Different wedding reception ideas!
Printed From: OHbaby!
Category: General Chat
Forum Name: General Chat
Forum Description: For mums, dads, parents-to-be, grandparents, friends -- you name it! And you name the topic you want to chat about!
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=23809
Printed Date: 12 October 2025 at 1:56am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Different wedding reception ideas!
Posted By: popcorn
Subject: Different wedding reception ideas!
Date Posted: 16 January 2009 at 9:13pm
|
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! |
Replies:
Posted By: FreeSpirit
Date Posted: 16 January 2009 at 9:21pm
|
A picnic or BBQ in a local park or at a lake? Nice and relaxed, and some great photo opportunities! ------------- http://www.babysfirstsite.com"> 
|
Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 16 January 2009 at 9:28pm
|
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. -------------  |
Posted By: Peanut
Date Posted: 16 January 2009 at 9:45pm
|
We went to the coolest wedding where they got married on the beach and then gave everyone a picnic hamper with food, bottle of wine and a blanket etc to sit on really cool and relaxing. After that headed to a local bar for drinks and dancing.
They kinda had people in groups for the hamper so 4-6 to a hamper, if that makes sense. -------------  
|
Posted By: Hopes
Date Posted: 16 January 2009 at 9:46pm
|
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. -------------   
|
Posted By: Bubnumber2
Date Posted: 16 January 2009 at 9:57pm
|
Cocktail party reception, drinks with finger food?
Sunrise ceremony with champagne breakfast? Picnic style reception? ------------- http://www.bump-and-beyond.com/"> 
|
Posted By: caliandjack
Date Posted: 16 January 2009 at 11:04pm
|
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. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">   [/url] Angel June 2012 |
Posted By: Danaj
Date Posted: 17 January 2009 at 8:10am
|
We had a cocktail reception at the elephant house in Auckland Zoo. All the guests got to spend the arvo going around looking at the animals. Would have been fine if we hadn't invited any family LOL.
Just do what you want chick, stuff everyone else. We spent tens of thousands of dollars (last march) and realised only afterwards that we could have had our dream wedding for much less if we hadn't catered for every idiot who made us feel bad for the choices we made. Try jumping on the forums at www.weddings.co.nz that's where I spent a good year before our wedding and the girls on there were invaluable. Quite a few of them are on here now too  ------------- http://www.TickerFactory.com/weight-loss/wyI1oWn/"> 
|
Posted By: LJsmum
Date Posted: 17 January 2009 at 3:10pm
|
Your engaged???? When did that happen???????????? -------------  
|
Posted By: LJsmum
Date Posted: 17 January 2009 at 3:30pm
big congratulations!!! great ideas for a different reception -------------
|
Posted By: mum2paris
Date Posted: 17 January 2009 at 7:39pm
|
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. ------------- Janine and her 2 cool chicks, Paris & Ayja 
|
Posted By: MummyFreckle
Date Posted: 17 January 2009 at 7:43pm
|
I guess it all depends on your budget.... Cocktails and nibbles at the Art Gallery / Museum - very elegant. Habour cruise - lovely at Sunset There are some very cool bars and restaurants that have private rooms that would be lovely for a reception - but I guess thats not very unusual. We looked at the zoo - but we had too many guests to make it really enjoyable! MOTAT - there is a lovely villa / house in the ground of MOTAT where they hold weddings and receptions - some friends of ours got married there and it was really nice.
------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
|
Posted By: BusyMum2three
Date Posted: 17 January 2009 at 9:21pm
|
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
|
Posted By: Danaj
Date Posted: 17 January 2009 at 9:51pm
|
What was your user name Rach? I was on there for most of 2007 as we were married March 2008. ------------- http://www.TickerFactory.com/weight-loss/wyI1oWn/">
|
Posted By: MrsH
Date Posted: 17 January 2009 at 11:26pm
|
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....? ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
|
Posted By: MrsH
Date Posted: 17 January 2009 at 11:28pm
Whaddya do with your handbag though?  ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
|
mrsg1 wrote:Posted By: Danaj
Date Posted: 18 January 2009 at 6:49am
|
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. ------------- http://www.TickerFactory.com/weight-loss/wyI1oWn/">
|
Posted By: Danaj
Date Posted: 18 January 2009 at 6:51am
|
Oh, if you have difficult families, then I advise you to Elope. We wanted to run off to somewhere like Vietnam or the Elvis and Priscilla chapel in Las Vegas but our deposits were non-refundable for the wedding so we had no choice. ------------- http://www.TickerFactory.com/weight-loss/wyI1oWn/">
|
Posted By: DzinerGirl
Date Posted: 18 January 2009 at 10:47pm
| Ohh that picnic hamper idea is really original! |
Posted By: kiwisj
Date Posted: 19 January 2009 at 2:05am
|
Love the picnic hamper idea!
We got married in a winery, so not that original, but I loved it anyway Our ceremony was at 5pm followed by drinks and canapes while DH went and had some photos taken. Loved having an evening wedding because the preparation before was really relaxed (there is so much to do!).
We also thought of getting married in Thailand or Bali with only immediate family but I have an evil stepmother which would have made things a bit cr@p so we went back to NZ and invited our close family (quite extended inmy case) and very close friends. We did everything exactly how we wanted which cause a few ruckuses but I wouldn't change ANYTHING about the day now 
Woops, little bit of a digression ... I loved my wedding (can you tell?!) Have fun planning! ------------- SJ Callum - Dec 2008 Daniel - Oct 2010 |