Theme, Style & Atmosphere

Will your reception have a theme? That could be as simple as coordinating flowers and bridesmaids' outfits, or as specific as a medieval banquet set in a castle with jousting, jesters and mead served in pewter tankards! You venue must be the starting point. You may have chosen one specifically because it lends itself to the theme you have in mind, or you may be starting with a blank sheet of paper. If you're looking to create something adventurous, thank carefully about every aspect.Work with a company or venue that can pull it of. Meet and discuss your ideas if hiring an outside company and ensure that they and the venue talk to one another and everything is agreed between the parties.

Assess your venue's potential. What are it's good points and what don't you like? A contemporary building will lend itself to a minimalist theme with cool colours and no frills. A plain, uninteresting venue may need you to be bold with colour and detail. A traditional country house, a building with specific architectural detail or a stately home will require you to be sympathetic and to emphasize the existing natural charm, character and grandeur.On the other hand,  a marquee is like a blank canvas.

Lightning is an important contributory factor and can make a considerable difference to the mood of a celebration. Avoid harsh lightning, but keep it soft and flattering. If you plan to use candles, plain nights are an effective way to create an atmosphere and holders can be bought very cheaply. But purchase "night lights" that burn for eight hours rather than "tea lights" which only last four.

The focal point of a reception room is likely to be the dining tables, dance floor and cake table. How they are are arranged in relation to one another and how they are lit are integral parts of the decoration. Very often, stunning flower arrangements strategically placed matched to the table centrepieces are all that is required to decorate a room. Seek advice from your florist and the person in charge at the venue. If possible visit the venue when it is set-up for another celebratin. Ask to see photographs of other events held there.

Consider weddings you've attended as guests. At the last wedding you went to, what were the things you least liked about it? Did your feet ache because the pre-dinner drinks went too long? Did you have to wait around because the photographer took an age? Where you thirsty because it was a hot day and you had travelled a long way but there was nothing to drink for before the ceremony? Decide straight away not to plan your wedding that way. Next, think about what you have enjoyed at other weddings and parties. A good venue will be flexible and adapt to accommodate reasonable requests so you can do things your way.

Let the celebration evolve and the atmosphere build and be flexible. Avoid makeing the reception too structured, that's when guests start to feel too structured. A wedding day starts quietly, you build-up to the party and guests leave on a high. Limit the time you set aside for photographs and if you can do them in front of everyone, all the better. Work out your timings around people's usual eating habits. For example, if your ceremony is at 1 o'clock the guests will not have had lunch, so go heavier on the canapés and lighter on the meal. Get the glasses topped-up at the beginning and have someone formally welcome everyone. Keep building the day. Move to the meal and don't interrupt it with speeches at least until after the main course or you'l stop the flow of conversation. Once the first dance is underway, don't stop the music. You can make it softer or louder, but don't interrupt it. Always end on a high and don't be the last to leave, however it is tempting to stay.

During smaller gatherings it is ok to be indulgent. Eat what you like to eat, drink what you love to drink and do things you like to do! Again, don't make it too structured. Keep it an intimate, sociable gathering over a good meal.