Eat, Drink, Be Merry

A key component to any reception is the drinks, food, and a little mood music. We agonized over the menu... for food and for the bar. Ultimate the idea of "free flowing" reception that encouraged lots of mingling won out and I loved the ability to incorporate so many flavors in the menu... so the cocktail style worked for us. However, we were worried that people would leave hungry so we opted to include a buffet, or as I like to call it a grazing station, with small plates so that we could include heavier/substantial foods.

We worked with our caterer to create a summery/seasonal menu that would transition throughout the evening. We started with passed hors d'ouevres, then moved to a buffet of seasonal flavors, the third course was filled with retro bites, and then finally dessert.

For the bar we decided to keep this fairly simple and work with what would have a summery, gardeny feel. We had a Lynchburg Lemonade, Rose Wine Spritzer, and a Cosmo inspired mocktail passed during the cocktail hour. The original names were modified so the drinks were named after streets we have lived on in Chicago. The wines were our favorites from our vacation to Sonoma County. The beer and root beer were from a local brewery with a Bud Light thrown in to round it out. We brought in the alcohol ourselves so were able to return what was left over... although I am not sure that it was an incredible saving.

Music is another area where you can really personalize the evening and of course, set the mood. We set up a folder in iTunes and started added songs every now and then... we ended up with a 7+ hour playlist of our favorites. We then broke it out by hour so that the music would transition with the menu course that was being served. Then the excel file was shipped off to our DJ. Control freak? Maybe. One of our friends came up to me later in the evening and said that when one of the Bon Jovi songs came on she remembered us picking out those songs on a juke box at a birthday party a few years ago... Music is such an easy way to add a touch of yourselves to the reception and to enhance the atmosphere that you are trying to create.

Up next I will post our "mini trash the dress" photos from when we stole a few moments during the reception.

Wedding Recap Posts:

- My Version of a Perfect Wedding
- A Stolen Moment During the Reception
- Eat Drink Be Merry
- The Garden Party Floral Decor
- The Garden Cocktail Reception
- The Ceremony
- The Time Before The Ceremony
- The Meeting
- Florals: The Personals
- Getting Ready: The Groom's Side of the Story
- Getting Ready: Dress and Accessories
- All About The Shoes
- Getting Ready: Hair & Makeup
- 300th Post A Wedding Photo
- Wedding Photos Are Arriving: Almost A Bride

Or all of the post on our wedding day can be found through the label My Wedding.

{Photography by Brian Kinyon}

Comments

[Melissa]

I love your menu and that you named your drinks after streets where you have lived. Your cupcakes are so pretty!

[An Atlanta Bride]

I loved the quote on those cocktail napkins!! Cute touch.

[FLbride]

I love the atmosphere you all created at your reception. How much seating did you provide? We are having food stations with 150 and can't decide if we should provide enough for everyone or if people will prefer to mingle...

[Tara]

Thanks, FLbride!

We had "table seating" for 50% of the guests, had a set of the high cocktail tables scattered throughout, and another 20% of seats through the benches and bistro tables in the garden. It definitely helps to encourage and create the cocktail atmosphere and a sense of motion as people literally were moving throughout the space the whole evening. If your space and budget allows for it, informal seating (such as a lounge type of space or bistro tables) is very popular with guests.

Good luck with your planning!