Some newly-weds struggle to afford a wedding with all the trimmings, or prefer to spend the bulk of their wedding budget on an exotic destination wedding and cut costs on their reception. Others are simply more comfortable with a more intimate home reception. Whatever your circumstances, if you’re looking for a cost-effective way to entertain your wedding guests at home, here are a few ideas:
1. Leverage friends and family
Your friends and family are probably itching to get involved with your wedding plans and you might be surprised at what they come up with to help with your home reception. Perhaps an uncle has a huge deck that he is willing to let you use or maybe an aunt is a closet wedding cake decorator. Are there any talented DJs or musicians in your extended family? If you are worried about coming up with enough to eat, your guests could supply food in lieu of wedding gifts.
2. Keep the numbers down
Most home receptions are limited in space and facilities so you will probably need to keep the guest list down to provide a comfortable and enjoyable environment for both you and your guests.
3. Host a barbecue
In the summer months, barbecues are simple to prepare and cook and popular with almost everyone; just be sure to include some vegetarian options.
Renting a party tent is a great home reception solution, especially if you can’t rely on the weather. You can also rent tables and chairs if you are short on seating options.
4. Put on a slide show
Slide shows, whether using the traditional or modern digital format, are a popular form of entertainment at home receptions.
5. Use budget decorations
As long as you stick to a chosen color theme, almost any kind of decoration can be made to tie in and enhance the overall effect. Hang paper lanterns from the ceiling and place tissue pom poms on tables. Silk flowers can be deceptively realistic yet cost a fraction of the price of real blooms. Display them around the home in simple glass vases for a chic, minimalist effect.
6. Lighting options
To light up the evening for dancing, you won’t need to bust the bank on expensive deck or garden lighting. Instead, get out your Christmas lights and buy some cheap tikki torches. If you do decide to get in extra lighting, consider renting a generator to cope with the electricity demand.
7. Think creatively
Whether you are on a budget or not, making a home reception work for you relies upon knowing what guests expect and how to tailor that to your home. For every challenge there is sure to be a solution if you look for it. For example, you could buy a cheap Styrofoam stand or a kitchen tea cart trolley for serving coffee, tea, desserts or other reception offerings. These carts are ideal because because they are portable.
We all live within a budget. Choosing to have a home reception would be the perfect solution to having a memorable wedding, without the cost! Go ahead, use these ideas and you will not be sorry!
About the author: Romona Weston and her family lives in the beautiful Amish countryside of Lancaster County, PA. She loves everything about weddings, and is often helping brides as their wedding planner. She is a mom to 7 beautiful children and a wife to a wonderful man. In her spare time, she loves to hike, write and organize. She owns a review blog on the best stainless steel top kitchen islands carts and wood kitchen cart. As a researcher rather than a seller, she presents an unbiased view of products.
Explore her reviews at http://www.kitchencarts360.com
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