Wedding Reception at home..???

MrsDrink

loulou123 wrote: »

I Definately think its a nice idea, though I would have to get people in to at least do the washing up, as I hate doing it at the best of times, so wouldn't want to do it on my wedding night!

We had 'paper' plates (they were posh ones that were wet and hot food compatible), plastic cutlery, plastic wine glasses etc so there was actually very little washing up, and what there was just went in the dish washer the next day It was just a case of going round with a bin bag, and the in-laws, bless them, took all the rubbish to the recycling centre for us the next day. There are ways to get around most of the hurdles. Some of which the OP will be happy to compromise on (like paper plates), some she won't. But it is so doable.

busiscoming2

I think it is a lovely idea. The downside for me would be the clearing up afterwards!

I agree with wearing your wedding dress to the bar, as you say it's the only day you'll get to wear it.

msb5262

Seanymph wrote: »

I don't know if anyones mentioned (watching Masterchef at the same time) - but Tesco and sainsbury at least (probably all the others) will do wine/alcohol on sale or return.

Don't know where the OP is based but some friends of ours were living near Dover when they got married...so they went to France on a £24 day return and bought the champagne for their wedding. May be worth considering. Obviously you can't take back what's left over but you can always drink it (or give it to your best man, bridesmaids etc)...

Gloomendoom

We had our reception at my wife's family home.

loulou123 wrote: »

I Definately think its a nice idea, though I would have to get people in to at least do the washing up, as I hate doing it at the best of times, so wouldn't want to do it on my wedding night!

Hiring the plates etc is a good idea as then you don't have to wash them up. Also hiring some staff for the day is also worth considering as it will allow guests to be guests.

As somebody else has pointed out, don't underestimate the amount of preparation and clearing up that needs to be done. It took a week to prepare for ours with all of my wife's (large) side of the family pitching in. Clearing up took three days.

MrsDrink

Gloomendoom wrote: »

As somebody else has pointed out, don't underestimate the amount of preparation and clearing up that needs to be done. It took a week to prepare for ours with all of my wife's (large) side of the family pitching in. Clearing up took three days.

At the same time don't be put off. (Be realistic).

Yes the preparation took a while. I actually made those paper hearts a year in advance but stored them in a box until the big day. lol the extent of our preparation included totally gutting out and redoing our downstairs toilet, and redecorating (which involved replastering) the dining room/stairs/landing. I also had a few days off in between our wedding and the reception to get all the last minute things organised (like being in for the delivery of the chairs and tables). But I LOVED the planning side of the wedding. I would do it all again in a heartbeat. (Ha MrD may not agree with me... think he was relieved it was all over and he no longer had to listen to me rabbit on about 'The Spreadsheet' :rotfl:).

The clearing up for our reception was, as I've said, not too onerous. It only took us the day after, and really only up to midday. It all totally depends on what sort of reception you want and how much mess that will create. And obviously the number of people you want to come. Like if you're having a disco floor laid - then that obviously adds to the tidying. If you encourage people to drink beer out of bottles less tidying.
(We didn't have a disco at our wedding reception :eek: Haaa!)

tubie22

MrsDrink wrote: »

We had 'paper' plates (they were posh ones that were wet and hot food compatible), plastic cutlery, plastic wine glasses etc so there was actually very little washing up, and what there was just went in the dish washer the next day It was just a case of going round with a bin bag, and the in-laws, bless them, took all the rubbish to the recycling centre for us the next day. There are ways to get around most of the hurdles. Some of which the OP will be happy to compromise on (like paper plates), some she won't. But it is so doable.

I'm so on board with the 'posh' paper plates, plastic wine/pint glasses etc. And we have a dishwasher so everything we are keeping (non-disposable) can just be put in the dishwasher before we head out to the bar. Sorted

tubie22

MrsDrink wrote: »

At the same time don't be put off. (Be realistic).

Yes the preparation took a while. I actually made those paper hearts a year in advance but stored them in a box until the big day. lol the extent of our preparation included totally gutting out and redoing our downstairs toilet, and redecorating (which involved replastering) the dining room/stairs/landing. I also had a few days off in between our wedding and the reception to get all the last minute things organised (like being in for the delivery of the chairs and tables). But I LOVED the planning side of the wedding. I would do it all again in a heartbeat. (Ha MrD may not agree with me... think he was relieved it was all over and he no longer had to listen to me rabbit on about 'The Spreadsheet' :rotfl:).

The clearing up for our reception was, as I've said, not too onerous. It only took us the day after, and really only up to midday. It all totally depends on what sort of reception you want and how much mess that will create. And obviously the number of people you want to come. Like if you're having a disco floor laid - then that obviously adds to the tidying. If you encourage people to drink beer out of bottles less tidying.
(We didn't have a disco at our wedding reception :eek: Haaa!)

I love the idea of planning it, it's right up my street to be honest. I'm a bit of a control freak, so whether I was having a reception at home or a grand reception in the Ritz, I would still HAVE to be in control of planning everything to a tee, making sure the place was decorated exactly the way I want etc. I am quite fussy with things like that, so planning is not a problem, and tidying up won't be too much hassle: getting M&S party platters that come already on table top platters so they can be binned when empty, 'Posh' paper plates can be binned, plastic glasses can be binned (obviously by binned I mean recycled, I'd never hear the end of it from other half if I put a plastic or paper item in the normal bin!).

Really I just want our family round to have something to eat, plenty to drink, some music on, a sit down and a chat and then on to the bar after everything has had their fill. Just really simple and homely and us.

tubie22

loulou123 wrote: »

I Definately think its a nice idea, though I would have to get people in to at least do the washing up, as I hate doing it at the best of times, so wouldn't want to do it on my wedding night!

We had a fairly alternative wedding (tho the venue was a traditional hotel setting) and I wore biker boots under my dress, our 1st dance was to metallica and even our DJ was nervous about our playlist for the "disco" as it was mainly rock and metal music!

But it suited our personalities and that was what was important to us, most people loved it, but there was a few who moaned about it not being traditional.

You're wedding sounds awesome If it was perfect for you then it was PERFECT!

P.s. I'll be wearing converse under my dress, which is a 50's style below the knee petticoated little number. I don't do heel, so why change that for a day that's meant to be personal to me? Just for the sake of other people? DON'T THINK SO!

msb5262

tubie22 wrote: »

I'll be wearing converse under my dress, which is a 50's style below the knee petticoated little number. I don't do heel, so why change that for a day that's meant to be personal to me? Just for the sake of other people? DON'T THINK SO!

The dress sounds lovely and the dress/converse combination sounds brilliant - can we see a photo (even if it's only your lower half) after the event please?

MrsDrink

tubie22 wrote: »

P.s. I'll be wearing converse under my dress, which is a 50's style below the knee petticoated little number. I don't do heel, so why change that for a day that's meant to be personal to me? Just for the sake of other people? DON'T THINK SO!

Hurrah for short wedding dresses!!