Wedding reception at home

[MimiDaisy11]

Has anyone done this? How did it go? Any advice?

I am having a small wedding with just around 12 guests. I was thinking about going for a private dining experience in a fancy restaurant and might still do that though it's more expensive than I realised (the minimum I've found would be at least £1500). I could just get a table in a large table in the main restaurant but I like the idea of some privacy for us. I'm also considering doing something at home as there's a nice back garden and plenty of room for people in the house.

I didn't do it myself but I've attended several as a guest, it's quite common in my husband's culture for one or other set of parents to host at at-home reception for part of the wedding - I always enjoy them a lot, feels cosy and intimate even where some have a lot more guests than you're planning! The crucial things I think are enough seating for the number of guests you are planning particularly (obviously) if you are doing food you need to sit down to eat, and to ensure you have shelter and heat if the seating isn't indoors - a gazebo, garden chairs and patio heaters will do the job, you should be able to hire or maybe even borrow from family/friends.

Your £1500 will probably go quite a long way for an at-home party, maybe go to a wholesalers for booze if you want to provide - have big ice buckets of wine/beer/soft drinks, you could also ask people to BYOB and/or a dessert as a small contribution to the wedding?

Would you be planning to cater yourself or use outside caterers? For 12 you could DIY but obviously you don't want to be stressed at all so maybe investigate catered options? Doing a bbq or similar has a lovely relaxed feel but I would limit the amount of prep needed if you go down this route by buying in all the salads and sides ready done. Or others have gone down an 'afternoon tea' route which you can buy in all ready prepared so just needs to be laid out. Or for 12 you could even just get some kind of (nice) takeaway so you have lots of options?

I think the most important thing is that you enjoy the day, and would it be stressful having it at home?

We had dedication (like a christening) celebration in a private room at a restaurant and it worked brilliantly. It was a fancy restaurant in SE London, and less than £1500 for way more people (pre-COVID). That could be a good way to go if you can find somewhere cheaper. £1500 sounds a lot. Are they including lots of flowers/wedding decorations for that? If you reduced those, would the cost come down?

Think I'd do at home, but catered. And also someone to decorate/prep.

I've seen a big rise in at home chefs offering service over the last year. Do you have a local food group on FB? Of so check it out and you might be able to have amazing food at home.

Didn't do it myself but attended one that everyone loved! They used garden lights and candles and had a beautiful table setting. I have saved some pics on Pinterest, I'll upload one to see what I mean.

Besides, your £1500 will be more than enough for good food and booze.

Thanks for the replies and suggestions! I was thinking of looking into catering or a personal chef as I don't want it to be too stressful and hard work on the day and they do seem reasonable compared to the other options I was looking at.

My sister and my cousin had wedding receptions at home, and they were just brilliant. I did a lot of the catering for my sister, but other family members helped. We had lovely weather for both days.

That's what this couple did, sounds like it was a lovely day!

Many years ago we had our reception at my family home. It seemed to be more common then. Fortunately we had a lovely garden and quite large kitchen, dining room and sitting room.
We had caterers from a local restaurant who did a posh buffet, three people to be waiters, provided our own wine/ beer, a local charity delivered beautiful garden flowers for a donation and my mother arranged them. We hired extra tables.
It was very relaxing, we could control everything and a lovely day.

Doing it at home is only ok if everyone knows when to bugger off

Can you tell I’m not a very sociable person 😀

I did, catered it myself too for 80 people. Parents garden.

Alternatively pubs often have rooms to hire, several local restaurants have private rooms too, favourite one seats up to 24, minimum £750 here

I did. We had a very small wedding and then a party in the garden.

And we asked a man with his mobile fish and chip van to come park in our yard and cook for everyone. It was ace.

When my DBro and DSis got married in the 70s, we had the reception in the house. It was pretty normal to do that. Neighbours had to bring chairs!

I’ve been to affluent family weddings, where they had a Marquee in the garden.

Between those two extremes, everything is possible and acceptable.

Even if you have a wedding venue, you have to do a lot of the decorations yourself, so nothing new if you are hosting it from home.

You can book catering and serving staff in your local neighbourhood.

We did as we got married last summer so we couldn't go to the restaurant we had booked. We hired a gazebo and got lots of lovely decorations and fairy lights. We also got amazing caterers in (if your east of Scotland i can highly recommend) which was perfect for us as we could choose exactly what we wanted and also caterered to the children who were there as well. Then we did a huge tesco shop for all the alcohol and nibble bits like olives etc. It was perfect. Unfortunately we had to have it outside all day and night as covid restrictions meant we weren't allowed in but we got lots of blankets for our guests which helped.

We had this, as did my sister a few years later, in DParents' largish suburban back garden. Marquee, caterers (a simple fork buffet), band, hired furniture and linen but did our own table decor. Bought our own booze but paid someone to man the bar and wash glasses (hired from a supermarket). Well over 100 people both times. It was lovely. Great memories and lovely to hold this significant life event in our much loved family home.