Lunch Reception Ideas Please!

[Luckyeshe]

Hello, Ladies!

FI and I are planning a lunch reception for our wedding. We are looking at garden venues and we are thinking of having our wedding ceremony around noon (won''t be a long ceremony) and the reception immediately after. I have a couple of questions...
1. How long should the reception be? Would it being 4 hours long be too short?
2. We''re going to have beer and wine and some signature cocktails, but the main drinks will be sangria for the adults, and sparkling juices for both adults and children. Will that be ok? Or should we have different alcoholic beverages?
3. We want to have games outside (going to try to find a venue which would allow this) like croquet and horseshoe toss. Any other ideas we could use for outdoor games that does not require puncturing the venue''s lawns?

Any other ideas would be gladly appreciated! Did anyone here have a lunch or brunch reception? I would love to hear how yours went! I''ve never been to one, just read about it and it''s the way FI and I would love to go!

 

[sunnyd]

The last wedding I went to was a lunner wedding with fancy chicken salad sandwiches, yummy curried shrimp and veggies and fruit. Mmmmm...

1. Most evening receptions with dancing are 4 hours, so for an afternoon you might be able to do 3.

2. Sangria is perfect for an afternoon outside. Your drink selections sound delicious!!

3. Bean bag toss? Frisbee, though that could be dangerous in formal clothes. Haha!!

 

[stephbolt]

Date: 7/28/2009 1:05:42 PM
Author:Luckyeshe
Hello, Ladies!

FI and I are planning a lunch reception for our wedding. We are looking at garden venues and we are thinking of having our wedding ceremony around noon (won''t be a long ceremony) and the reception immediately after. I have a couple of questions...
1. How long should the reception be? Would it being 4 hours long be too short?
2. We''re going to have beer and wine and some signature cocktails, but the main drinks will be sangria for the adults, and sparkling juices for both adults and children. Will that be ok? Or should we have different alcoholic beverages?
3. We want to have games outside (going to try to find a venue which would allow this) like croquet and horseshoe toss. Any other ideas we could use for outdoor games that does not require puncturing the venue''s lawns?

Any other ideas would be gladly appreciated! Did anyone here have a lunch or brunch reception? I would love to hear how yours went! I''ve never been to one, just read about it and it''s the way FI and I would love to go!

Bocce ball!

 

[sunnyd]

Ooh bocce ball!! Yeah good one!

 

[cinnamongurl]

Luckyeshe - we are getting married in an outdoor garden and doing a "picnic style" reception with burgers and chicken on the grill, corn on the cob, potato salad, etc.

We are doing bottled beer, lemonade, iced tea, soda and water

We will also be playing bocce ball, and I was thinking of having blankets or tables up for board games, like Taboo and Scattegories. I may look into other yard games as well, that don''t punch holes in the ground.

Your lunch reception sounds great and will definitely be a lot of fun!!

 

[marlie]

I think everything you are planning sounds wonderful especially the sangria!! yum.

I think 4 hours is perfect. Are you doing a sit-down lunch with different courses? If not you could make it even shorter probably. Take in to consideration that there might be some speeches, game prep time, cake cutting or other traditions that you may include etc. that should be factored in too.

I''ve never been to a garden wedding like this one so I''m of no help when it comes to games but I do think croquet and horseshoes sound good if the venue allows.

It all sounds so Great Gatsby-ish to me and I loved that book.

It''s going to be so beautiful!!

 

[Honestly]

Sounds like it will be a very classy affair

 

[ilovesparkles]

This is kind of what we are trying to plan as well! I am trying to sway H towards more brunchy foods that come from family recipes and lunch salads and finger sandwiches. I am thinking quiche, baked french toast, fruit and pasta salads, artichoke dip, etc. I haven''t figured out the games yet though!

 

[Luckyeshe]

Date: 7/28/2009 6:35:54 PM
Author: ilovesparkles
This is kind of what we are trying to plan as well! I am trying to sway H towards more brunchy foods that come from family recipes and lunch salads and finger sandwiches. I am thinking quiche, baked french toast, fruit and pasta salads, artichoke dip, etc. I haven''t figured out the games yet though!

I was trying to do brunchy foods as well, but I am being the most untraditional bride in our family by already having a lunch reception

. So, on that round, my mom won. We''re having lunch buffet style with lots of finger foods as well as some heartier fares like roasted pork, rice, and beef kabobs. I figured might as well cover almost all the meals of the day since we''ll have people from the West coast (breakfaste food), East coast (lunch menu), and International (heavier menu)....As for the games, it seems like so much more fun than having to dance in the afternoon. Don''t get me wrong, there will be some dancing involved, like the father/daughter dance and the first dance and such...but I''m not too keen on the Electric Slide...

Also, ladies thanks for the suggestions. I''m looking up Bocce ball since I''ve never seen it before.

As well as thanks for the compliments. We sure hope it''ll be a classy and unique affair!!!