Alternative Reception Ideas

You don't have to have the standard dinner-dance wedding reception. Consider these alternatives:

Try a dessert reception

Instead of a full meal, consider a late-evening wedding with a dessert reception. Top it off with an espresso bar, a sundae bar and other goodies, and you've got a creative reception that'll cost you less than 40 percent of the standard bill. Put on your invitation "dessert reception following" to alert guests that there won't be a full meal.


Go ethnic

Surprisingly, certain ethnic cuisine is an affordable alternative to traditional wedding fare. Chinese, Mexican, Italian and barbecue are crowd-pleasers that cost 20 percent to 30 percent less than fancier, haute cuisine.

Dress up an ethnic buffet with food stations (a taco bar or pasta station, for example) that lend some pizzazz to the meal. Instead of an open bar, tie in affordable alcohol alternatives (a margarita machine for a Mexican buffet, bottles of Chianti for a Italian meal) to save even more money.


Provide your own bar service

In some cases, freelance bartenders are cheaper than the caterer's own staff. If the caterer allows you to have your own bar service (and buy your own liquor), do a cost comparison between the two options. Some caterers may not allow freelance bartenders because of liability concerns.