AHR Ideas please!

[Miss J]

Planning on having an AHR about a week after we return from our honeymoon. It is going to be a fairly casual affair, possibly in a pub with a funcion room/lounge. Was considering having it at home, but wont have the time to organise it properly and would just stress.

As we are "eloping" (but getting married secretely at home and heading straight for the airport!) I will only be posting the invites en route to the airport. This gives the guests about 4 weeks notice to the party, which I think is sufficient, any ideas?

 

Want it casual, but still want to make it a bit special, that it is a celebration party for our wedding/marriage and just not any old party. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated 

[brownsugarbride]

Originally Posted by Miss J 

 

Planning on having an AHR about a week after we return from our honeymoon. It is going to be a fairly casual affair, possibly in a pub with a funcion room/lounge. Was considering having it at home, but wont have the time to organise it properly and would just stress.

As we are "eloping" (but getting married secretely at home and heading straight for the airport!) I will only be posting the invites en route to the airport. This gives the guests about 4 weeks notice to the party, which I think is sufficient, any ideas?

 

Want it casual, but still want to make it a bit special, that it is a celebration party for our wedding/marriage and just not any old party. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated 

 

One of the ideas I got from a recent bridal show was to have a function catered in a Asian restaurant.  I really liked the decor I saw in the pictures on display, and certain ethnic foods such as Chinese tend to be cheaper on average in terms of catering.  Just to give you an example of what I mean, I've linked to the actual restaurant below:

 

http://www.madeinasiacc.com/

[Miss J]

Thanks Brownsugarbride! Its a good idea!  If there are some nice ethnic restaurants, unfortunately  the ones thar are close to where we live are not that exciting. 

Im not sure we want a full blown reception with a sit down meal though.Thinking of buffet or nice platters of food. Not really sure though. Our budget is really tight, thats why we decided on the "eloping" and to have a fabulous honeymoon rather a reception at home with 200+ guests.

 

One thing I do know is that I do want to have a part, just have to decide how "extravagant" its gonna be.

Like DJ or Band

Free Bar or Just welcome drinks

Buffer, Platters or finger food

Shall we have a theme and decorate for the party or not... 

[brownsugarbride]

Thanks Brownsugarbride! Its a good idea!  If there are some nice ethnic restaurants, unfortunately  the ones thar are close to where we live are not that exciting.  Im not sure we want a full blown reception with a sit down meal though.Thinking of buffet or nice platters of food. Not really sure though. Our budget is really tight, thats why we decided on the "eloping" and to have a fabulous honeymoon rather a reception at home with 200+ guests. One thing I do know is that I do want to have a part, just have to decide how "extravagant" its gonna be. Like DJ or Band Free Bar or Just welcome drinks Buffer, Platters or finger food Shall we have a theme and decorate for the party or not... 

You and me both! I do not want to spend a lot of money on an AHR either! Are there any municipal locations like a park or historical building that might work? Often, government-owned buildings can be a lot cheaper to rent. The more natural decor the venue has, the less you will have to spend! As for food, I think hors d'oeuvres are an excellent idea. I met one bride that had over 300 people at her wedding and could not afford a sit-down venue. She told me that she and the groom had served heavy hors d'oeuvres, and the guests were very full and satisfied.

[Miss J]

There are some "halls" in the villages around us, and at one stage I even considered hosting a full blown reception in one of them. But to be honest they arent that pretty and when I got quotes for room draping, backlights etc to make it look nice we're talking near enough the money we spent on our flights for the honeymoon!

The "problem" is that we are in Ireland, and our AHR will be in beginning of January, so we are a bit limited to the type of venue we can choose. For example I would love to have a back yard reception, but you couldnt in this climate in January. Even at that, its meant to be summer now, and you couldnt count on having an outdoor reception!

 

Like your idea of the Hors d'Ouvres though, a bit more fun than the old finger food of sanwhiches, chicken goujons/wings and sausages. Which I will NOT be having  

[moodyc82]

I'm stuck at what to do about the AHR

[Miss J]

Originally Posted by moodyc82 

 

I'm stuck at what to do about the AHR

Me too! That I do want an AHR is about the only thing Im sure about when it comes to AHR! And its only 6/7 months away so I feel I should start planning!! I have found some nice ( & fairly cheap decorations) that I think Im going to get, but it depends a little bit on where we decide to have the party, which in turns depends on how many we are going to invite. 

Do you have any ideas what you want to/where you want to have it? 

[moodyc82]

Originally Posted by Miss J 

 

Me too! That I do want an AHR is about the only thing Im sure about when it comes to AHR! And its only 6/7 months away so I feel I should start planning!! I have found some nice ( & fairly cheap decorations) that I think Im going to get, but it depends a little bit on where we decide to have the party, which in turns depends on how many we are going to invite. 

Do you have any ideas what you want to/where you want to have it? 

No idea what so ever, I would love one outside but not many places offer that around me and we live in an apartment so that won't work to have it at home

[Miss J]

Originally Posted by moodyc82 

 

No idea what so ever, I would love one outside but not many places offer that around me and we live in an apartment so that won't work to have it at home

Its tricky all right. I would love one outside too, but def not an option here, and def not in December/January

We would have the space to have it at home, but know I wont have the time to get it organised... This is Ireland, so Id say we'll end up having it in...a pub...

[nursemorgan]

@@Miss J When is your event? I am thinking that four weeks is plenty of notice prior to your party! No worries it will all come together!