize for the winner, such as a bottle of champagne or prosecco. Groups can be organised on the day or planned ahead of the event to keep COVID safe if measures need to be taken. Another idea is to create trophies for each round (you can buy small trophies online and add your own plaques to each one for the rounds) and the person or group who has collected the most will win the grand prize! Quizzes don’t have to be on paper either — you can utilise online resources like Kahoot so you can create quizzes that your guests can interact with on their phones, without the need for pen and paper.
It’s alright if that isn’t your style though. If you prefer a more peaceful and low-energy reception like afternoon tea, we’d recommend looking into hiring a Wedding Painter for your occasion.
It can really add a unique, personalised and immortal feel to your big day, seeing your painter create the image in front of them as it’s happening and looking at the final piece in all its glory. If you do hire someone to paint your big day, we’d recommend inviting them to the venue earlier than your guests so that they can paint the setting/scenery before the guests arrive, and add any small details such as a begonia bush if your reception is outdoors. We find that a painting can have a different feel to a classic wedding photograph — not that the painter replaces the photographer! Imagine how you might feel looking at your wedding day through the eyes of a skilled fine art painter, your surroundings and event captured on canvas hanging in your living room. Enticing, isn’t it?
Your wedding doesn’t have to be a large affair. Whether you want to have a smaller setting due to COVID-19 or due to budget constraints (maybe it’s just a personal choice entirely!) then that’s your choice and there are plenty of activities you can do just like you would in a larger reception. If you’re still unsure on whether you want a reception at all, you could even forgo this entire section of your day and spend it with your partner instead. Go and see a film, have a fancy meal at a restaurant, or if you’d rather include your friends then you can always go as a group for a picnic or even a small visit to the beach. The only rule to follow is to enjoy yourselves — it’s your big day, so make it one you’ll enjoy!
See you next week.
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If you’re hosting your wedding within the COVID-19 pandemic, please remember to adhere to the rules set out by the government to keep safe: gov.uk/weddings.
