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Bridal Shower Reception Sites, Venues & Function Facilities
The bridal shower occurs from two months to two weeks before the
wedding.
One rule is that immediate family members (mothers, sisters,
mothers-in-law) should not give showers because it appears that the family
is soliciting gifts.
No one should be invited to the shower who has not been invited to the
wedding, or who does not know the couple.
One of the bride's responsibilities, as far as her shower goes, is to
provide the hostess with a guest list and to make sure that she hasn't
created a financial burden on someone by inviting them to more than one or
two showers. She should also send a written note of thanks to her guests
for any presents received, as well as to the hostess (es) for their
hospitality.
Shower themes can be fun and useful. Unique shower ideas are: A "round
the clock" shower, where guests are assigned an hour of day on their
invitations and bring the appropriate gifts (for example, at 7 a.m. a
guest might bring a toaster); a home repair shower for the bride and
groom; a lingerie shower; a recipe shower, where each guest receives a
recipe card and fills in a favorite dish, a "wishing well"
shower, where in addition to the gift, the guest brings a tiny present (a
wooden spoon, a kitchen sponge, etc.). For a "wishing well shower"
the hostess makes a cardboard replica of a well, and the gifts, wrapped
and tied with ribbons, are tossed in. There are no cards attached, though
sometimes the guests write a poem, and attach it to their gifts. The bride
pulls out the gifts with the ribbons and reads the poems aloud.
Wedding Reception Sites, Halls and Function Facilities
The wedding reception site is the first time you formally receive your
relatives and friends as a married couple. Properly planned, it becomes one
of the most joyous parties you and your groom will ever host. It can be as
simple and demure as champagne and hors d'oeuvres, or encompass an elegant
five-course dinner and dance. Selecting the wedding reception site
location really depends on how many guests you are inviting. Your wedding
reception can be staged nearly anywhere: on a yacht, a beautiful hotel, a
restaurant, a loft, a country club, etc. If you're being married in a season
and locale noted for good, reliable weather, there may be a lovely garden or
arboretum available. Also check out some of the restored historical mansions
for some reception sites ideas, they make delightful fairy-tale backdrops
for a wedding feast. Whatever you decide, know that the services of a
professional banquet facility or caterer can greatly enhance and expedite
the planning of your wedding reception site. Once you've decided the setting
you would prefer, the estimated number of guests and your financial
resources, you're ready to begin interviewing for reception sites and
banquet halls and caterers.
Reserve your wedding reception site facility well in advance and promptly
pay any necessary deposit. Visit the reception site and design a suitable
layout. Decide also whether you'll have a formal or semi-formal receiving
line. Consider grouping furniture to stimulate conversation without
obstructing traffic flow. There should always be one table designated for
the wedding party and one table for the parents. Seating arrangements at the
bride's table are as follows: bridal couple in the center, maid of honor at
the groom's left, best man at the bride's right. Seat the other attendants,
alternating men and women, as space provides.
At a sit-down event, the order of service should be bride, groom, maid of
honor, other attendants, parents and guests. Once all have been served, the
best man presents the traditional toast to the bridal couple.
Cake-cutting comes after dinner. The bridal couple will cut the first slice
and share it. Then the caterer's staff finishes serving while the newlyweds
visit with guests. The last wedding reception ritual, before the bridal
couple leave, is the bride's tossing of her bouquet and the groom's flinging
of the garter.
Finally, you and your groom will leave the reception site for your
honeymoon, no doubt followed by rice raining down upon you and your car or
limousine, bringing with it wishes for fertility, prosperity and happiness.
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