Two-Party Receptions for the Budget-Conscious Bride

Here at Foothills Chapel and Banquet Room, we're seeing a new trend emerge in these budget-conscious times: the two-party reception! No, it's not a political thing... it's a fun way for everyone to have a great time celebrating your big day without breaking the bank.

Say you have 150 guests on your invitation list. Right after the wedding you can have a formal reception for your family, wedding party and close family friends. So 50 people get together for a relatively formal reception, complete with full meal, bar, etc. A gathering for 50 will cost about 1/5 as much as a gathering for 150 because bigger rental spaces are also much more expensive.

Then, the next day or the next weekend, you have a separate reception for all your work buddies, neighbors and local friends. It's a come-as-you-are party, perhaps a BBQ with a keg of beer, or a back yard bash. For your friends, you spend maybe $10 per person for snacks and drinks.

If you're thinking of going this way, don't think of it as your A List and your B List of guests! Tell your friends you're having a real small formal reception for the family and a fun party for your friends. You'll not only save money, you'll also have a lot more time to visit with friends.

We find that if there are more than 75 people at a reception, it's hard to even say hi to everyone. With two parties you double the amount of face time your guests get, while cutting your expenses way down. Some close friends or family will come to both receptions, and that's fine too.