The food is one of the most important parts of your wedding. Your guests could spend a big chunk of the evening sitting down and eating. It's probably going to be the way you kick off your reception, after a quick welcome drink. So you need to put plenty of effort into that portion of the evening to ensure everyone has a great time. It's not just the food that's important, but the atmosphere and the fun. Before you get started with planning it all, you need to put some thought into what you want it to be like. If you want to make it unique, you need to get creative.
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Pick a Style Traditionally, you would enjoy a sit-down meal with three courses or perhaps even more. Many couples still choose to do that, and it's a great way to start off the festivities. However, not everyone wants to do this. If you think it's a bit too formal or maybe a bit too safe, you can consider a range of other options. For example, you might want to have a light meal when everyone arrives. Then you can have something larger later in the evening. One idea is to have afternoon tea and then have a buffet or even something impressive like a hog roast later. Start with the Decor Before you get started on your menu, think about how you want the venue to look. Although there'll be dancing later, there's going to be sitting and eating first. How will the room or outdoor space be set up to allow for eating and dancing? If you're hiring a space in a hotel or somewhere similar, they're sure to have suggestions. They may have a standard way of setting up their tables and banquet chairs. Is your decor going to match your menu and dinner style in any way? For example, if you have a banquet-style meal, you could incorporate medieval-themed decor. The Seating Plan Should you create a seating plan or let people sit where they want? It all depends on how food will be served. If you're having a three-course meal, having everyone in assigned places is just easier. You will already know who has ordered what, and the staff will be able to serve to the right people. However, you might go for something more casual if you have a buffet or similar arrangement. When everyone helps themselves, they can sit where they like. You might still prefer to seat people, though. It can encourage your families to mix. Choosing Your Menu When you get to choosing your menu, you might already have some idea of what kind of thing you're going for. Sometimes your menu will be limited if, for example, you have certain options presented by the venue. However, you can usually have a free choice of what you want to do with your food. The important thing when you're picking the menu is that it's not all about you. Your decor isn't going to affect your guests' experience much, but the food they get will. So concentrate on what your guests want, as well as what you want. Don't forget to cater for different dietary requirements. Add Some Fun Touches Eating is a sociable experience, which is always fun on its own. But you can always add some more elements to make it even more exciting. It's an especially good thing to do if you're constrained slightly by the menu your venue offers. There are lots of things you could do, including having custom cocktails before the meal. You could put party favors on the tables so that people can play with bubbles or confetti. Or you could even provide each table with party games, especially if you have seated people with guests they don't know well. Make Sure You End with a Spectacular Finish Of course, after the meal comes the cake. Everyone is sure to be waiting to get their hands on a piece, although they might be more concerned with watching you cut into it. Make sure there's enough cake for everyone, but don't go overboard and get too much. If you want to do something different, "cakes" made of cupcakes or even donuts have been popular in recent years. Choose something that looks spectacular but make sure it tastes great too. If there's plenty left over, you could ever send guests home with a piece. Don't let the food be the let down of your reception. Make sure it's going to be a fantastic time for everyone by planning the meal carefully.
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