Different wedding reception ideas!

Hi everyone
We are trying to plan our wedding at the moment and have been thinking that it would be fun to do something a little different for our wedding reception instead of the standard sit down dinner/dance. If anyone has any great ideas we would love to know them!
Were totally open to the time of day, any suggestions for Auckland venues would be great too!

We had a lunch reception (cheaper and we could get away quicker) then got everyone across the road to a park for group and family photos. (We had already had the bridal party photos before lunch.) But another idea is this: when we were off for our photos we got everyone along to the Church hall for wedding cake (which we cut at the conclusion of the ceremony) and tea/coffee. We just were hoping to tie over the guests - mostly the out-of-towners - while we were doing photos but a lot of people got confused and thought the reception would be held from that POV. It could definitely work if that's your kind of thing.

Friends of ours had a picnic - with blankets on the grass and yummy picnic-style food. You'd need a nice day, but they had a lovely one, and we really enjoyed it.

My SIL and BIL got married early in the morning, and had a breakfast reception - that was also very nice.

A really cool idea is what's called the 'walk n fork' a bit more substantial than finger food and cocktails, there's no bit sit down meal, just a buffet where guests help themselves to smaller sized portions, and wander around mingling with each other.

I have been to a number of lunch time wedding receptions, and I highly rate them, also helped the grooms get out of having to dance.

I've been to a pot-luck, where guests brought a plate instead of pressies, was a fantastic casual affair.

My Dad is having affectively an evening garden party/bbq with a wedding ceremony thrown in, 2nd time round for both so not the big formal affair, guests are to bring their own plonk.

Your engaged???? When did that happen????????????

We went a bit different and low key - we had our reception and ceremony at a local cafe that caters for weddings etc, had it at 7pm at night for the ceremony, photos done beforehand of course, and then had supper and drinks and was a nice relaxed night. I felt like i could just sit and talk to whoever i wanted to - not like big receptions where you feel like you can't possibly get round to talk to everyone or sit down and chat for a decent amount of time.
Plus side was that we didn't have to pay for a whole meal for each person, all up cost us under $1,500 for the supper and drinks etc with i think 65 guests.

I do know someone else that eloped to coromandel with very close family and friends only to witness the ceremony on the beach, then came home and had a party with all the rest of her mates.

Edited by mum2paris

Dana - I second you advice of jumping on weddings.co.nz. I spent a huge amount of time on there before we got married Dec 2007! In the process I have also made some great friends

What about dessert? A dessert restaurant with dessert wines and handmade choccies as favours....mmmmm, dessert.

Possibly not good for those diabetics or non-sweet lovers.....

Or am I just being a crazy pregnant woman who could really go some chocolate cake drizzled with warm rasberry sauce, cream and fruit....?

We found that even though we had a cocktail reception and no seating plan, most people found a seat they liked and stuck to it the whole time. I didn't like the idea of a seating plan (and god forbid trying to seat our two families without world war three, which happened anyway) as it was too complicated. Everyone seemed so much happier just finding their own place.

But to tell you the truth, it would have been a far better day without the family and guests. Our two fav parts were being in with the animals, and the drive round Akl in the convertible caddy afterwards. Most of the money went on the reception (about 16k) and we were trying to figure out why we'd done it after we got home. You'll see what I mean after the wedding. Before hand, the guests seem to be all you think about making happy, afterwards you'll want to kick yourself for not making it more about yourselves. That's our one big disappointment.

Ohh that picnic hamper idea is really original!