Here’s How To Modernize The Classic “Cake And Punch” Wedding Reception To Save Money And Effort On Your Big Day
While planning a big, white wedding with a beautiful ceremony and elaborate reception can be fun and memorable, it can be very expensive and exhausting to plan.
Because of today’s economy and the less pressure to host a traditional wedding, many couples are opting for more low-key celebrations in honor of their marriage.
A wedding style that’s been re-emerging as weddings are being downsized is a ‘cake and punch’ reception.
A cake-and-punch wedding means that after your ceremony, you’ll have a much shorter, more casual gathering with little bites of food instead of a whole meal, and it feels more like a simple party versus a long, blown-out reception.
This type of reception usually occurs between mealtimes and lasts only two to three hours instead of the usual four to six hours.
If this kind of casual reception sounds up your alley, here are some tips for hosting a cake and punch style wedding reception.
When planning this kind of wedding, you’ll want your ceremony and reception to fall between breakfast and lunch or lunch and dinner. This is because you don’t want someone showing up to your wedding starving and expecting to eat a massive meal at your reception because they won’t.
Once you know for sure this is the kind of wedding you want, get ready to clarify that on your invitations. Because big traditional weddings with long receptions and big dinners are the norm, your guests must know they shouldn’t expect that.
Specify on your invites that the wedding ceremony will be followed by “small bites and cocktails” or even the old-fashioned “cake and punch.” This will help guests plan in advance and prevent people from showing up hungry.
Halfpoint – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only, not the actual people
While it’s pretty convenient to have your cake and punch wedding ceremony and reception in the same venue since you’ll have a more casual reception, don’t be afraid to choose a second location.
If a friend or relative has a big house with a great backyard that would be willing to have the gathering at their home, that’d be a great location! You could also look into booking a local bar or restaurant. The venue possibilities are endless.
When it comes to the food you’ll be serving, remember to keep things light and casual, but make sure your guests have enough to eat. You can order or have someone set up elaborate charcuterie and ‘grazing boards,’ serve fun ouer d’oeuvres like mini quiches and cocktail meatballs, or if you’ll be having a very brief gathering, just cake and champagne.
If you want to serve alcohol at your event, you can book a bar service to make things easier on yourself. However, keep in mind that an open bar typically encourages guests to hang around longer, and you’ll want to ensure you have enough food to ensure they don’t get sick.
Just because a cake and punch wedding reception may be more low-key doesn’t mean you can’t make it just as fun and personal as a traditional one! Find some personalized decor like drink stirrers, koozies, magnets, or teeshirts online to give to your guests. You can also put up a little photo booth, plan games, play music, and put up pretty decorations.
Again, downsizing a wedding reception doesn’t mean you’re downsizing the fun. If you want a more casual wedding day, go for it! As long as you and your new spouse are surrounded by the people who love and support you, you’ll have a great day.
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