Merry Brides: Jun 18, 2007

By Sher

Deciding the menu is a pretty simple affair. Once you’ve chosen your menu items, you can move on to organizing the wedding reception. By organizing I mean planning how people will sit, what your tables will look like, types of glasses. All the fine details.

Now don’t let this stress you out – it actually can be a lot of fun! Here’s some tips to help get you on the right track. These tips assume you're not having your meal catered and are doing all your own planning.

Decide what time you're going to have your meal. This will tie to the time of your wedding to some degree. If you're getting married in the morning; are you having lunch, brunch, or a mid afternoon meal? Afternoon wedding, are you having a regular evening meal, or later on?

Are you going to rent your dishes? Borrow from family? Use disposable plates? Same goes for glassware and flatware. If you are having a smaller wedding you can often find good pricing on sets at discount department stores.

If you are purchasing your dishes, what is your theme? Color? Style?

What type of glasses are you going to use? Wine glasses for certain, what about coffee cups, water glasses? Again either borrow or visit a discount department store.

I recommend renting your dishes, flatware, and glasses from a catering company. The prices is usually very nominal. Everything matches, plus they deliver the clean dishes, and pick up the dirty ones after your party.

If you supply your own dishes, then somebody has to be prepared to do clean up. Renting dishes is simple, affordable, and lets your guests focus on enjoying your wedding.

You will also need to decide what the theme for your tables will be, what type of flowers you want and whether you will purchase locally grown flowers or hire a florist. If you choose flowers in season you can make beautiful flower arrangements for a fraction of the cost.

What about your tables and chairs? Does the hall or facility you’ve rented provide them? If yes, what is the charge. If they do not, then you’ll need to rent them yourself. If your wedding reception is small you may be able to borrow enough chairs and tables to accommodate your guests.

Tablecloths and table coverings – you’ll need to decide color and style. Also, you’ll have to decide what type of decorations you need. Your decorating and colors will have a lot to do with your general wedding theme. Fun, romantic, tropical?

The quickest way to get organized is to grab some paper and a pencil. Draw a rough diagram of the room layout, then begin sketching in your tables, how you will seat people, where you want your flowers and decorations. Once you have a visual the rest will fall into place.

Ask some friends to give you a hand with decorating. Most halls will let you visit the day before to complete your decorating and set up. In fact, before you rent the hall make this a pre-requisite.

Most important! Enjoy the planning – this is your wedding, one of the biggest events of your life. There is no right or wrong, there is only what makes you happy. When your happy, your guests will relax and enjoy themselves.