Im getting married - and i want my reception at home

[BatCrapCrazy]

Dp and i are in the process of buying a house and we want our wedding reception in our new house. The new house is currently a mess so we will have to do a lot of work so we don't really want to fork out a fortune just for me to change my blooming last name. We want a small intimate wedding so think at home would be perfect. Our original idea was a 10x6m marquee in garden but due to the odd shape of the gardens (its a corner plot property) this isn't possible.
However, I have a plan B.
The garage on the property is 9m x 7m. It could be a wonderful blank canvas once it is plastered and painted and decent flooring is put down. It has 3 windows and a door off to the side garden and a door off to the back garden so lighting and accessibility wouldn't be an issue. We would have a small marquee off the side door into the garden for hog roast and bar and such like.
The church is a 5 min walk from our house. I was thinking maybe a 3pm ceremony then back to the house for drinks and hog roast. My dad would do a buffet as well and everyone could just help themselves. I was hoping iPod would suffice instead of DJ. I was thinking about buying loads of cheap picnic benches and putting them out in the garden for people to scatter if the weather is nice. I have priced up the cost of tables and chairs hire and the marquee and the hog roast which all comes to just under £1000. I know someone who has a mobile bar but perhaps a bring your own booze theme would be better? we would obviously provide champagne for toasts and mixers and wine for tables.
We were thinking about 65 guests (10 of these are under 10yo's). I want it to look amazing but don't want to spend a fortune.

Even my 4 year old DD asked this morning when talking about it "mummy, are you sure this is a good idea?".

help would be much appreciated.

Sounds lovely - but is there enough space if the weather is bad? 9x7 isn't very big for 65 people plus chairs etc if the weather doesn't co-operate….

The garage is attached to our house. The downstairs of our house will all be open plan (kitchen, diner and living room all as one big room) with a separate adjoining play room so there will be plenty of room around the downstairs of the house for people to scatter if the weather is crap. I would like to refrain from people using the house if the weather is nice though as it just adds to the mess after.

sounds lovely, though I'm disappointed that you won't actually be having portals at your reception.

It's a great idea! But, DH & I did a lot of stuff for our wedding ourselves and there are some general tips to adhere to:

• However long you think something handmade will take you, double it
• Do things well in advance where you can - the last few days fly so quick
• Write down a list of the things you've thought about / planned to show to in laws and parents. Verbally reeling off a list doesn't work as well. Show them the list and ask if there anything you've forgetten. We'd forgotten place cards...MIL spotted that (there were others), there will always be forgotten things, this was the best way we found of getting reminders from others
• Remember how distracted you'll be on the day. I spent a lot of my day running round in my dress, I should have delegated better! You don't want people coming up to you all the time 'is it ok to go inside' or going up to your bedroom and finding snoopers there! There should be members of the wedding party who are fully in the loop with what's allowed and the timetable of the day. Perhaps 'private' signs, or jokes like 'not the toilet' on signs might be useful upstairs
• Think about where you are going to have your pictures and what the lighting is like - it's likely to be worse than a hotel setting, so have a plan
• Is the house your morning getting-ready location as well? If so think about how messy you/bm might leave it in the morning (half eaten croissants in kitchen, seemingly ALL of your glasses have already been used - HOW?! lol)
• Oh yeah, and you won't have enough glasses. Or plates. Or cutlery. I swear someone in our group disdains reusing glasses and takes a fresh one with every new drink! But also people wander round putting stuff down, leaving it, then saying was that my plate? Can't remember, I'll get another... Buy loads of plastic ones well in excess of what you think you need
• make sure you have loads of your favourite drink. Other ppl will drink it to, they'll see you with it and want some, make sure you have loads so you don't go short!

It'll be fab! Good luck :)

Thanks so much for all your help all of you. When i told FIL our plan he looked at me like I had 6 heads. What month should we go for to try and get the best weather? We are in South Wales. I would like to do it in summer hols as i will have plenty of time off to prepare (I'm a teacher).

Sounds absolutely lovely :)

Anytime in the summer might be dry but sounds like you've got a Plan B if not, we are talking Wales aren't we?

If you are thinking about August next year then buy up lots of solar lights going half price at the end of this summer and tea lights in jam jars look lovely in a garden on a summer's evening.

This is your wedding so don't worry about anyone else's raised eyebrows. We did our reception as a picnic in a local English Heritage garden - we supplied chocolate cake and fizz and everyone brought their own food (and tidied it all up after themselves :)) and lots of outdoor games. It was brilliant, very laid-back and is still talked about 9 years later even though some people were a bit when we first mentioned it.

Enjoy yourselves :o

We have had lots of raised eyebrows. I told my best friend this morning and she said "you can't do that!".
We both love the idea though. I want all the kids involved and if we are at a posh hotel, this becomes very difficult. They will be much happier in their own surroundings with their friends. Thinking of hiring a bouncy castle for them for the day

Parking??

We are still trying to figure out parking. There is a school in the next street so we were considering asking the caretaker if he would allow the cars to park in there for the day. The caretaker lives on the school site and allows me and DP to use the tennis courts every wednesday evening.
Failing that, i really don't know.

I really don't think you can 'plan' a month for good weather. I got married last month and we had a beautiful day (i'm also in South Wales). But the weekend before it had been hammering down with rain all day.