Wedding reception at home - advice wanted...

[Huldrekat]

After 15 yrs together, my bf & I think it's high time we got hitched. Our budget is tight, however, and after so long together we don't want anything very formal anyway. We recently moved into a hew house with a pretty big garden (hence tight budget now), and are thinking we coould have the reception there. But beyond hiring a marquee, we don't know what to do! For example, food: don't want just a cold buffet, but can outside caterers bring in hot food? How do we stop gatecrashers or other unwanted guests sneaking into the house while we're busy having a good time (access to the house is via the garden through two separate gates)? How do we boost power to the garden for things like lighting or a PA system? Should we consider hiring portaloos? And would all of this be any cheaper than just going to a hotel? There'd be about 80-100 guests. Any thoughts or advice welcome!

[spudqueen]

There are caterers who do do hot food, we've used them for some family parties, but could you not consider hiring a hall (church or club). These can be pretty cheap, you can bring your own caterers in (do check with them first), there will be a bar (the money you spend on hiring the club will be saved on what you haven't spent on booze) and loos. It saves on you cleaning your house afterwards and setting everything up and worrying about gate crashers. Round my way you can hire a club for about �100, which is not bad at all.

BTW when we got married we had a sit down meal for 30 then we hired a cricked club for the evening do, relatives did the catering as a wedding present, so it was all very cheap but everyone enjoyed themselves as much as if we'd been in an expensive hotel.

[DJKC]

As a DJ i play at alot of weddings, believe me when you've sorted out all for the garden it would be just as cheap to hire a local club function room, get caterers to do both hot and cold food, a good disco and people will enjoy themselves. You dont even have to wake up to the mess next day !!. If you do your own garden party you'll not enjoy YOUR DAY for worrying about others.

Hope all goes well, Congratulations !!

[MsBehave]

Agree with DJKC. Function halls dont cost as much as people think and when everything gets added up it will work out for the best to just hire somewhere otherwise there'll just be too much worring and not enough parting!! After many,many parties at my house i wouldnt want to tidy up after 80+ people either!

[Huldrekat]

Many thanks for the advice. Can see that everyone is absolutely right and am going to investigate hiring a local hall. Thanks again.