The wedding day is one of the most important days in most people’s lives. They’re also pretty expensive. One eye has to go on making it as special as possible, whilst the other eye has to be looking at that bank account balance.
Sometimes, the two don’t even out, but there is a way in which you can save money. Wedding venues often eat up a large amount of the cost. They’re not 100% necessary, however, especially if you’ve got a manageable number of guests. What you need to do is look at your own house and ask yourself the question: “could we do it here?”
There’s nothing stopping you if the numbers allow for it. And if money is seriously an issue, then you can always consider cutting the number of guests you invite.
Nothing will stop it from being special, either. If you put in a lot of planning, you can get your house to transform into the perfect stage for the venue. Here are a few ways you can do it:
Pick Out Your Spaces
The first thing you need to do, if you are hosting your wedding reception at home, is draw out a map of the house and pick your key spaces. Think about the small details. It is traditional at Jewish weddings, for instance, to give Jewish wedding gifts after the ceremony. Where are the gifts going to go? It’s also important to have a gathering area, a party area, and an eating space. Pick your spaces wisely and don’t overestimate how much space is available.
Choose Your Theme
Your theme is important too. You want to transform your house into a wedding haven. That requires more than a bit of bunting. Have fun with choosing your theme and integrating it into your home space.
Utilise The Backyard
Of course, owning a backyard is going to come in handy during the celebrations. If your wedding is taking place in the summer, you don’t have to worry too much, but if it isn’t, you need to have some precautions in place. You cannot afford to lose this space. Spend a bit of that budget on a marquee and make sure there are areas of shelter if the heavens decide to open.
Get The Seating Right!
One classic mistake people make when organising big gatherings is failing to obtain enough seats. Every guest will want to sit down at some point, even if it’s just to tie their shoe lace, so you need to have enough chairs to cater to all of them.
Forget The Wedding Meal
One casualty of having your wedding reception at home is the meal. Traditionally at a wedding, there’s a sit down meal with three courses, but you’re going to have to come up with something different for such a large number of people. The easy answer is: finger foods. This doesn’t have to be sausage cocktails, either. Be inventive with it and go for luxury over ease. In essence, this can be any food that can be eaten standing up. You can even do the full three courses – a round of small finger foods, then slightly larger, then sweet finger foods. Have fun with the challenge and make sure your wedding remains special in its own unique way.
