MJKH - Our Brunch At Home Reception with Pictures!!!

[MJKH]

Our at home reception has now come and gone, and I thought as a final contribution to the BDW site I would share some details, photos and insights on how our wedding celebrations wrapped up!

 

Wedding Date Riviera Maya: February 2, 2012

At Home Reception: May 20, 2012

I know...a significant gap between the two events…but we wanted to make sure that our photos were all back to us and organized into a slide show, which was an integral part of the reception plan. A number of our guests would also be travelling in from out of town, and we didn’t want them to have to drive in any nasty winter conditions.

 

We chose to have a buffet brunch reception on a Sunday morning (May long weekend), but our original date (the “save the date†included in our wedding invitation) was actually the Sunday prior. Due to a series of unforeseen events, we moved it to the May long weekend without too many difficulties. However, to be perfectly honest, I wish we had kept plans a bit “looser†for our at home reception and, on the wedding invitation, just put something like “for those unable to attend…we look forward to celebrating with you upon our returnâ€. Coming back from Mexico, the last thing I felt like doing was getting back into planning mode and doing anything really formal, and had we not been tied into a contract with the reception venue, I would have been perfectly happy just to have everyone over for a day of visiting and good food in my parents’ backyard!

 

Our at home reception invite...details on the back:

 

 

I debated on wearing my wedding dress again, especially as a few family members, including my Grandmother who was not well enough to travel to Mexico, requested it. In the end, the look I was going for was sort of "uptown brunch" and I wanted something much less formal than my dress (but my Grandmother did get to see the dress the evening before the reception).

 

My attire:

 

Jewellery from Stella & Dot

 

 

Shoes from Amazon - Mekong Stamped Leopard Leather High Heels by Butter

 

 

Short White Tahari Dress with Gold Accents from The Bay

 

 

My updo:

 

 

 

And here is how the weekend was organized:

 

Saturday Evening: Supper with my side of the family hosted by my parents. Their house was PACKED (my Mom had to say “grace†twice…for the group that was upstairs and then for the group that was downstairs)!

 

Sunday Evening: Supper with my husband’s side of the family hosted by his mother.

 

But, our BIG event was Sunday Morning: After I finished with hair and makeup, we met up with our immediate families in the park for a few photos, then back to the hotel for the reception. Beverage service began at 10 am and we hired a pianist to play background music for this first hour. We had a fancy breakfast juice table set up in an area more suitable for the group to mingle during this time. We also had two other tables, one set up with photos of us growing up and with photos/photobooks of our travels together:

 

 

 

 

The other table was set up with our instant photo guest book and prints of our wedding photos guests could take home with them. The idea was “leave a picture – take a picture†(i.e., add an instant photo to and sign our guest book, then take a wedding print home). Our book was purchased from an Etsy seller (thehandmadeboutique) and we attached a little engraved plate with our reception information (done at the kiosk outside of Sears):

 

 

The table at the reception was set up like this:

 

 

 

 

Our guests really enjoyed all aspects of this “meet and greet†hour, especially the instant photo book…but I would advise you to do what we did and ask a friend to help facilitate this activity with all of the guests and explain what they should do. Otherwise, I think some people get so busy visiting that they forget to do it or don't realize it's there!

 

Then, it was time for brunch and guests began to make their way down to the reception space, after an announcement from our MC (luckily we asked the pianist to bring a microphone with him to assist in getting the word out a little easier). It was a fairly long walk down the corridor and around a few corners to get to the room, and what we should have done was asked someone to accompany our two less able-bodied guests to the next space a few minutes before cuing everyone else to make their way down. People were being very polite and not wanting to pass them…my brother said it felt like a bit of a funeral march!

 

Anyway, we enjoyed a really delicious brunch together and had a short program consisting primarily of the slide show of wedding photos. Following that, we had the cake cutting and the candy buffet opened. I’ve been at weddings where people have helped themselves to the candy BEFORE the meal was even served, so I knew that we needed to have our MC tell everyone that the candy table would open after the cake was cut. I can’t even begin to tell you how crazy people went for the candy buffet...young AND old! Our guests were lined up at it for the rest of the reception and helping themselves to it until they left the building.

 

The hanging glittery garlands on either side of the table were actually Martha Stewart garlands (I found on clearance at Homesense) that said "best wishes". They were so cute (and the letters easily removed from the ribbon), I stood there in the store for the longest time trying to figure out what else I could spell with them...and this is what I came up with!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The little kraft paper bags were purchased at the Great Canadian Wholesale Club and stamped with a personalized rubber stamp I purchased off Etsy (seller stampoutonline):

 

 

 

Our three-tiered wedding cake was decorated with succulents and sat on a hand-turned wood pedestal purchased on Etsy (seller woodandglass). The bottom layer was Mexican vanilla with a chocolate fudge filling, the middle layer was carrot cake and the top was Bailey’s chocolate truffle…YUMM-Y!

 

 

 

 

Inside the reception space (next to the gift table) we also had a table set up with our framed marriage certificate, our Mexican bride and groom calacas (from our cake), our wedding photobook, etc.

 

 

 

Things I’m really glad we did:

• hired a photographer to capture candid and posed shots. We love to travel and were given a beautiful globe for a gift...our photographer was able to get some shots with our rings on it just as I had hoped. However, I wish I had been even clearer about the fact that we wanted ALL of our edited pictures to be in colour. I had to go back to the photographer and request that she include the original colour photos of those she sent to us only in black and white (about 25% of the total number of pictures we received). I mentioned in the consultation that my husband would ALWAYS prefer a colour photo to a black and white or sepia and she wrote that in her notes. But I guess I wasn’t clear enough…next time I will specifically ask that all of our proofs be in colour. 

 

 

  

 

• had a candy table!!! It was so much fun to put together and such a highlight for our guests! I just sold all of our glass jars and clear scoops, tongs and ladles on Kijiji (as one big set) and recouped all of my expenses there. I watched for sales on candy and came across some incredible (usually unadvertised) deals. For example, the large boxes of Whoppers and Milk Duds I picked up for .37 each at Superstore one day…the Lindt chocolates were on sale after Easter for $1.44/100 grams. The family packs of mint Aeros were in the clearance bins at Extra Foods for $1.14. Our larger containers were filled with things like chocolate almonds and Jelly Bellies from Costco. The biggest hits with our group were the Ring Pops, the Kinder Eggs (requested by my niece and nephew), and the three-packs of Turtles chocolates (purchased from the Great Canadian Wholesale Club). So, if you're planning a sweet or candy buffet, watch for specials (and pay close attention to expiration dates).

• created long-lasting succulent centrepieces and sent them home with those guests who were at our wedding in Mexico, along with a thank you card/care instructions for the centrepieces and a little book of photos from the wedding day. It’s quite neat to visit friends and family and see these centerpieces thriving all over the city! The ceramic containers were purchased from Costco last year, the river rocks from the Dollar Store and the little chalkboards were from Michaels. Simple and fresh for spring!

 

 

All of the succulent cuttings used on the cake and for the decor were given back to the grower to root. I'll get them back in the next couple of weeks to repot!

 

 

 

The albums that went home with each of our guests who attended our wedding:

 

 

The fabric covered DVD boxes held copies of our slide show and were given to our parents:

 

 

• ordered our fresh flowers from Costco for my bouquet and the beverage table centerpiece. We pre-ordered the flowers three weeks prior to the date of pick-up (the minimum length of time our store required) and picked them up the Friday of the long weekend (and kept them in the cooler at the hotel before/after doing the arranging). They were the most incredibly fresh beautiful flowers I’ve ever seen and they lasted two weeks! I really didn’t want to carry a bouquet around all day, but I did want something to hold for our photos to give them a “pop†of colour. After looking at a few You Tube videos, I decided it was something I totally wanted to try and do. This was the approach I thought would be easiest (the “tape as you go†approach rather than the “compose the whole bouquet in your hand and then tape†approach): 

                                 

• it was incredibly easy and cheap to do, considering the roses at Costco work out to around $1/rose and the bouquet took around 24 roses. I would certainly recommend two people working on it together (one holds the roses while the other tapes and gives feedback on the shape). My family couldn’t believe we did it…I was a proud bride! : )

 

 

Centerpiece for the beverage table:

 

 

• we did a seating chart out of necessity, as our venue was tight for space and we didn’t have the luxury of setting up extra tables (but we skipped place cards). Somehow I knew that there would be some last minute changes, so rather than doing one large printout, I had a card for each table to allow me to change it at home on our printer. Indeed, 24 hours before the reception, we got a Facebook message that a family of 4 who hadn’t planned to come were indeed coming. That was great…but it meant I was shifting people around at tables and re-printing cards the day before the reception. The cork board was purchased from Homesense:

 

 

• I purchased some really inexpensive activity kits ($1 each at Michaels) and placed them in a basket next to the easel holding the seating chart, so that the kids could select whichever kit they wanted while their parents were looking for their seating assignments. Some of the parents came up to us after and said they really appreciated that we had thought of doing this for their kids and that it helped keep them occupied.

 

 

• and just as an FYI...we also got feedback that the parents with young kids appreciated sitting close to the exit doors so that they could discreetly leave the room when a child became fussy.

 

Things I wish I had done:

• when I confirmed with my vendors a week ahead of time by e-mail, I wish I had included the TIME they would be expected/we agreed upon. I confirmed the DATE with my hair and makeup lady, but she showed up 35 minutes late, saying she thought the contract was for her to start at 7:30 am. Ummmm, nope…I checked…the contract said 7:00 am! That made for a really stressful start to our morning at the hotel.
• as I've said already...kept the plans for our AHR a bit looser so that we had a bit more flexibility to do what we felt like doing when we got home from the wedding.

 

Well, that's all that comes to mind for now!  Feeling sad and happy all at the same time that it's over...but we're looking forward to celebrating our first anniversary in the Mayan Riviera next year, and hope to be able to meet up with one of the awesome photographers I've found here on BDW for a mini anniversary photoshoot!!!

 

Bye for now!

 

J~

 

 

[Lizrmt]

You did a great job with your AHR! Everything looks fantastic esp. the candy buffet! Looks yummy! I like the idea of doing a Sunday brunch, I'm guessing much more affordable then a dinner.

[chippymunk]

That looks great. I think we are planning on having 2 AHRs (that's just scary...one in my hometown, and one in his - they are 8 hours apart, and part of the reason we decided on destination wedding).

[tyrebride2b2013]

your AHR seems so organized and it was beautiful as well I hope mine comes off as good.  love the photobooks that went out to your guests where did you purchase them?  If you don' t mind me asking what was your budget for your AHR?

[MJKH]

Thanks ladies!

 

I stumbled upon those little woven straw photo albums on sale at our Real Canadian Superstore (I believe they were around $2.25 each) a year ago this spring but have never really seen anything like them since. Sorry, I know that doesn't help you very much.

 

As far as a breakdown for our AHR:

 

Invitation set up and printing at a local print shop = $70

Brunch reception buffet and beverages, gratuity, etc. (no alcohol and includes my husband's 25% staff discount as he is an employee of the hotel) = $2167.50 

Photography = $700 (we purchased a Groupon from this photographer about a year ago for a photo session and inquired about bumping it up to include 5 hours of shooting the day of our reception...which she did for the additional cost)

Clothing and accessories for bride and groom = $550 (my husband simply wanted a new shirt and tie for the suit he bought 8 months earlier)

Hair and make-up = $95 (she didn't charge me the full rate for makeup as she was late and I was shortchanged there)

Succulent centerpieces + extra succulents for decor/cake = $550 

Flowers from Costco for beverage table centerpieces and bridal bouquet = $85

Wedding cake and stand = $450

Candy for candy table = $200

All other candy table accessories, jars, frames, etc. = $250 (the jars, tongs and scoops I have since sold as a set on Kijiji and made all of our money back)

All other decor, photo guest book, instant film, photo printing, kids activity packs, cork boards (which I have since sold), etc. = $400

 

Adding it up, and with all of the other little incidentals I'm sure I'm forgetting at this point, the total cost was around $5600- $5700. My parents covered the food and beverages (hotel costs), centerpieces/flowers and wedding cake. The fact that my husband is an employee of the hotel where we had our downtown reception obviously really helped. The hotel gave us a complimentary suite for three nights as well which was awesome. Still, when I look at the total, it was a lot of money...especially when I would have been more than happy with a backyard bbq! ; )

[tyrebride2b2013]

Originally Posted by MJKH 

 

Thanks ladies!

 

I stumbled upon those little woven straw photo albums on sale at our Real Canadian Superstore (I believe they were around $2.25 each) a year ago this spring but have never really seen anything like them since. Sorry, I know that doesn't help you very much.

 

As far as a breakdown for our AHR:

 

Invitation set up and printing at a local print shop = $70

Brunch reception buffet and beverages, gratuity, etc. (no alcohol and includes my husband's 25% staff discount as he is an employee of the hotel) = $2167.50 

Photography = $700 (we purchased a Groupon from this photographer about a year ago for a photo session and inquired about bumping it up to include 5 hours of shooting the day of our reception...which she did for the additional cost)

Clothing and accessories for bride and groom = $550 (my husband simply wanted a new shirt and tie for the suit he bought 8 months earlier)

Hair and make-up = $95 (she didn't charge me the full rate for makeup as she was late and I was shortchanged there)

Succulent centerpieces + extra succulents for decor/cake = $550 

Flowers from Costco for beverage table centerpieces and bridal bouquet = $85

Wedding cake and stand = $450

Candy for candy table = $200

All other candy table accessories, jars, frames, etc. = $250 (the jars, tongs and scoops I have since sold as a set on Kijiji and made all of our money back)

All other decor, photo guest book, instant film, photo printing, kids activity packs, cork boards (which I have since sold), etc. = $400

 

Adding it up, and with all of the other little incidentals I'm sure I'm forgetting at this point, the total cost was around $5600- $5700. My parents covered the food and beverages (hotel costs), centerpieces/flowers and wedding cake. The fact that my husband is an employee of the hotel where we had our downtown reception obviously really helped. The hotel gave us a complimentary suite for three nights as well which was awesome. Still, when I look at the total, it was a lot of money...especially when I would have been more than happy with a backyard bbq! ; )

 

Oh wow.. yes that is a bummer about the photo albums but thanks anyway for the info.. maybe I'll be able to find something similar they are awesome.  Thanks for the breakdown of the costs and details something to give me an idea. 

[coconoir1908]

Great job, everything turned out AMAZING!!!!!

[breeburns]

your AHR looks like it turned out awesome!! We just had mine last weekend, did you send different thank you cards for your AHR then your actual wedding? did you include any printed wording or just a hand written note?

thanks!

[MJKH]

We had 32 guests in Mexico...some gave a gift before we left for the wedding, but most waited until our AHR. So no, we did not send thank yous in between our wedding week and our AHR. I bought one of the Groupons currently running (from My Own Labels in the US), and plan to use it for personalized photo thank you cards. My goal is to get them out...my last wedding "to do"...in the next 8 weeks! 

[shan0487]

great thread- thanks for the post!!

 

We still aren't 100% on having something after the wedding- but if we are we are def taking the laid back approach and doing an Open House type of party!