Planning An Intimate Wedding Dinner: A Guide To Small Receptions

Planning a small wedding party dinner reception is a great way to save money and have more flexibility with your budget. You can still have a beautiful venue, whether it's a family estate, a restaurant, or a historic property, and you can get creative with the catering. You might decide to have a family-style buffet, hire a food truck, or go with a barbecue buffet. To keep your guests entertained, you could have a dance floor, board games, or even a wedding murder mystery dinner party.

Budgeting for a small wedding

Small weddings can be a great way to save money, as you will have more flexibility with your budget. You can choose to be more thrifty overall or spend more on certain aspects of the day. For example, you may want to splash out on a venue with a private stone patio or a historic library, or you could opt for a more affordable option, such as a long picnic table in nature or your favourite neighbourhood restaurant.

When it comes to catering, you can also save money by choosing a family-style buffet, a food truck, or something atypical for weddings, like a barbecue. If you're having a small wedding, some caterers will have a minimum headcount, so this is something to keep in mind. You could also save money on entertainment by forgoing a DJ and instead opting for live musicians to provide ambient music during the reception and ceremony.

To keep costs down, you could also skip the dance floor and provide other forms of entertainment, such as board games, conversation cards, or a wedding murder mystery dinner party. This can help create a cosy atmosphere, especially if you set up a grouping of couches and chairs that feels like an extension of your living room.

When it comes to invitations, the syntax for a small wedding dinner party doesn't differ much from standard wedding invitations, but you can make some stylistic and phrasing choices to set the mood and let guests know what to expect.

Choosing a venue

When it comes to choosing a venue for your small wedding party dinner reception, there are a few things to consider. Firstly, decide whether you want an indoor or outdoor space. Both options can lend themselves nicely to a small wedding dinner party. For an indoor venue, you might opt for a historic library or your favourite neighbourhood restaurant. If you're looking for something more casual, a long picnic table set up amidst nature could be a great choice. You could also consider a historic property that offers a private stone patio.

Another thing to keep in mind is the size of the venue. With a small wedding, you'll have more flexibility with your budget and can choose a venue that might be too expensive for a larger guest list. You'll also want to consider the layout of the space and how you want your guests to interact. For example, you might want to set up a grouping of cosy couches and chairs that feels like an extension of your living room, providing a comfortable space for guests to gather after dinner.

When it comes to the dinner table itself, this will be the heart of your affair. But don't forget to add some extra seating, especially if you plan on having entertainment or activities after dinner. Speaking of entertainment, even if you're having a small wedding, there's always room for a little dancing. If that's not your vibe, you can lay out some board games or conversation cards, or even host a wedding murder mystery dinner party by ordering a story kit online.

Finally, don't forget to consider the practical aspects of the venue, such as catering options and minimum headcounts. Some caterers will have a minimum headcount for their services, so it's important to keep that in mind when choosing a venue. You can also get creative with your catering choices, opting for a family-style buffet, a food truck, or something atypical for weddings, like a barbecue buffet.

Catering options

When it comes to the food itself, you have a lot of flexibility. You could choose a caterer that specialises in wedding catering, or you could opt for a more unique option, like hiring a food truck. If you're looking to save money, you could even consider doing the catering yourself or enlisting the help of family and friends.

If you're having a small wedding, you might also have more flexibility with your budget. This means you can be more spendy in some areas or more thrifty overall. For example, you could splurge on a caterer that uses locally sourced, organic ingredients or opt for a more affordable option and allocate more of your budget to entertainment or decorations.

The venue you choose for your small wedding dinner party can also impact your catering options. For example, if you choose an outdoor venue, you might want to consider a barbecue or picnic-style meal. If you opt for a more formal venue, like a historic library, you might want to go with a more traditional wedding dinner menu. Ultimately, the catering options for your small wedding party dinner reception are endless, and you can tailor them to your unique vision and budget.

Entertainment

When it comes to entertainment, there are many options to consider for a small wedding party dinner reception. If you want to encourage dancing, you could hire a DJ or live musicians. If a dance floor isn't your style, there are still plenty of ways to keep your guests entertained. For example, you could lay out board games or conversation cards, or host a wedding murder mystery dinner party by ordering a story kit online.

To create a relaxed atmosphere, consider setting up a grouping of cosy couches and chairs that feels like an extension of your living room, where guests can gather after dinner. You could also set up a long picnic table in a natural setting for a casual wedding dinner party or choose a historic property with a private stone patio. Background music, such as jazz, can also help to promote easy socialising, and offering coffee and tea will keep your guests energised.

Seating arrangements

When planning the seating arrangements, consider the size of your guest list and the shape of your tables. If you have a small guest list, you may opt for a long, rectangular table that encourages conversation and interaction among your guests. Alternatively, you could choose round tables that seat a smaller number of guests, creating a more intimate setting.

It's also a good idea to provide some extra seating away from the dinner table. A grouping of cosy couches and chairs can feel like an extension of your living room and provide a comfortable space for guests to relax and socialise after the meal. This additional seating can be arranged in a way that encourages conversation and creates a warm and inviting atmosphere.

If you're having an outdoor wedding, consider the terrain and choose appropriate seating. For example, you could opt for a long picnic table set up amidst nature for a casual feel, or go for a more intimate setting with smaller tables and chairs on a lawn or patio area.

When it comes to the actual placement of guests, there are a few options to consider. You may choose to seat guests according to their relationships, placing couples and families together. Alternatively, you could mix things up by seating guests with similar interests or backgrounds together, encouraging new connections and conversations.

Finally, don't forget to consider any special requirements your guests may have. For example, ensure that elderly guests or those with mobility issues are seated comfortably and have easy access to the dinner table and other amenities. By carefully planning your seating arrangements, you can create a warm and inviting atmosphere that encourages conversation and interaction among your guests, making your small wedding party dinner reception a memorable and enjoyable event.

Frequently asked questions