At Home Reception Ideas Needed

My guy and I were engaged 3 weeks ago we're getting married in Playa Del Carmen in March 2008 and many friends won't be able to join us. We want to do a casual celebration upon our return, but I'm at a loss. We don't want to do it at home, we don't want to do a dinner, but we are thinking of reserving a banquet room and serve drinks, and buffet style nice appetizers. I'd also like some sort of music for optional dancing. We should only have about 50 people join us and most won't be family. Just coworkers and friends who like to have a good time.

I have never been to a destination wedding or a reception type thing where the couple was already married. So I am trying to figure out what would make sense for this type of situation. Such as what time would be a good time to start our celebration since we're only doing appetizer type food? Do we stand and greet everyone at the door or once the majority of everyone is there have an announced type entrance or any other ideas?? Then do we have to or should we do some kind of party favor? What about decorating?

As you can see all these questions are just a jumble in my head right now. We are not fancy people nor are we traditional. I just want to enjoy the evening with friends without having to spend a fortune. I'm not a do it yourself kinda gal either so all those fabulous ideas are pretty much worthless on me.

Anyone have any thoughts, recommendations, ideas, advise?

We are having an AHR also. I found a really nice but reasonable location for a saturday afternoon. This way I only have to serve light food. They have an ipod hookup so I don't have to worry about music.

I want it to be very informal, so I'll just be greeting people as they arrive. No planned entrance. No favors, just a picture table with a separate guestbook.

For decoration, I'm just doing gerbera daisies on the tables.

I don't know if any of that helps, but in my opinion, the wedding will already be done, and that's the hard part. This AHR should just be easy, casual and fun.

a lot of people have formal receptions, others have just had really casual receptions. I think it depends on what you want...its your wedding.

It also depends on what you can afford.

Congrats and best of luck!

I have been researching for the past few months, me and the future hubby can't make any decisions. I have heard alot of people utilizing their ipods. I have been looking into Friday evening rentals and also check out park district venues.

You can also check out interesting locations, like a local brewery or vinery. I think when you have things at a more unique place, people could focus on that instead of the light food. That was something originally suggested to us, but our AHR will be too large to do something only for like 2 hours. Something else I looked into was a nice Chinese restaurant. The food is fairly inexpensive and a Chinese reception is a little different. Sorry I don't have anything specific, but its all pretty much however you want to do it. The way I feel about DW's is, there are no rules!

Thank you all for your thoughts. What I'm leaning towards is a local Idaho restaurant that is also a distillery, they've acquired the vacant building next door and are using it for small events. It's obviously casual and they serve really good appetizers. This is a newer place so it won't be somewhere people have been for numerous reception/weddings in the area (there's only so many places here in the valley to choose from)

The Ipod idea sounds interesting, I'll have to see how we could hook that up, that would most likely be a cheaper option! I just don't know much about how that would work and what we would need. Now, after reading your guys' comments I feel a lil better about the limited decorating. I was thinking of having a guest book and pictures from the actual wedding day out, but I still want to wear my dress again and want to see my man all dressed up again. Does that seem out of place? Also, would a wedding cake be out of place?

Thanks again for your comments it is really helpful!

I don't think it would be out of place at all. It is still your wedding reception. I am having my AHR at my FI's parents house with @300 guests and I will be wearing my dress and we will be having cake as well. We are doing a classy picnic-style. Low-key, but still nice. We are even hiring a photog.

I think what you are planning sounds wonderful. Something else that just popped into my head is having a dessert reception. Since you want the cake, perhaps you could do a dessert-only reception! I don't know much about them, but I just read or saw something about it and thought it was a great idea!

Ooh, love the desert reception idea Carly

CluelessBride: Congrats on your engagement! I will be having an AHR for a little more than 50 and it will be pretty casual ( doing BBQ )but I still want the wedding feel. One idea I'm toying with is, instead of buying some little chotsky for people, I want to give them a picture of FI and I at our actual wedding, maybe even add a frame.

I'm still not sure on the timeline for AHR, all I know is I'm having some sort of wedding cake and maybe even doing a cake cutting...mmm...cake..

Question for you girls, how long after the actual wedding are you doing you ahr, and at what point is it too late to have a ahr?

My cousin flew the Vegas and got married, and then had a reception in her hometown upon their return. She booked a banquet room, and served apps and drinks. I wasn't able to attend.. as I live a few thousand miles away, but my family said that most of the people gathered around the bar.. I wouldn't put too much time into decorating as people won't be there for the ambiance, only for the company. As for music, I would go with an IPOD hook up, that would be easiest. I think the AHR is a great jesture in itself, so don't worry about glamming it up.