5 Ideas for an Alternative Drinks Reception
Your drinks reception is the perfect opportunity to stamp your mark on your wedding day; the chance to inject personality and set the tone for the rest of your wedding day. Whether you’re tying the knot at a rustic barn, country house or DIY marquee, we’ve put together some ideas to create an alternative drinks reception. 5 ideas you may not have heard before that can lift your drinks reception and get your guests excited for what’s to come throughout the rest of the day!
Chloe Caldwell Photography
Chloe Caldwell Photography
Chloe Caldwell Photography
Wedding Grazing Tables
We love traditional canapés, but we also love the idea of trying fresh and new ideas! Grazing tables are a great supplement to your canapés. While waiters circulate boards of colourful and delicious canapés, a station where guests can go up and choose items adds something a little different to your reception offering.
A grazing table also gives you the opportunity to add a more visual element to your food offering during the drinks reception. Picture an abundant table of charcuterie, local cheeses and seasonal vegetables with your own personalised menu.
Savoury & Sweet Canapés
Desserts in miniature form? Yes please! We’re all about the sweet canapé this year. Why does savoury get all the airtime? Why not ask your chosen wedding caterer to circulate a selection of sweet and savoury canapés to tease their tastebuds for what’s to come during the wedding breakfast? Desserts can be so beautiful in miniature form and will add a touch of sophistication and elegance to your wedding reception.
Some ideas for your sweet canapé line up include our lemon and cherry possets, dark chocolate and pistachio brownies and seasonal eton mess, such as caramelised fig and honey.
Chloe Caldwell Photography
Fancy Furniture Hire
It’s easy to focus on the wedding breakfast when you’re thinking of furniture hire, but themed furniture and props can bring your drinks reception to life too. Jazzy parasols are perfect for a summer wedding and teamed with chaise longues can add a touch of French elegance.
Planning something more DIY and rustic? Hay bales or vintage arm chairs can be a fun addition to your drinks reception, and add a unique backdrop for your wedding photographs.
Consider choosing furniture which can be incorporated into the evening reception to maximise the usage and keep your vibe continuous throughout the whole event.
Chloe Caldwell Photography
Confetti Petal Bar
Another exciting visual option for your drinks reception - a confetti petal bar! Bring an explosion of colour to your wedding reception with a beautiful display of petals for your guests to mix and match. The confetti shot is already such a memorable part of your day, but a confetti bar will bring an interactive element to grasp your guests’ attention.
Set up your display with a stack of cones and buckets/containers of various different dried flower petals with scoops. Why not mix and match your confetti style too? Add bottles of bubbles for your guests to choose their ‘confetti’ style; a mix of bubbles and flower petals will create a jaw-dropping image.
Chloe Caldwell Photography
Classy Photo Booth
Photo booths are often seen after the wedding breakfast once the party starts! We love a photo booth, and we see the draw of having it as part of your evening entertainment, but when your guests are ‘fresh at the scene’ why not entice them to capture a snap at your drinks reception?
We’re all for a flash photo, but often photo booth images have a bright flash that isn’t the most aesthetic look for your photo book. Capture the elegance of your drinks reception by creating your own DIY photo booth during your drinks reception. DIY frames or ornate mirror photo booths are a great choice. Create a back drop to draw your guests in and either let them capture images on their own phones, or style a station with polaroids!
And there you have it - five ideas to add something a little different to your drinks reception. Hungry for more information about our wedding catering service? Take a look at this blog post which highlights the importance of choosing the right wedding caterer.
All of the above images are by Chloe Caldwell Photography from E & S’ Euridge Manor wedding organised by the wonderful Get Wed.