The wedding reception is a time for the bride, groom and guests to mingle and unwind
after the ceremony is finally over and the knot has been tied. Of course, socializing
can never be properly done without the right assortment of food and beverages, which
is why proper planning is required when choosing the reception meal. There are some careful
considerations to make before deciding on a particular meal type which will suit your
requirements, budget and the style of wedding.

The timing of the wedding and the length of the reception will determine what
type of meal you serve to your guests. Morning weddings tend to be followed by
light brunches or afternoon teas, while lengthy formal dinners or buffets usually
accompany afternoon ceremonies. Sending your guests home filled to the brim with
food and drink after an evening reception is acceptable but will not be appropriate in
the middle of the day when they may have other things planned.  Evening or “twilight” weddings can be followed with a buffet, canapes or a light meal.

It also pays to consider the size of your wedding reception. Larger venues will be
suitable for buffet-style meals where the food stations are located within the hall or
dining area itself. If your venue is smaller, you may like to consider a formal sit-down
dinner where the food is stored elsewhere. In this case, the number of guests attending
the reception will determine both the size of the venue and ultimately the choice of
dinner which you decide upon.

Budget, of course, will play a major part in deciding on the type of wedding meal that you choose.  However, don’t think that buffets need to be cheap and cheesy or that formal meals are expensive and stuffy.  There are plenty of creative ways to stretch your budget for either option, and add personality to your dinner.  Try serving a tapas meal, or perhaps making the starter and desert courses “sharing platters” on each table.  These options let people eat what they want and can save you considerable amounts of money.

The style of wedding reception should match that of the ceremony itself. Fortunately,
it is simple to achieve a specific dining atmosphere. A sit-down dinner will be elegant
and formal, and will give you the chance to easily control your guests during speeches
and for photographs. Buffet dinners are much more casual and give your guests a
better chance to mingle as they get up to fill their dishes and glasses from the various
food stations around the reception hall.

Regardless of the style of dinner, there are a few other things to think about during
the planning stages. You should make sure to include some catering options for vegetarians and those allergic to certain foods.  Also, make a firm and clear decision on alcohol - will you serve champagne, have an open bar, or provide wine on the tables? Last but not least, consider any smaller mouths that you have at your wedding dinner - children are much more likely to behave if you can give them a meal that they will enjoy!