30. 09. 2022 Wedding reception - we will advise you how to plan and organize it

Are you planning your dream wedding day? Are you choosing between a wedding buffet and a reception, and where to hold the wedding and its celebration? Are you considering a catering service instead of a restaurant? To help you as much as possible, we have written an article that focuses on these topics.

Wedding reception or banquet?

You are probably the first to face the question of whether to provide a modern way of treating - a wedding banquet, or to organize a traditional wedding reception. Food and drink is guaranteed to be a very important item of the whole day. And it is not for nothing that they say that love passes through the stomach. So let's talk a little about them.

Wedding reception

A wedding buffet can be more pleasing to the guests as it provides a variety of dishes. A buffet can be hot, cold, or even vegetarian! So everyone can choose what they feel like! What about a wedding buffet? You can include steaks, steak tartare and other meats, salads, and other dishes in the buffet menu. Another advantage is that food for a wedding buffet is available all the time. A buffet is typically used for dinners, but you can also use it for lunch or all-day weddings. So everyone can munch whenever they want!

This also brings us to the problem of wedding buffets. What usually happens is that the good dishes, are usually the first ones eaten and are not available for the rest of the evening. You also have to take into account that at a buffet , everything never goes to everyone. Another disadvantage is the unlimited access to food and the swarming of guests around the room. It is important to keep in mind at a buffet that everyone eats differently for different lengths of time.

If your in-laws and parents will be giving speeches, try to have an approximate timetable ready so that guests can adjust. And find out what a wedding buffet as executed by Castle Catering looks like in our blog article.

Wedding Banquet

A wedding banquet is rather the opposite of a wedding buffet. It is an orderly serving of courses. Thus, everyone has the same thing and dines together. It cannot happen that someone is left out. Wedding banquets are ideal for small and large weddings. If you want to host a larger wedding reception, think about two versions of the wedding menu. This will avoid problems with different food preferences of the guests, whether it is gluten-free or vegetarian. We will take care of your banquet that will please even the big foodies.

Organization and thoughtfulness is central to a wedding reception, not only of the food and desserts, but also of the wedding reception venue, activity planning, seating arrangements and decor. Let's take a look at what you shouldn't forget when planning your wedding reception.

What venues are good for a wedding reception?

Don't underestimate the place where the wedding reception will take place. Even such a small decision can add value to your wedding, whether it would be in the form of beautiful photos from the reception venue or even the view of the surrounding area. Check out our breathtaking wedding locations that we would help you arrange with Chateau Catering. These include the grounds of the Kinsky Hotel, Kachina Castle, Konětopy Lake, Karlova Koruna Castle and more.

Wedding reception in the garden or garden party

If you are planning your wedding at the beginning or end of summer, you can organize an outdoor wedding reception in the open air in the form of a garden party! You will enjoy the last rays of the sun and soak up the pleasant atmosphere on this unique day.

We also provide party tents that can be erected in the place where you like it best. Take inspiration from the party tent we have erected near the castle in Hrádek near Nechanice.

How a wedding reception works - what it includes and what to think about

A wedding reception is a step-by-step process and it's up to you to decide what to start with and what to include in your reception. In the following sections, we'll show you what a wedding reception might include.

Appetizers

First we will focus on the appetizers. You can take the form of sweet desserts, such as traditional wedding cakes or tubes, or even one-dish appetizers. You can make one-dish appetizers classic, and therefore pastries with spread or pate. You can also make fruit skewers, impale cheeses with grapes and others. In short, combine what you like.

From the festive snacks before the ceremony of the Chateau Catering, we recommend: duck rilletes with confit red onions, canapés with duck breast, orange and cranberry, delicate pate of liver or salmon tartare.

The wedding menu itself

Whether you have your reception planned for lunch or after dinner, it's important to think about the different courses. You shouldn't forget about your guests and their preferences. That is, think about those who enjoy lactose-free, gluten-free or are vegetarian. You can make your wedding menu traditional or spice it up with other non-traditional dishes or foreign cuisine.

From the menu of the Chateau Catering we recommend: starter - warm ham off the bone, soup - strong beef consommé, main course - sirloin steak with cream; or starter - caprese salad, soup - sugar snap pea cream, main course - steak of grantined eggplant.

In addition to the wedding menu itself, do not forget about the snacks that will be available throughout the wedding reception. These can be desserts, fruits, salads, stew, tartare, etc. In short, depending on the consideration of how long the celebration will last and the wedding menu. If you will have an evening reception, you do not need to think about other hearty dishes, but only desserts, fruits, cheeses, salami and others.

From the evening buffet of the Chateau Catering we offer: variations of fried mini steaks, boards of French cheeses and Italian cold cuts, beef tenderloin carpaccio, rice rolls, mini burgers, fried vegetables in tempura, beef tartare, fruit salad, sushi and much more.

Wedding cake

A traditional, integral part of the wedding reception is then the wedding cake. However, there are several different ways to serve wedding cake. If you want to avoid a leftover piece of cake, you can consider other options.

The first option is to make individual smaller cakes, about 15 cm in diameter, instead of a single, double or multi-tiered cake. This way, you can easily budget these individual cakes among the tables and then you don't have to wonder what to do with the rest of the large wedding cake.

A new and modern way of making a wedding cake is in the form of popsicles or lollipops. This way you also avoid excesses, as you can easily count them according to the number of guests. Moreover, this way is really interesting and everyone will want to take a bite at first sight.

Beverage list

The drinks menu is also a very important point. From the very beginning, you should not forget about the drinking regime of your guests. Have carafes of water, fruit and mint ready throughout the reception! Next, consider coffee machines or a barista. Coffee will be the ideal accompaniment to dessert. Sparkling wine should not be missing for the toast either! The rest is up to you.

Choose what alcoholic beverages will be available at your reception. Whether it's beer, red and white wine, hard liquor or mixed cocktails. Of course, don't forget about non-alcoholic beverages such as juice, mineral water and other flavored drinks. You may also consider having each guest bring hard liquor to drink to cut down on other expenses.

From the Castle Catering beverage menu, you can choose from: whiskey, cognac, spirits, liqueurs, beer, soft drinks, homemade lemonade, hot drinks, mixed drinks, bottled wine, white, red and rosé wine.

Wedding reception and seating chart

What about seating charts at wedding receptions? If you're not too keen on a particular order, do it by feel. However, some people like to play around with the seating chart, so we have some tips. However, make your seating chart so that you and your guests are happy!

For the main table:

• Groom and bride on the right side in the center of the dining table - the table should be placed opposite the entrance door so that the newlyweds are facing it
• The bride's parents sit next to the groom and the bride's parents sit next to the groom - men and women in a skip
• The groomsmen and their partners or grandparents may also be seated here

Further spaced tables, which may be I, T, U shaped or multiple round tables to complement the main table:

• The closer you seat guests to the newlyweds, the more they are considered significant
• Don't forget to rotate members of both families
• Think about groups of friends and merge guests who might get along or have similar interests or children

In addition to the seating chart, think about the decorations as well. Decorations can be not only setting the tables, but also lining the frames with lights, labeling the tables with numbers, tying bows on the chairs, placing flowers, defining the photo booth, and so on. Also think about the color you would like your wedding to match.

Why leave the wedding reception to Chateau Catering?

We know that planning the perfect reception is very challenging. That's why we are here to provide you with not only a great location, but also great food. You won't have to burden yourself with the worries associated with organizing a reception. We will advise you on the menu prepared by our experienced chefs, arrange the decorations, book the venue for guest accommodation and much more that you have to say. Our team of experts creates the perfect backdrop for the smooth running of the entire reception, during which you will be constantly looked after by professional staff.

Leave all the wedding duties and worries to us through our wedding catering service! We can help you plan your wedding from the very beginning. Whether it's choosing the dress, suit and rings, as well as the wedding announcements, entertainment, band or DJ, photographer and the arrangements for the wedding reception or banquet itself.

We will write down your ideas, advise you on the choice of food and location, cook everything and bring it to the venue. We will be happy to take care of you and your guests. Reviews of satisfied newlyweds telling about our quality can be found in the testimonials section - wedding at Karlova Koruna Castle, wedding at Dobřenice Castle or wedding reception in Chlumec nad Cidlinou.

Catering for a wedding

A perfect day must be perfect in every way. Enjoy pleasant moments full of positive emotions. Good food, drinks and all the service will be provided by professional wedding catering. Inquire about wedding catering today or read on about its benefits.

Find out more about wedding catering