Many banquet facilities give you an option for a cash bar or an open bar. A cash bar means that your guests will pay for their own beverages and drinks. An open bar means that you will pay the facility for everyone's beverages and drinks that are ordered. Things you need to consider when it comes to your bar services are your alcohol requirements, bartenders and servers, and your liquor license.

Alcohol Requirements. The most regularly consumed alcoholic beverages include vodka, rye, rum and whisky. Other spirits such as wine, beer and coolers are also very popular. For serving specialty drinks that require gin, brandy, tequila, kahlua, amaretto, triple sec, flavored liquor, etc, you can judge the demand if you know your guests and their taste. The time of year and age of your guests also determines the quantity of alcohol and spirits that should be purchased.
When determining how much alcohol to purchase, consider the following:

Hard Alcohol: 1 x 60 ounce bottle yields 30 drinks

Wine: One bottle of wine yields 6 glasses

Beer/Cooler: One case of 12 bottles serves 2 to 4 guests

Ask your banquet facility if you can purchase the alcohol for the party instead of them providing it. Remember that it is always better to purchase extra alcohol to avoid embarrassment because you can always return unopened bottles.

Bartenders & Servers. Professional bar service is mandatory at all good reception parties. This way you can relax while the professionals handle the work of mixing drinks and serving according to a list of drinks you provided. You should have 1 bartender and 2 servers per every 150 guests. Service should include, ice, condiments (lemon wedges), washing/disposing of barware (glasses), garnishes (sugar-rimmed glasses), and clean up.

Liquor License. It is mandatory to have a license to serve alcohol at your reception party. Although bartenders have a serving certificate, each and every party where alcohol will be served needs a license. Your local liquor store can guide you as to the license requirements. The person that will obtain the license must bring it to the event, and thus should remain somewhat sober.

Cake

The wedding cake is the focal point of your reception party. Cutting of the cake by the bride and groom is symbolic of their unity and the beginning of the rest of their married lives. The ceremony can be done with eloquence or with spunk, depending on your personal taste.
You can have lots of fun choosing your cake. You don't have to settle for a traditional and plain white wedding cake. Have fun with it! Things to consider are the size and shape, colour, flavour, accessories and price.

Size and Shape. You should ask your baker or cake designer about the shape, size and décor of your wedding cake. For example, if you want something fun, try a wedding cake that resembles presents stacked one on top of another. Each present can be tied with a bow and decorated with pearls, flowers, or ribbon. Or you can have baby pink rosettes all over white icing for a romantic theme. Try something personal and sentimental by having both of your initials incorporated into the cake décor.

Colour. Your cake should reflect the overall theme and colour scheme you have already chosen. Take a colour swatch for your baker to decorate your wedding cake to match.

Flavour. Sampling is part of the selection process, and your taste buds will thank you! You can try white chocolate icing as an alternative to soft white icing. Ask your baker about different fillings and flavours as other delicious options.

Accessories. Why settle for blasé when it comes to your cake? You may want to have fun and interesting cake toppers. Whether you decide on gold foil, chocolate hearts, candied roses or fresh lilies cascading down your cake, accessories are always fun.

Price. Beware of going over-budget on your cake. You can try to save money by including styrofoam layers or you may want to include pastries, candies or chocolates to serve your guests instead of the actual cake.

Confectionary

It is customary to give sweets after the wedding ceremony. Whether it is traditional Indian sweets, baked goods, candies or chocolates, please see the vendor listing for more ideas.

Decor

Ceiling swags, twinkling lights, romantic candles, or elegant chair covers may complete your special theme for décor. To turn your vision into a reality, you will have to do some careful planning to decorate your house, wedding ceremony and reception party. There are many things you will have to decide before you hire a decorator. Things to consider are decorating experience, theme, and price.

Decorating Experience. You can either decorate yourself, in which case you will need the help of your bridesmaids, or you may want to hire a professional decorator. If you decorate yourself, you must be extremely organized and know specifically what you want and where you want it. Refer to decorating books, magazines, or seek online help. You may even want to get the expertise of an actual decorator to give you some great tips on how to save time while decorating. Time is something that you will not have the day of or the even the day before your wedding. Make sure you delegate responsibilities. If you are having a hard time doing so, it might be in your best interest to hire a professional.
A professional decorator is an expert on themes. They know the tricks of the trade and are a resource of new decorating ideas. When you book your initial consultation, look through their portfolio to determine if their decorating style fits into your vision.

Theme. Your ideal ambiance can be created by using candles, ribbons, flowers, balloons, tulle and lights, ice sculptures, draped fabric, chair covers, creatures, oriental influences, wine bottles, soap, asian influences, or a combination of several of these. Begin by looking at pictures of décor in wedding magazines or online to get some ideas.
Candles are a favourite with weddings. You can use pillar candles, floating candles, votive candles, tealight candles, taper candles, round candles or square candles. The warm flicker of the flame creates a pleasant, romantic glow that every guest is sure to enjoy. You can get your bridal party involved by having your bridesmaids light candles in the aisle from the doorway to the altar or head table, which is sure hush the crowd while they anticipate your entrance.
The ribbon you choose for your party favours is also very important. It should tie in your wedding colours or create a flattering contrast. You may also want to personalize your ribbon. You can have your names and wedding date printed onto the ribbon which you can accent your party favours with. You can incorporate the ribbon into your invitations to give your guests a sneak peek at your wedding theme.
Including fresh flowers arrangements in your décor is a beautiful and natural way to captivate your guests. To add a bit of glamour and sparkle into yourflowers, try wiring some beads or crystals into the arrangements. If your decorator also does flower arranging, it may make it easier as you will only have to deal with one person for both flowers and décor. However, you should decide if you think it is safe for you to put your eggs in one basket.
Balloons are a reminder of the lighthearted innocence we had when we were children, which is why they bring joy to every occasion. They also cost a fraction of the price of fresh flower decor. You can decorate the entire room with small or large bouquets on the tables, archways, balloon arrangements, and much more. Ask your decorator or party supply store for theme ideas.

Tulle is soft net material that creates a very dainty look when draped. Twist it around twinkling Christmas lights that are hung from the ceiling and you have a romantic starry night. You can also try stringing the lights in trees that surround various areas of the banquet facility. Adorning the head table with white lights and tulle overlay creates a soft glow such as that of a candle. Tulle comes in a variety of colours to match any colour scheme. Make sure that you give a colour swatch of your outfit to the decorator to ensure that the décor does not over power you or make you blend into the wall.
Ice sculptures are a spectacular way dressing your entry table, buffet table, and even your centerpieces. These cool designs can encompass a wine bottle, fruit, or flowers. If planned beforehand, you can even have something encased in the ice, creating a time lapse that is sure to entrance your guests.

Draped fabric is another way to create your dream theme. Pair the draped fabric with dimmed chandeliers and candelabra centerpieces for a very regal and grandiose look that is sure to dazzle. However, watch your budget as the amount of material used to drape and swag can get costly.
Chair covers are quickly becoming a mainstay at reception parties. Not only can it cover inconspicuous stains on the chairs themselves, but it suddenly gives all of the chairs an elegant dress. Chair covers can be in different materials and colours depending on what fits into your theme. A sash can also be added as an additional accent. If you would like simpler covers, you may want to go with more elaborate sashes or even an accent that is tied into the bow.

Fresh sea creatures are another brilliant idea for centerpieces. On coloured table cloth, pile 2 handfuls of sand in the centre of the table. Place a small fishbowl on top of the sand and fill it ¾ full of water. From the pet store, you can buy one hundred goldfish for a minimal cost. Put one or two fish in each bowl. Lastly, accent the sand with shells or pebbles which you can purchase at a craft store. Let your MC raffle them off in a game so that the winner will take home a souvenir from your wedding.
Oriental influences are another popular idea for wedding décor. You can order small take out boxes and fill them with chocolates or fortune cookies as your party favours. Decorate them with ribbons and display them on the tables in a shallow, square dish with a single orchid plant or stem in a simple vase. Accent the plate with chopsticks to complete the look.
Wine bottles make for nice centerpieces because your guests can enjoy the wine. Display one or two bottles in the centre of the table and have them corked already with pretty bottle stoppers in each bottle. You may want to get personalized labels printed for each bottle. Accent the centre with grapes and greenery to complete the centerpiece.
Autumn or winter weddings can be made just as romantic as spring or summer weddings. On each place setting can be soap, elegantly wrapped in handmade paper and matching ribbon. To match, pillar candles of different heights can be lit as centerpieces and tied with the same ribbon. Accent the candles with white feathers or a boa for a soft and fuzzy effect.

Asian themes are now on the rise again, using gold and burgundy as the main colours. You may want to fill small organza pouches with chocolates for each place setting and tie a thin gold chorded tassle to close. Your centerpiece can be brass candelabras surrounded by organza and accented with large gold chorded tassles. You may want to find a decorative beaded lampshade for the candelabra and matching tealight holders with lit candles to accent.
Price. Planning your décor can be fun with all of the little accents and fun accessories. However, you may easily get carried away and quickly lose track of your budget. The head table, cake table, entry table, guestbook table, and ceremony site décor are seen as fixed costs. The price of centerpieces and chair covers can be determined by deciding how many guests you are expecting. If there are 8 or 10 guests seated per table, how many tables will you need? This will help you determine the number of centerpieces and chair covers.

Entertainment

Entertaining your guests is a major task, especially with a large reception party that caters to upwards of 400 guests. And when you notice your guests smiling, laughing and having a good time, it reassures you that your event has truly created good memories for everyone. After all, isn't that what every bride and groom want? A fun event is a memorable event. So, how do you want to entertain your guests? Things to consider are music, speeches, special performances, and games.

Speeches. Every reception party must have a couple of speeches by some key people in the wedding party. The best man's toast, the maid of honor's speech, a thank you speech by the parents of the groom, and a short speech by the bride and groom is more than enough. Try to avoid having more than necessary speeches, as people lose interest quickly.

Special Performances. Having special performances is an added touch that differentiates one reception party from the next. These performances can be by hired groups or by friends and family. Hired groups are always a good idea because they are coordinated, synchronized, and have great costumes. Enquire about rates for multiple performances by the same group. In most cases, second or third items by the same group are very minimal because the group has already dressed and traveled to your reception to perform.

Performances by your friends and family members are always fun. You and your guests all identify with the performers and emotion is instantly added to your evening. The special care, thought and time put into preparing for their dance item gives it more feeling than any other type of performance. You may want to change your seats, however, so that you can get a good look at the production put on specifically for you.

Games. Playing games is always fun at parties. It is much easier to organize in smaller functions, but it can still be done if you have the right MC. The content of the games can vary quite a bit. Involve your guests by having them come to the podium to sing or do a short dance. Try quizzing your guests about their knowledge of the couple, and then reward the winning guest table with a trip to the buffet or dessert table. You can also reward guests by giving away the table centerpieces. There are many different fun and innovative games you can play; just be creative.

Gifts

This is the fun part of planning your wedding. Whether you are purchasing gifts for your family, bridesmaids, groomsmen, fiancé, or deciding on your own gift registry, it is still considered shopping. Although shopping is done with a light heart and good temperament, it can still be hard and stressful work. Deciding on which gifts to give and to who is not as easy as it seems. Visiting your favourite stores and selecting items for your registry is not a small task. Things to consider are registry, attendands, family, bride and groom, and thank you.

Music

Having good music at your reception party will make all the difference in the world. Refer to our DJ services section to help you find a professional DJ. Another alternative is to have a live band. Whether it is a string quartet, classical instrumentalists, pop singers or singers of traditional folk songs, be sure to consider what will keep your guests entertained during the course of the night.

Party Supplies

When you are planning a party, there are many ideas that you may have such as the theme or location. Whether you will need small, disposable supplies such as plates and napkins or large, re-usable supplies such as tables and chairs, these are all things that can be found in a party rental supply store. Discussing these ideas with your party planner at the store can give you a better idea as to how you can make the entire event successful. Things to consider are tents, tables and chairs, linens and tableware, and décor.

Tents: Renting a tent is important if you are having an outdoor event. Pre-wedding parties are excellent to hold in a tent in your backyard. Your guests can enjoy the party while you enjoy the comfort of your home. If it begins to rain, you can roll down the side walls of the tent so that everyone stays nice and dry. You can get a marquee tent, festival tent, or a canvas tent in various different sizes. Side walls are optional.
If your event is quite large, you may want to rent a dance floor or turf. The rental company can ensure that you will have a safe and level floor. If you are having musicians, it is a good idea to rent a platform as well. If your event is on a cold night, you can also rent heating systems and lighting to make your tent is a cozy place. Most tent and party rental companies will give you a package deal where the price depends on the number of guests expected. Delivery and set up should also be included in the price.

Tables & Chairs : Every event has tables and chairs, whether it is outside in the tent, or at the wedding ceremony itself. Tables come in various sizes. The most common tables are rectangular or round, seating 8 to 10 people on each table. Chairs also vary, depending on what you are looking for. The most common are lawn chairs or folding chairs. If you need chair covers, it is probably in your best interest to contact a decorator.

Linens & Tableware : If these are not included in your catering package, you will have to rent them. Table cloths and napkins are minimal to rent and can also be laundered by the rental company. Tableware includes dishes, glassware, and silverware. It makes it very convenient to rent these items because once used, the rental company takes care of the washing. Purchasing disposable linens and tableware is your alternative, but the clean up and garbage can add up. Renting these items leaves you free from mess and is much more convenient for you, considering that you don't even have to wash a single fork!

Décor : What your decorator doesn't provide for you is also available in party rental supply stores. You can also rent other necessities such as extra garbage cans, extra bedding for house guests, and small stoves for cooking greasy items outside.

Security

This is something that is overlooked during the festivities. You may want to consider having security present to give your guests peace of mind during your reception party. You may also want to consider having security at your home if your celebration is going to be elsewhere. Please see the vendor listing for security companies.

Transportation

How do you plan on getting to your wedding ceremony? If you overlook your transportation needs, you may end up hailing a taxi cab in all of your wedding finery! There are many factors involved in choosing the right made of transporation for you. Things to consider are types of transportation, chauffeur's license and price.
Types of Transportation. There are many types of transportation that you can rent for your special day. Whether it is drawn by horses, by men, or by motorized engines, the bottom line is that you must arrive to your wedding in style.
Limousines are the most popular to rent. Super stretch limousines can usually seat up to 10 people, have a bar facility inside and are chauffeur driven. They usually come in black or white and in different styles to suite different tastes. Book your limousine well in advance to avoid disappointment, especially if you have a summer wedding. The trend now is in 4x4 limousines so that you can arrive in style. Specialty cars are another option for you. You can either rent antique cars, sports cars, high-end cars, or a motor home. Motor homes are a great way for you and your attendants to make a statement without saying a word. Inside it is spacious, has a couch, kitchen table, a bedroom, and even a bathroom for emergencies.
Horse-drawn carriages are quaint and charming, quite a contrast from today's fast-paced, motorized world. The carriages can be decorated to fit your wedding theme and colors. Take a trip back in time and arrive at your event as Cinderella and Prince Charming. If you are looking for something more specialized, such as a horse for the groom to ride when he arrives at the ceremony with his baraat, you may want to try a stable nearby. Many stables will allow for their horses to be used, as long as his trainer is with him. You may want to search for a doli, but your brothers and uncles will have to use their own manpower and strength to carry it.

Chauffeur's License. Always ensure that if you are hiring a car and driver, he or she must be certified. Also check the insurance papers for liability and collision. You can never be too cautious when it comes to safety.
Price. You may be able to find some discounts if you do your research. Seasonal discounts are sometimes offered when it is not wedding or graduation season, particulary in the winter months. Also, if you are renting multiple cars, you may be given a discount. Another great way to receive a discount is if you use your credit card to book. Check with your credit card company if you are eligible for travel benefits. If you are a member of an automobile association, you also may be eligible for a discount.Confirm your booked transportation at least 2 weeks prior to your wedding date. The last thing you want is be get stranded if your driver has a double-booking.

Venue

Whether it is a banquet facility, park, golf course, garden, museum, yacht, winery, beach or hotel, please see our vendor listing to help you book the right venue for your party.