Some Useful Advice You Need to Know Before You Decide on Your Wedding Reception

"Your staff were the best and most professional and we appreciated everything they did for us and our guests that evening. I have only heard positive things from our friends and family and I know Mike and I had a great time. The food was excellent and we couldn't of asked for a better place to have our reception. Thank you for all of your help with making this special day happen for us. You were so nice when we asked for help with reducing the budget and we appreciate it so much. We would recommend your place again!! I'm sure we will see you in the future or anytime we are in Tahoe we will stop by to say hello and eat a good meal. Take care."
(Tracy & Mike Woolf, Wedding August 2009)

Ceremony. With most weddings accompanied by some kind of dinner, the costs can really add up quickly. I believe the wedding ceremony to be the most important part of a wedding celebration, since the vows made in the ceremony are the whole reason everybody is there in the first place. The wedding reception is then a celebration for you, your friends and family to relax and enjoy.

Reception. If you’re not careful, the biggest expense of your wedding day could be your reception. There is no particular protocol for a wedding reception. For years, the wedding reception has been one of the biggest sources of stress and planning for the bride and groom. Worrying about caterers, bakers, bands or wedding DJ, florists, favors, centerpieces and reception venues, all have to come together to create the perfect reception. Its no wonder the reception will be the most fun but it can also be the most stressful.

Planning. If you're planning a wedding and are stuck when it comes to your wedding reception, here are some common types of wedding receptions as well as some common traditions that take place during the wedding reception. Hopefully my wife and I at "Murphy's" will make your planning easier, and perhaps save you money at the same time.

Types of Wedding Receptions: "Affordable, Economic, Top Shelf and Alternative"

Your Dream. When most brides think of a wedding reception, they think of a beautiful and ornate room filled with magnificently decorated tables, a fancy dinner with charming wedding favors along with an open bar and a dance floor. While this has been the tradition for years, it could also be the reason why the costs of weddings have increased so dramatically. Just know that while that is a popular style of wedding reception, it's not the only option available to you.

Advice. We have seen a trend in the past couple of years for couples to enjoy a more relaxed style of wedding reception.

Affordable. A fun location with a superb buffet, a little decoration, a few favors and perhaps the first drink with succulent appetizers. You can also provide an Ipod for your music to be played not only during the buffet dinner but also for the after dinner dancing. This can save hundreds of dollars without the need for a DJ. This can be a very affordable affair. At Murphy's we have Ipod connections and superior Bose sound system.

Economic. To make your whole day stress free, purchase a complete wedding package. This would include the ceremony, minister, flowers, photography and your complete reception. By choosing this option you and your family can concentrate on the invitations, color scheme and favors. How stress free would that be?

Top Shelf. Lakefront and Beach side ceremony, followed by a Limousine or Carriage ride to your reception. Cocktails, champagne and succulent appetizers served outdoors in our rose garden setting. Prime Rib and Seafood buffet with wedding cake and speeches. Entertainment with a live band or DJ to dance the evening away. Many extra’s we can arrange would include, a Videographer, Helicopter view of Lake Tahoe and luxury suite accommodation.

No matter which option you choose, At Murphy's our goal is to give you the best service by enhancing each aspects of the ceremony and reception, for you to remember one of the most beautiful days of your life.

Alternatives. Another popular option for a wedding reception is a cake, appetizers and champagne reception, which really is what it sounds. This type of reception is typically served in the afternoon and features some fruit and cheese trays and favorite appetizers together with the wedding cake and champagne. Cake and champagne receptions are typically standing room only and only last for an hour or so. A dessert and coffee reception is much the same, though usually in a wedding that is later in the evening.

Wedding Reception Traditions

There are some traditions at the wedding reception that many people will look for and expect. While there is no particular order, there is the cutting of the cake. The cake cutting is always a popular photo opportunity so be prepared to serve the cake after cutting. There is also the throwing of the bouquet by the bride to the single ladies in the room to see who will be having their next wedding, and the throwing of the garter by the groom to the single men. Some of these might seem a little crazy, but traditions are just that way.

Other traditions for the wedding reception that you may or may not follow are the speeches. Traditionally, the father of the bride, the maid of honor, the groom and the best man, along with any other guests who’d like to get up and give a speech. The first dance for the bride and groom, the dances with the bride and her dad and the groom and his mother are common favorites. Then, there is the exit from the wedding reception to a waiting car to take the bride and groom to their honeymoon.

There are many different decorating ideas for wedding receptions. Themes with colors, centerpieces with flowers, it can take a great deal of energy and stress for a bride and her family to plan the perfect reception party. Be sure to do your research and remember that some of the extras that you may be looking for go unnoticed by your guests, so it isn’t necessary to overspend on extras for your wedding reception.