Happy New Year! Courtesy of sprungphoto.com.
Happy New Year to all! If you just got engaged, please accept my congratulations. Enjoy your engagement. There’s no time like it. And remember to leave plenty of time to spend with your spouse-to-be even while you are busy planning your wedding.
For those who celebrate holidays right around now, I’d like to offer my best wishes for your holidays. May all your dreams come true!
There's nothing "bridal" about this wedding. Photo courtesy of Artisan Events, Inc.
There are a lot of ways the word “bridal” is used at weddings. There is the “bridal party” and there is “bridal seclusion” and probably a lot of other bridal things. What if it’s the same-sex wedding of two men? The word doesn’t seem to make any sense, since there is no bride.
Is there another word that works as well? Well, we can say “wedding party” instead of “bridal party.” What if the pair have decided not to see each other until the processional? Is that “pre-nuptial seclusion”? I hope someone comes up with a good word before I do my next same-sex wedding!
The cake design from Swedish Bakery echoed the invitation design for the wedding.
I’ve walked by the Swedish Bakery in Andersonville for years, but it was only this past summer that I had the pleasure of working with them on a wedding. I gave my clients the names of several bakeries, and they ended up having tastings at two of them, the second being Swedish Bakery.
I was able to join my clients at the tasting, so I saw first-hand how well the bakery works with clients. Not only were the cake and the frosting delicious (and, according to my clients, much better than the other bakery where they had a tasting), the bakery’s wedding specialist also did a great job helping my clients with the design process.
On the day of the wedding, everything from them went perfectly, too. They delivered on time and with the cake in perfect condition. And it was gorgeous! The cake itself tasted as good as the tasting cake, too. Everyone was happy with it.
You might pass over Swedish Bakery thinking that it’s an ethnic specialty shop, but, in reality, it is a bakery with a wide range of capabilities. Their wedding cakes are delicious and beautiful to look at. What more could you want?
There are restaurants that are suitable for wedding receptions. Photo by Johnny Knight.
Of all the places you could have your wedding reception, do you want to choose to have it at a restaurant? There are definitely pros and cons.
Of course, first, whether or not this is a good idea depends on what restaurant you choose. There are some that are very good at this caliber of event. There are some that don’t have the first idea what is required.
It also depends on your expectations. If you are having a quiet luncheon for 15 close family members, many restaurants are capable. If you want a full-blown wedding reception for 150 with a DJ and a dance floor, there are many fewer places that can handle that level of service.
One of the advantages of having your wedding reception at a restaurant is the possibility of saving money. Restaurants are often a less expensive way to cater a large party. They rarely have a room charge, or, if they do, it is nominal. They also provide tables, chairs, linens, dishes, glassware, and silver as part of their package. Because they own all the furniture and serving pieces, you don’t pay a separate rental rate for them.
What you often give up for the price is the high level of service that most wedding caterers provide. In my experience, wedding caterers are more responsive than restaurants. They can also be more flexible. They are accustomed to working with very demanding clients. A restaurant may or may not have those qualities. If you are thinking of having your reception at a restaurant, this would be a good thing to find out before you decide.
I worked on a wedding reception once where the bride didn’t receive any kind of contract or receipt from the restaurant after she made her payment. It was worrisome because she had specific contracts with all the rest of her vendors. The restaurant was completely above board and the reception went off without a hitch. They were just treating her wedding reception the same way they treated all of their reservations. They didn’t see the need for any more paperwork. That is not what you’ll find with a full-service caterer.
So, is it a good idea to have your reception at a restaurant? That’s up to you. I’ve worked at some wonderful restaurant receptions. I’ve also seen some of the drawbacks. Just be sure you know what you’re getting into before you make a commitment.
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