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Unique Beach
Wedding Receptions
by: Cindy English
The most
unique beach wedding reception ideas are sparked by imagination
not tradition. Never mind etiquette, tradition and timelines.
That information is outdated and stuffy. Do what will make you
and your guests happy. It is a time for fun and celebration, not
pomp and ceremony!
Long gone are
the days of "assigned" seating arrangements and cookie cutter
reception programs. Everyone waiting to be told what to do next.
Yawn! Today, you can "have it your way". No, I am not suggesting
that "Burger King" host your reception. But, you could, IF you
wanted to! That's the message.
To plan for
your reception, you need first to know:
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What is your theme?
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What time of day you will be having your wedding
ceremony?
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What type of atmosphere do you wish to create?
Answer those
three questions and great beach wedding reception ideas will
follow.
Perhaps you
will marry in a romantic sunrise ceremony followed by a
breakfast reception. How about an early afternoon wedding
followed by a beach barbeque? Plan fun activities such as a sand
castle building contest or a volleyball game. Marry at sunset.
Follow the ceremony with a wine and cheese reception and
dancing.
The size of
your guest list and your budget will also help to determine
which path you take.
Buffet or
food station receptions lend themselves very well to informal
beach weddings and are the most fun. They are also cheaper! You
can easily coordinate this type of reception yourself and
eliminate the added expense of a caterer. Those special women in
your family who love to cook would be honored to assist with
this project I'll bet. Heck, knowing "Aunt Jo" and "Grandma",
they will probably take over and you won't have to worry about a
thing!
Formal
afternoon weddings will of course lead to the usual "sit down"
planned menus. Caterers will be necessary. The advantage being
that the whole affair will be tended to without you lifting a
finger...for a price. In order to cut costs here, you will have
to limit the menu and the guests.
So, if you
have a large guest list and a limited budget, avoid marrying
late in the afternoon. Guests will be hungry and expect the
dinner reception. Instead, stick with a breakfast, brunch or
cocktail reception.
The wedding
industry dictates that a reception should be from three to five
hours in length. Rubbish! A reception should be as long as it
takes for you and your guests to enjoy each others company and
have fun. It can last a couple of hours or all day if you like.
Don't feel
obligated to stretch the event out. Often, your older guests
tire easily and would like to leave before the designated
departure time anyway. If you are having a beach side bash,
consider a "come and go" atmosphere. Let people know what time
your departure will be so they can be there to send you off.
As far as
beach wedding reception ideas go, the rule of thumb is - there
is no rule of thumb! Break the mold. Do something different,
something fun, something memorable.
Whatever
you and your guests will enjoy most, IS the perfect beach
wedding reception!
Cindy
English is the publisher of
Beach-Wedding-Themes.com where you will find ideas
for beach wedding themes full of fun, fantasy and romance.
Discover new places to shop and things to make at:
www.beach-wedding-themes.com
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