Do It Yourself Wedding – Part 2

Food Friendly Reception Location Ideas

Whether you want to save money in your wedding planning or want to be sure it is extra special and personalized, a reception is the focal point. While your ceremony will be short and whir by, your reception is where guests will let loose and celebrate. A do it yourself wedding reception is a party to be remembered! Sure, you can do all the elements of a wedding reception yourself: food, entertainment, music, favors, drinks, centerpieces, other decorations and the dreaded clean-up afterwards…but it might be safer for you to look over the following ideas and pick which things excite you the most.

At Home — Sometimes you’ll find just what you need in your very own backyard…or the yard of a family member or friend. Backyard weddings are my absolute favorite weddings to plan. Why? Because you can get there early to set-up, clean up at your own pace, have control over everything and you won’t pay a dime for renting it so the money can go towards other things.

Children of the Inner Light – Hugging Wedding Wedding Invitations The charming couple is printed in matte ink on translucent vellum that overlays a pearl bordered card.

Government Owned — Many city governments own historical buildings and homes that can be rented out for weddings. Since these buildings aren’t a business themselves you’ll have to bring in your own fare.

Love is Patient Wedding Invitations Favorite words from scripture frame your words of invitation. An elegant Silver framed backer adds a touch of elegance.

Parks — Most state parks will allow you to rent a section of them and often have shelters with bathrooms and electricity. The fee is next to nothing which is an added bonus and you will be surrounded by nature.

College Campus — If you live near a college campus then surely look into that location. Most campuses have several meeting buildings that would work and will be on the cheap side. While the conference rooms might not be beautiful, you can always use your creative skills to dress them up.

Art Galleries — Some art galleries host receptions and allow you to bring in your own eats or hire caterers. Depending on the gallery it can be on the pricey side.

Other Ideas — Think outside the wedding industry. Rent a farmer’s barn or an unused warehouse. Call the owner of a home that is for rent and see if you can rent if for just a weekend. Call around and find out which locations will let you do your own thing and simply cross off the list the ones that say no.

DYO Menu Cards Our Design Your Own series allows you to customize these White or Ecru menu cards with your choice of design and accent color. Size: 9 1/4″ x 4″ Paper Color: Ecru or White

With a little patience you’ll find the perfect reception location where you can have the wedding food of your dreams! Eat, drink and be married!

Tips

  • Get started early. The number of DIY projects you take on is up to you, but be realistic about the amount of time you’ll have to work on the projects, as well as your own abilities. The period leading up to a wedding can be stressful enough without forcing yourself to learn a new skill on top of it all.
  • Involve the extra hands of close friends and family. If your wedding party is nearby, they will likely be glad to help. Offer food and drink, and make a party around each task.
  • Take a class or check out books on the subject to feel more confident in acquiring a skill you need. Bakeries may offer a cake decorating class. There are plenty of books on flower-arranging, specifically for wedding flowers.
  • Enlist the help of friends who have experience in these types of projects.

Designer Cake Boxes Great for cake, mints, chocolates or nuts, these delightful wedding cake boxes can be personalized with the imprint color and design of your choice along with your names and wedding date.  Box Size: 4 1/4″ x 3″ x 1 1/4″.  PLEASE NOTE: The cake boxes are made from a moisture-proof material; therefore, their color may vary slightly from other accessory items Sold in sets of 50 Cake Boxes

Warning

Not so much a warning, actually. More like advice. Make a decision and stick to it. Come up with an idea that excites you, and then stop obsessing over other ideas. Don’t make things harder on yourself than they need to be. Remember, people don’t know how awesome the original idea was–they only know how awesome the invitation they received is. Mail your invitation to yourself early. I took my original idea for an invitation to the post office and was told that I would have to mail it “parcel post” because it was too stiff.

The best thing to do with your DIY projects was start early, right after you are engaged come up with a vision for your wedding. Enlist your friends. Not so much to help you with the projects, but for the company. If you get together to do your DIY projects, you can talk about wedding planning the whole time. This has the added benefit of not making your non-bride friends crazy. You may step on a few toes: by necessity, your minimum budget dictates your guest list must be relatively short.

Even the most meticulously planned weddings have minor glitches and major disasters. If you are doing this, you absolutely must not sweat the small stuff. If you are a couple with a license, an officiant, and a location to be married, then everything is the way it is supposed to be.