You can't hire any of your vendors, order your invitations, or even sort out your guest list until you know rudimentary details about what the reception will be like. The food, drinks and site costs make up 50 percent of most wedding budgets, so this is no small decision.
Don't think that the Saturday-night special so favored by people in the U.S. is the only way to go. In fact, having your wedding any time BUT Saturday night is often the biggest stress-saving step you can make. Mull over this assortment of the most popular party types so you can find the one that perfectly fits your vision, your budget and your crowd. But never be afraid of getting creative on your own!Breakfast or Brunch
A glorious greet-the-day event
YOUR STYLE: A get-up-and-go-getter, you can think of nothing better than starting a new day and your new life at the same time. To you, a morning ceremony seems somehow more spiritual, more reverential. Plus you get to spend the bulk of your wedding day cuddling with your new hubby and heading to the honeymoon.
WHAT TO SERVE: Delectable breakfast/brunch fare: croissants and fresh jams; star-anise-scented fruit salad; smoked salmon, asparagus quiche or scrambled eggs in brioche. Try an omelette station and order up butlered service for an array of coffees, teas and juices. For a festive touch, serve mimosas or bloody marys. A light white cake with fruit filling is the perfect finish.
Tea
A lighthearted, elegant afternoon affair
YOUR STYLE: You're a diehard romantic. Or maybe you're fiancé is an Anglophile who loves doing things with a royal flair. (You've both insisted that hats are required wedding-guest attire.) Or maybe you'd just love a garden party-and watching your honey say "I do" in the sunshine.
WHAT TO SERVE: Think English-finger sandwiches, savory and sweet tarts, fruit and cheese, scones and cream. Then pull out all the stops with an assortment of fine, butlered teas, champagne punch and a little coffee.
Cocktails
A bubbly, warm party of mingling
YOUR STYLE: You're a social butterfly who loves to flutter through a party. A cosmopolitan couple (who likes to drink Cosmopolitans), the two of you are fierce individuals who prefer the relaxed sophistication of a cocktail party to the formality of a sit-down event.
WHAT TO SERVE: Hors d'oeuvres are subject to endless variations: choose a few that reflect you and your groom's heritage or hometown, like Caribbean seviche, wild-boar enchiladas and more.
Since you're not serving a whole meal, you can indulge: caviar stations and iced raw bars; precious single-serving soups (butlered in Japanese miso spoons) and traditional favorites. Develop your theme at the bar-serve martinis, tropical drinks or a sampling of wines from every region.
Sit-Down Dinner
A traditional evening event with room for endless variation
YOUR STYLE: You're a conservative sort with a creative streak. You like the idea of being surrounded by friends and family-and being toasted (and roasted) by them. A carefully planned menu will be testament to you and your fiancé's fine taste, and dancing all night is definitely a must.
WHAT TO SERVE: The style of a sit-down dinner depends greatly on the location you choose, and so will the menu. You can go for tried-and-true, such as roasted chicken or pasta; to be more daring, try sea bass, Cornish hens, or even quail. For a more serious event, serve dinner and save the dancing for later. Otherwise, you can mix it up by having your first dance as the guests find their way to their tables.
Buffet Dinner
A relaxed (but not necessarily informal) affair
YOUR STYLE: You want your wedding to be perfect, but can't imagine telling people where to sit. Pleasing everyone, especially yourself, is your raison d'tre, and buffets are a great way to do both.
WHAT TO SERVE: Whatever you please-but with a bit of attention paid to the guests. If your family is Middle Eastern, serve a rich, Persian feast, and then have grilled chicken and salad greens on hand for the less-experimental types. This kind of meal service is also the best way to handle a huge wedding (which is why buffets are de rigueur in Texas!).
Dinner Stations
A foodie fantasy, where an unforgettable dinner is the main entertainment
YOUR STYLE: You just can't decide what you want, so you want it all. Or maybe you're a gourmet who would love to share that passion with your guests.
WHAT TO SERVE: Go wild! Serve all of your favorites and then some. Offer an array of pastas and sauces at one table, a carving station with prime rib at another, a seafood bar, a grill-you name it!
The guests will mix and mingle, exclaiming at each station.
Dessert Reception
An intimate, seductive late-night or afternoon event
YOUR STYLE: You have a big sweet tooth, a decadent streak and the imagination to go with it. You're also a little bit retro-50 years ago punch and cake was the treasured reception standard. If you don't like being the center of attention, or aren't planning on a lot of guests, this is a option that's often short...and always sweet.
WHAT TO SERVE: The cake, naturally. Add some chocolate-dipped fruits, tarts and tortes, candy and other confections. Top it off with champagne, dessert wines and a specialty coffee bar. The perfect masculine counterpoint is to serve single-malt scotches and cigars.
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