After more than a year of dealing with quarantine, and all the adjustments necessary to make weddings happen, we have definitely seen the creativity and ingenuity of brides and grooms, and of course, the suppliers. Dealing with a pandemic as you are planning one of the most important celebrations of your life is no easy feat, but couples manage to successfully make their dream weddings come true, and for that we applaud all of you!
The biggest change we’ve seen so far is in the reception. Many couples either shorten the program, choose a restaurant instead of a ballroom, or, in some cases, forego the traditional reception and opt for alternatives. And these alternatives are what we’re going to talk about! Your wedding can take any shape or form that you want, and some couples go for unconventional routes when it comes to the party after the ceremony.
We’re sharing a few weddings that are great examples of how you can have a celebration that is fun and exciting yet mindful of the health and safety of your guests and suppliers. And even if pandemic regulations are eased completely, these reception alternatives are still brilliant ideas for couples who like to keep things simple, cozy, and just full of love. If you aren’t big fans of partying and entertaining, then these non-traditional reception ideas may be the right options for you! Keep reading.
Provide Take Home Meals and a Coffee Cart
If you can’t have a sit-down or buffet dinner with your guests, then take home meals can be just as special! Stephen and Regina didn’t even have tables and chairs placed for their reception because gatherings were strictly prohibited in their location. So this couple got creative by having a coffee cart for refreshments and giving out catered take home meals for their guests to enjoy at home. You can’t go wrong with a thoughtfully packed meal and a comforting cuppa.
Go for a Drive-Thru Reception
You’ve heard of drive-by birthday parties, but how about a drive-thru wedding reception? If you can’t gather in one indoor space, find an open area where you can enjoy street food (or cocktails from food carts) and have your guests do a drive-thru! This brilliant idea is from Arjanmar and Khaye who celebrated their wedding in U.P. with a menu of isaw, kwek-kwek, and dirty ice cream. For the guests who can’t stay and dine with them, they cleverly utilized the available open space for a drive-thru setup.
Have Your Reception Before the Ceremony
Another idea is to switch the timeline like what Brands and Grass did for their wedding. Have your reception (complete with cake slicing, dancing, and toasts) before the ceremony! This couple had a small party with their loved ones before heading to the Church. After they said I do, the guests happily went home right before curfew and with packed meals, too!
Consider Micro-Celebrations on Different Days
Micro-celebrations usually include 10 guests or less, and these are normally your immediate family members only. If you prefer highly intimate, and private celebrations that don’t necessarily last all-day long, think about doing micro-celebrations spread out in two days much like Pancho and Mary’s wedding. To lessen the amount of exposure for their guests, they decided to have a civil ceremony and a thanksgiving Mass on two separate days. The thanksgiving Mass was also followed by a small reception at home. No frills, no hours and hours of activities, just love and family!
Treat Yourselves at Your Favorite Restaurant
Here’s a fun idea from Christian and Jesa! If you can’t have the typical reception, try simply going to one of your favorite restaurants right after the ceremony and bask in quality time together as newlyweds. While this couple was still able to have an intimate party after their ceremony, Christian and Jesa also chose to visit their go-to La Paz Batchoy place and what a special moment it was! As an additional treat, you can even have meals from your restaurant of choice delivered to your friends and relatives.
