The strain of organising a wedding could be considerable. The bride wants nothing less than a picture-perfect wedding on her big day, but a wedding costs a lot of money. The reception meal is a major expense for any wedding. Which one is better, and what’s the differences between the two?
Say your “I do’s” in the garden, vineyard, or rooftop, and then celebrate with cocktails and a reception in the ballroom, barn, or courtyard. This is the standard wedding timeline, however some couples, especially those who prefer a more unique ceremony location, nevertheless choose to hold their celebrations at two different locations.
Your perfect all-in-one location alternatives may be more limited-and possibly even more expensive-if your wedding day fantasy has always involved saying “I do” front of the thundering surf, on a mountainside, or in a towering redwood forest. Sometimes the only option to get precisely what you want is to book two distinct event spaces, which may add a little extra work to your plate.
A Historical Perspective
Following the ceremony, guests are invited to a reception. Wedding guests were traditionally welcomed and fed at a reception. After World War II, lavish weddings became more common. It was common practise for weddings to be held at the bride’s family estate. The sophistication of celebrations was frequently decided by the parents’ means and standing. Inviting many people to a wedding reception became common as people began holding them at dance halls. It evolved into a party because people could bring more people.
The reception and the wedding feast are often mixed today. When it comes to today’s relationships, the stars are the limit. Dinner and the reception might be held in your own house. The same may be said about wedding halls. The dinner, reception, and ceremony will all take place in the same location. Marriage ceremonies held in the evening typically include a meal. A number of the visitors are beginning to feel peckish and vocalise their want for food.
Traditions Are Disappearing
Wedding receptions traditionally had receiving lines. In this way, everyone had a chance to congratulate the newlyweds. Most modern wedding planners view this practise as unnecessary time drain. The newlyweds’ tradition of going to each guest’s seat is becoming increasingly common. Also, the loud D.J. who used to make the announcement has been substituted by the tradition. If there is a receiving line, it should begin with the grandparents of the bride, then the parents of a groom, then the bride and groom, then the maid of honour, and finally the bridesmaids.
There was once a strict protocol for hosting a wedding reception meal. Toasts were made between courses. Nowadays, toasts at weddings are brief (often two or three minutes) and straightforward. Not only that, but the custom of the head of the table has evolved slightly as well. The wedding party and the groom and bride sat at the head of the table. Younger couples today prefer to mingle with the crowd. The reception dance came right after the meal. However, dancing is not required at any point during the meal or reception.
When it comes to your special day, Vogue Ballroom has proven itself to be an iconic wedding reception venue and function centre in Melbourne.
At today’s receptions, there is typically a large quantity of food served. If alcoholic beverages will be served, food must also be provided. If there is enough food at the reception, then no one will miss dinner. At the reception, one woman served a mashed potato bar. Due to the number of potato toppings, everyone left the table feeling quite full. Wedding receptions with multiple courses are more common among those who go all out. The terms “wedding reception” and “wedding dinner” are synonymous.
The Difference
You actually get married during the ceremony. Unless you choose for a bare-bones legal ceremony, the specifics of the ceremony will be determined by your religion and culture. Tradition holds that the bride is given to groom, the couple exchanges vows, and the marriage is then officially recognised by a religious or governmental body.
It’s set up like a show, with the visitors playing the role of the audience.
The reception follows the ceremony, and is typically held in a different venue. Everyone gathers to party in honour of the newlyweds. In these gatherings, friends and neighbours mingle, eat, chat, and sometimes even dance. Anything from a light snack spread to a formal sit-down dinner is fair game. There is occasionally live music. The first dance at a wedding in the Western tradition is shared by the bride and groom while guests watch and enjoy wedding cake.
Family and friends may well have travelled considerable distances to be present at the wedding, so the reception provides an opportunity for everyone to mingle.
The modern wedding reception is not all that different from a formal dinner. The groom and bride are free to plan an extravagant or low-key reception and meal. A wedding hoe-down is a typical choice for couples looking for a unique and memorable theme. There will most likely be a lot of barbeques. There can be a reception for just the newlyweds, and then everyone can disperse to their own homes. The reception included alcoholic beverages and light snacks. A wedding reception dinner is typically a more formal affair. Get in touch with villarussocatering.com to find out more about wedding dinners.
There Are Several Advantages To Holding Your Wedding Ceremony And Reception In The Same Location:
- Easy, convenient, and rapid purchasing. Instead of trying to coordinate two distinct locations, booking one site (with one venue manager!) for the entire event simplifies so many parts of your big day.
- Decreased Travel Time. No need to plan for, or budget for, transportation for guests from the venue of the ceremony to the reception. And your visitors won’t have to drive all over town to find parking!
- No bumps in the cocktail hour. Once the couple has exchanged vows, they can immediately start drinking. And as you and your new spouse pose for wedding photos, your friends and family can munch on apps in peace.
- Repurposed household furnishings. Decor can be reused much more easily if the ceremony and reception take place in the same location. The backdrop of your love table, for instance, can be the same arch that you use throughout the ceremony.
- Enhanced presence. People who would have trouble travelling to two different locations for the ceremony and reception can now attend both events without having to decide.
Here Are Some Pointers If You Decide On Separate Ceremony And Reception Locations:
- Cut down on travel times as much as possible. You should try to keep the time between both the ceremony and the reception to no more than one hour as a courtesy to your guests. Think about how traffic is typically (and the weather prediction, of course) in your area.
- Give people directions. Give us reliable maps of BOTH areas (either with the invites or on your wedding website).
- Keep an eye on the space between the cars. Give your guests plenty of notice if there will be a significant break in the festivities between both the ceremony and reception. Provide your guests with a list of enjoyable things to do in the area before the reception begins as an insert in the invitations or on the wedding website. Keep the time between calls to a maximum of 90 minutes.
- Get away from parking complication. Parking might be difficult to find, and the roads can be difficult to navigate, at some iconic or off-the-beaten-path spots. Reserve a shuttle service if money permits or arrange for allocated parking with the event managers in advance.
- Calm down. Even though you won’t have to “flip” the space if you hold the ceremony and reception at different locations, you may still need to transport the flowers, makeup, and extra paper products used for the ceremony to the reception. Make a detailed list of everything you’ll need to bring to the reception, and have your Maid of Honour or even a trustworthy family member convey it.
How To Use The Time Between Your Ceremony And Reception To Your Advantage
Inform Your Visitors
If your guests will need to kill time for a while before your reception starts, make sure they know ahead of time. You may help your guests pass the time by offering suggestions for things to do and places to eat and drink in the area on your wedding website, as well as in any welcome materials you provide them.
Looking for the Best Wedding Venue in Melbourne? Vogue Ballroom is Melbourne’s Iconic wedding venue place.
Photo Schedule
What are some activities that you and your families and wedding guests can enjoy during that time? Snap some shots! Take this time to get to know the place you’ve picked for the wedding and take some photos that will help you remember the day forever.
Apply Touch-Ups
Utilise the time before the reception to get your hair and cosmetics fixed up, especially if your wedding is in the summer. You should feel as beautiful as you did on your wedding day when entering the cocktail hour.
Spend Some Time Alone
How about using the space for something else? Spend some quality time apart with your new spouse. After the wedding, relax in your honeymoon suite with a celebratory meal delivered by the hotel. That’s not the best part, though. Get the maid of honour or wedding planner to assist you change from your wedding dress into some comfy leggings as well as a button-down top (so you don’t ruin your hair or makeup) before sitting down to eat as a married couple.
Feed Your Family And Friends
When you and your partner go away for some alone time, make sure the wedding party is served, either individually or as a group. When cocktail time rolls around, the very last thing you want is for everyone to be ravenous.
Make Available Transportation
You should help your guests get to the reception if it isn’t in close proximity to the ceremony location. Make sure the cocktail hour is ready to go as soon as they come in the door, and let them know when the shuttles would be leaving or how to hail a designated private car like Uber.
Greet Your Visitors
Having the reception a few hours that after ceremony also means you can enjoy a cocktail reception before the guests arrive. You can say hello to your guests in a reception line as they enter the cocktail hour area before showing them to the bar. You can still enjoy your cocktail hour and mingle as much as you like, even if you’re going for a more casual vibe by taking photos and touching up before the reception begins.
Why You Should Hold Both Your Ceremony And Reception At The Same Location!
You’ve made the decision to spend the rest of your life with the person you love. It’s time to start ironing out the finer points of the wedding now. Getting started can feel overwhelming if you’ve never organised something on this scale before. To whom does the bill belong? What should we eat, if anything? Is a first-look picture shoot the way to go, or should we stick to tried-and-true methods? How about some handwritten vows instead of the old-fashioned ones?
As a result, there are several inquiries that need to be addressed. Let’s get started on the first step that will determine the rest of your options before you start to feel overwhelmed. By this, We mean settling on a location. You and your soon-to-be husband should talk about whether you want the ceremony and reception to be held in the same site or in different places before you go on any venue tours. While it’s true that all-in-one venues make life easier for everyone involved, many couples are interested in booking not one but two locations for their big day.
Having said that, We want to devote this week’s piece to the difficulty of deciding whether or not to hold the ceremony and reception at same site. It is customary at Madera Estates to have the ceremony in front of Grand Fireplace and the reception inside the Hacienda, as some of us may already know. The primary motivation behind this is a desire to provide our couples with a pleasant and hassle-free experience. On the other hand, this is only one advantage of the method.
Let Vogue Ballroom Wedding Venue help you create the most magical day of your life.
It’s Easier For Out-Of-Town Visitors
To make things easy on out-of-town guests, hold both celebrations at the same location. They can relax because they will not be concerned about how to get from A to B. They also will not be concerned about filling the time between both the ceremony and the reception with entertainment.
While cellphones should help alleviate these worries, “what if?” scenarios are still possible. Are they able to find an other method to get there if the roadway is closed due to an accident? We’ve all been in situations where we’re in an unfamiliar place and Siri can’t seem to pin down our precise location. Adding that to the list of potential outcomes. And at the time that this void is in fact occuring, you will be too preoccupied with taking pictures of the guests enjoying themselves after the ceremony for you to be expected to play the role of tour guide.
Wet Weather!
Unfortunately, there are times when even man cannot tame “mother nature.” Bad weather is unfortunately sometimes inevitable. A contingency plan should always be in place in case of inclement weather. You can make this one a reality if you arrange to have the ceremony as well as the celebration at the same location. In brief, most venues that offer both a ceremony and a reception will allow guests to “flip,” or move the ceremony indoors and then the reception outside. We constantly reassure our couples that if bad weather should occur on their wedding day, they have a backup plan in case the ceremony has to be moved indoors due to inclement weather. The Hacienda is also a great place to host a wedding or other special event. It’s a win-win because your guests won’t have to brave the elements again to make it to the reception.
Rain or drizzle may be annoying, but it often makes for spectacular photo opportunities. We held a wedding at Estates a few years ago, and these are some of the photos!
Spend Less Money!
Our last blog post was on how to save money for your ideal wedding. Despite its perennial significance, this issue doesn’t always receive the coverage it merits. It’s important to keep costs down while arranging a wedding, so it’s worth your time to look for places to save corners. Having said that, transportation and lodging expenses are two places where savings can be made with relative ease. It stands to reason that eliminating the need to transfer attendees between locations would result in significant savings if both events were held in the same location.
One Location, One Venue Manager, And One Phone Number!
There will probably be a good number of meetings with various service providers throughout the duration of your wedding planning. Every vendor from the wedding’s videographers and photographers to a caterers and florists will need to meet with you. The venue management will likely be the first of several vendors you encounter. If you’re thinking about an all-in-one solution, then you’ll only have to confirm the availability of a single location on your wedding day. We asked that you not make any calls between the ceremony and reception locations. Assuming that your one-stop-shop location is available, you’re ready to go! Everything you need is right here; it’s the ultimate in convenience.
Better Attendance = Shorter Commute
Guests will be put in an awkward position if the ceremony & reception are scheduled to take place in different locations. To save time and energy, they may want to choose only one of the two events to attend. They will usually just go to the reception. However, with only one place to choose from, this should be much easier!
Simple Day-Of Schedule
Planning the order of events for the big day is a big part of what a wedding planner does. This may be easier than it sounds, depending on the specifics of the wedding. Couples who choose to have their ceremony and reception in different locations will need to factor in travel time, which can be unpredictable.
However, if you shouldn’t have to worry with transporting guests from one place to another, creating a schedule for the “Day-Of” is far less stressful. Once the ceremony is over, the cocktail hour can begin and photographs can be taken.
Conclusion
Some couples choose to hold their celebrations at two different locations. The reception meal is a major expense for any wedding. After World War II, lavish weddings became more common. The newlyweds’ tradition of going to each guest’s seat is becoming increasingly common. Most modern wedding planners view this practise as an unnecessary time drain.
The Vogue Ballroom has proved itself to be an iconic wedding reception venue and function centre in Melbourne. There was once a strict protocol for hosting a wedding reception meal. Toasts were made between courses. Nowadays, toasts at weddings are brief (often two or three minutes) and straightforward. Younger couples today prefer to mingle with the crowd.
Holding Your Wedding Ceremony And Reception In The Same Location Simplifies So Many Parts Of The Big Day -. Booking one site (with one venue manager!) for the entire event simplifies so many parts of your big day. No need to plan for, or budget for, transportation for guests from the venue of the ceremony to the reception. And your visitors won’t have to drive all over town to find parking!
Content Summary:
- The strain of organising a wedding could be considerable.
- The bride wants nothing less than a picture-perfect wedding on her big day, but a wedding costs a lot of money.
- The reception meal is a major expense for any wedding.
- Which one is better, and what’s the differences between the two?
- Say your “I do’s” in the garden, vineyard, or rooftop, and then celebrate with cocktails and a reception in the ballroom, barn, or courtyard.
- This is the standard wedding timeline, however some couples, especially those who prefer a more unique ceremony location, nevertheless choose to hold their celebrations at two different locations.
- Your perfect all-in-one location alternatives may be more limited-and possibly even more expensive-if your wedding day fantasy has always involved saying “I do” front of the thundering surf, on a mountainside, or in a towering redwood forest.
- Sometimes the only option to get precisely what you want is to book two distinct event spaces, which may add a little extra work to your plate.
- Following the ceremony, guests are invited to a reception.
- Wedding guests were traditionally welcomed and fed at a reception.
- After World War II, lavish weddings became more common.
- It was common practise for weddings to be held at the bride’s family estate.
- The sophistication of celebrations was frequently decided by the parents’ means and standing.
- Inviting many people to a wedding reception became common as people began holding them at dance halls.
- It evolved into a party because people could bring more people.
- The reception and the wedding feast are often mixed today.
- When it comes to today’s relationships, the stars are the limit.
- Dinner and the reception might be held in your own house.
- The same may be said about wedding halls.
- The dinner, reception, and ceremony will all take place in the same location.
- Marriage ceremonies held in the evening typically include a meal.
- A number of the visitors are beginning to feel peckish and vocalise their want for food.
- Wedding receptions traditionally had receiving lines.
- In this way, everyone had a chance to congratulate the newlyweds.
- If there is a receiving line, it should begin with the grandparents of the bride, then the parents of a groom, then the bride and groom, then the maid of honour, and finally the bridesmaids.
- There was once a strict protocol for hosting a wedding reception meal.
- Toasts were made between courses.
- Nowadays, toasts at weddings are brief (often two or three minutes) and straightforward.
- Not only that, but the custom of the head of the table has evolved slightly as well.
- The wedding party and the groom and bride sat at the head of the table.
- Younger couples today prefer to mingle with the crowd.
- The reception dance came right after the meal.
- However, dancing is not required at any point during the meal or reception.
- When it comes to your special day, Vogue Ballroom has proven itself to be an iconic wedding reception venue and function centre in Melbourne.
- At today’s receptions, there is typically a large quantity of food served.
- If alcoholic beverages will be served, food must also be provided.
- If there is enough food at the reception, then no one will miss dinner.
- At the reception, one woman served a mashed potato bar.
- Due to the number of potato toppings, everyone left the table feeling quite full.
- Wedding receptions with multiple courses are more common among those who go all out.
- The terms “wedding reception” and “wedding dinner” are synonymous.
- You actually get married during the ceremony.
- Unless you choose for a bare-bones legal ceremony, the specifics of the ceremony will be determined by your religion and culture.
- Tradition holds that the bride is given to groom, the couple exchanges vows, and the marriage is then officially recognised by a religious or governmental body.
- It’s set up like a show, with the visitors playing the role of the audience.
- The reception follows the ceremony, and is typically held in a different venue.
- Everyone gathers to party in honour of the newlyweds.
- In these gatherings, friends and neighbours mingle, eat, chat, and sometimes even dance.
- Anything from a light snack spread to a formal sit-down dinner is fair game.
- There is occasionally live music.
- The first dance at a wedding in the Western tradition is shared by the bride and groom while guests watch and enjoy wedding cake.
- Family and friends may well have travelled considerable distances to be present at the wedding, so the reception provides an opportunity for everyone to mingle.
- The modern wedding reception is not all that different from a formal dinner.
- The groom and bride are free to plan an extravagant or low-key reception and meal.
- A wedding hoe-down is a typical choice for couples looking for a unique and memorable theme.
- There will most likely be a lot of barbeques.
- There can be a reception for just the newlyweds, and then everyone can disperse to their own homes.
- The reception included alcoholic beverages and light snacks.
- A wedding reception dinner is typically a more formal affair.
- Get in touch with villarussocatering.com to find out more about wedding dinners.
- There Are Several Advantages To Holding Your Wedding Ceremony And Reception In The Same Location: Easy, convenient, and rapid purchasing.
- Instead of trying to coordinate two distinct locations, booking one site (with one venue manager!) for the entire event simplifies so many parts of your big day.
- Decreased Travel Time.
- No need to plan for, or budget for, transportation for guests from the venue of the ceremony to the reception.
Frequently Asked Questions About Wedding Reception
Is the wedding reception the actual wedding?
A wedding reception is a party usually held after the completion of a marriage ceremony as hospitality for those who have attended the wedding, hence the name reception: the couple receives society, in the form of family and friends, for the first time as a married couple.
Can I go to the reception but not the wedding?
Sure! If you’re not invited to the ceremony. That’s the meat of the issue; a formal invitation is not a choose-your-own-adventure arrangement.
How far is too far between the wedding and reception?
As a general suggestion, try to keep the travel distance under 20 miles from the ceremony to the reception. If your reception site is further away than 20 miles, then be sure to make it a special destination for you as well as your guests.
Why do weddings have a reception?
A reception is held to welcome all the guests who attended your wedding. It’s where the couple receives their friends and family, and the community, for the first time as a married couple. It also applies the other way around. It is the time when the community receives the couple as an official married couple.
How do you invite people to a wedding but not the wedding reception?
Either way, the phrasing of reception-only invitations is key. On the invitation, instead of inviting guests to witness your marriage, the wording should say that guests are invited to a reception to celebrate your marriage-this implies that you will already be married by the time they arrive.
