Breakfast or Brunch

If you envision your perfect wedding to take place at sunrise or in the early morning hours, a reception that calls for breakfast is in order.  

Pros: 

• Save money! Finding a reception site will be easier and it will cost less to have the party in the morning.
• Guests won't drink as much in the morning as they will at night, so this will cut back on your alcohol bill.
• Breakfast foods are significantly cheaper than dinners.
• You can get a head start on your honeymoon!  An earlier reception allows you time to leave the same day.  

Cons:

• You won't have very long to get ready in the morning.  Rise and shine and up and out.
• Guests travelling from far away may not be able to get to the ceremony on time.  If  you anticipate guests from out of town, look into renting rooms for them.  It will be easier on everyone if they fly or drive in the night before the wedding.

Food:

• Caviare 
• Eggs Benedict 
• French Toast 
• Omelettes 
• Quiche 
• Smoked Salmon 
• Waffles 

Drinks:

• Bellini 
• Bloody Mary 
• Coffee 
• Mimosa 
• Tea 

Cake:

• Think about a cinnamon cake  or coffee cake .
• Serve up mini pastries ,scones , and muffins  for dessert.
• A light sponge cake  with whipped cream  and fruit  also makes for a great early morning sweet.   

Lunch

A luncheon works well for those getting married in the morning, but who want more time on their hands before the reception. 

 Pros:

• Reception sites and caterers often charge much less to work during the early afternoon hours, which is always bonus to you. 
• You have a range of flexibility, from a sit down meal to a casual buffet.  
• Your guests will be able to travel in the morning if they desire and more people may be able to come to your wedding reception.

Cons:

• If you aren't planning to leave for your honeymoon that day, then you are left figuring out what to do with yourself and your out-of-town guests for the rest of the day.
• The reception may become dull in the afternoon, as it is a tired time for everyone.  Be sure to hire a DJ or wedding band to get the party going. 

Food:

• Carved Meats 
• Cheeses 
• Finger Sandwiches 
• Pastas 
• Salads 
• Soups 

Drinks:

• Beer 
• Iced Tea 
• Punch 
• Soft Drinks 
• Wine 

Cake:

• Tarts ,brownies , and cookies  are always safe desserts.  You won't want to serve anything too heavy. 
• Select your cake based upon what works for the season.  Look at our guide to Seasonal Weddings for some ideas. 

Afternoon Tea

Having the reception as a high tea or low tea is a great way to save money and bring in an aura of sophistication at the same time. 

Pros: 

• You can have fun and you won't break the bank.
• This reception is perfect for adding hand-crafted  or vintage  touches. 
• An afternoon tea  is perfect for more intimate wedding receptions, and those with a smaller guest list will enjoy this option.
• You can decide whether to make your tea formal or fun!

Cons:

•  An afternoon tea can sometimes feel very feminine, so you may have to work to make sure that all of your guests are feeling comfortable.
• If the guest list has many children on it, this may not be the way to go.  As the more elegant option, this kind of reception may not have any crazy dancing, and you run the risk of the kids getting bored and rowdy. 

Food:

• Breads 
• Cakes 
• Custards 
• Finger Sandwiches 
• Fruit Tarts 
• Puddings 
• Scones 

Drinks:

• Black Tea 
• Green Tea 
• Oolong Tea 

Cake:

• The cake should be light and coordinate with the tea theme.
• Sponge cake  with sweet icing  is always a good bet. 
• Look to our guide on Seasonal Weddings for more ideas.

Cake and Champagne

This option was once the norm for all wedding receptions and is easy on your wallet and your guests. 

Pros: 

• It's a classy way to celebrate a new union, but without a big bash.  Be ready for a lot of toasts!  
• Guests will only need to go to one location, as this kind of reception can be done in a garden of the ceremony venue or even in the same room.
• This reception is perfect to hold on the beach after a beach wedding, as it's short and sweet and gets everyone quickly out of the sun. 

Cons:

• Some guests might expect more.  It's best to phrase the wording on the invitation with a simple phrase like "cake and champagne to follow" so as not to cause any confusion about a reception.
• This reception may come and go, and be over faster than you would have liked it to be.
• You may miss out on some of the traditional aspects of a wedding reception. 

Food:

• Candies 
• Wedding Cake 

Drinks:

• Champagne 
• Sparkling Cider 

Cake:

• The cake is the centre of this kind of reception, so you will want to choose something nice and in season. 
• Look at our guide to Seasonal Weddings for inspiration.

Cocktail Reception

Going with a cocktail reception can be fun and stylish, as it allows you and your guests a chance to really mingle. 

Pros: 

• You can have more people present, even if your venue is small.
• It's often shorter than a sit-down meal and allows for everyone to have a good time.
• Your guests will really get to know each other and you can circulate and enjoy the party. 

Cons:

• Though you might have thought it would be cheaper, think again.  Your guests are likely to drink more here than at any other kind of reception, so be prepared to foot the alcohol bill.
• Most guests will not be seated for the length of the party.  Think about older or disabled guests who may need to be more comfortable.
• Some couples may want a longer time to celebrate, and these types of receptions are usually limited to 2-3 hours.

Food:

• Appetizers 
• Hors D'oeuvre  

 Drinks:

• Beer 
• Liquor  
• Soft Drinks 
• Wine 

Cake:

• You may want to think about a heavier cake, as guests will only be eating finger foods along the way. 
• Chocolate cake  or rum cakes  pair well with most kinds of alcohol  You can also plan according to the season.  

Dinner

The most traditional choice for wedding receptions, this option can be a great time, but will be much more expensive. 

Pros: 

• You can celebrate your wedding with a huge party, full of food, dancing, and bouquet tossing. 
• You guests will really feel as if you went all out.   
• With a longer reception, you won't feel rushed or hurried at all. 

Cons:

• It's expensive.  Think about all of the costs that go into a large dinner reception: the music and entertainment, the cake, the catering, the decorations, the rental of tables and chairs, the cost of the hall, etc. There are a lot of factors to take into consideration.
• You may be exhausted by the time you get to your hotel room that night.  It will be late and you will have danced the night away, leaving you with very little energy for much else (wink). 

Food:

• Five Course Meals
• Ethnic Dishes

Drinks:

• Beer 
• Liquor 
• Soft Drinks 
• Wine 

Cake:

• Your wedding cake should be large enough to feed all of your guests and will most likely be an elaborate masterpiece of a dessert.
• Look to incorporate your wedding theme into your cake.  If you are going ethnic, stick with an ethnic cake .  If you are going gourmet with dinner, keep dessert gourmet  as well.