Lucheon Wedding Reception

[ilovethiswebsite]

Hi Ladies...

I was wondering - how many of you have had or have been to a luncheon wedding reception as opposed to a dinner? I am trying to convince my fiancee it''s a good idea but he seems to think it''s not "weddingy" enough and more "bussinessy."

We are thinking about having the reception at a cute little french restaurant next June, no hall. It''s super intimate and cozy - and there is a beautiful patio outside with flowers and I think it would be just gorgeous for a lunch reception. Also - we would save money on not having an open bar, and not having to worry about a DJ etc... We would like to keep our wedding expenses under the 10-15k range... So that way we would have a ceremony in the morning then a lucheon and that''s it...

Hmm I wonder if that poses problems for getting my hair and stuff done.... I need time!!!! Anyway just wanted to hear what you guys thought of a lunch wedding.

Here is the resto http://www.oliverbonacini.com/aubergemovie.html

click on gallery to see pics.

 

[brazen_irish_hussy]

It depends where you are. In the south I know it is very common. Where I am out west, NONE does a luncheon. I knew one couple who passed on their dream venue because they couldn''t do an evening reception.
I don''t know if business like comes to mind, but for me personally, it would feel the wedding was less serious or important if it were done in the morning/afternoon. Again, though, that is cultural to where I am and it is totally accepted in other areas.

 

[marchswallowbird]

My fiancee and I are doing a lunch reception. We are both "daytime" people, as opposed to nighttime party people, so it works for us. It also provides the more relaxed, informal atmosphere we want, not to mention helping us save some costs. We are doing a small, informal wedding. I don't think it is businessy at all. We are "out West" and plenty of people do daytime weddings. Yes, more people do evening events, but we don't care what other people are doing...it's our wedding, and this works for us, and also our guests (who tend to be a bit older so they will not want to be up late). I disagree with the idea that somehow it is less of a wedding if you do it in the daytime. I am all about doing what works for YOU, not doing your wedding the way you think it should be done. You need to decide what works best for the two of you.

 

[zoebartlett]

First, I have to say that the French restuarant looks gorgeous! I also think the type of wedding you want sounds perfect. Intimate and cozy, as you mentioned. It sounds like it will be a beautiful day.

I''ll let you know what we''re doing.

We''re getting married at 11AM, followed by a cocktail hour and then reception. The food we''re having would probably be considered something you''d have for dinner as opposed to lunch (lemon chicken, lobster stuffed haddock, and prime rib). So, other than the time of day, our wedding won''t be any different than a night time wedding.

One thing that I like about a daytime wedding is that when the wedding is over (in our case, 4:30), guests still have plenty of time in the day to do whatever they''d like. If your wedding will be a destination wedding, maybe guests will want to check out the sights, etc. Just a thought.

I''d definitely keep talking to your FI -- I''m sure he''ll come around.

 

[ilovethiswebsite]

Wow that sounds perfect!

Are you having an open bar during the lunch?

The whole reason why I started thinking about this plan was because the restaurant only lets you rent the entire place for lunch on sat or sun or dinner sun...

 

[ilovethiswebsite]

The menu is pretty dinner like at this restaurant as well. We would have the choice between:

LUNCH

Lunch Menu 1

Auberge Wild Mushroom Soup

with chives and truffle

(no cream or butter)

~

Crêpe du Jour

a Parisian classic with an Auberge twist

or

Grilled Filet of Salmon

on steamed ratte potatoes with fragrant young herb salad and sauce Bois Boudran

~

The Auberge Crème Brûlée

classic vanilla bean

Coffee or Tea

$52.00 per person

plus taxes and gratuity

Lunch Menu 2

The Auberge Salad

romaine lettuce leaves with French lentils

and classic Caesar dressing

or

Chilled Green Pea Velouté

with poached lobster, crème fraîche

and delicate herbs

~

Red Wine Chicken

on creamy pommes purée, with pearl onion,

smoked bacon and Beaujolais reduction

or

Baked Sea Bream

in a fragrant ginger and lemon garlic broth

with new potatoes and dandelion salad

~

Fresh Fruit Brochettes

ripe seasonal fruits with organic yogurt,

young flowers and granola

Coffee or Tea

$55.00 per person

plus taxes and gratuity

Lunch Menu 3

Romaine Lettuce Leaves

with crispy smoked bacon, Gruyère croûtons

and roast tomato vinaigrette

or

Smoked Salmon

apple wood smoked with avocado, tomato

and coriander scented cucumber nage

~

Poached Halibut

with confit of lemon, wilted spinach

and bouillabaisse broth

or

Roast Lamb Loin

with aubergine caviar, braised garlic,

roast peppers and marjoram jus

~

Chocolate Truffle Délice

decadent chocolate mousse with, cocoa nibs, organic peanuts and cinnamon ice cream

Coffee or Tea

$62.00 per person

plus taxes and gratuity

Lunch Menu 4

Organic Leaves

toasted nuts, crumbled chèvre

and cumin scented sherry vinaigrette

or

Chilled Heirloom Tomato Soup

with melon, mint and olive oil from Provence

or

Poached Organic Salmon

with olives, fennel and minted grapefruit

~

Ricotta Ravioli

wild mushrooms, petite pois and Reggiano

with white truffle oil

or

Seared Pork Loin

with apple sauce, stewed cabbage

and clove scented honey jus

or

Grilled Beef Striploin Steak

with roast onion, confit potato, oyster mushroom

and fortified wine sauce

~

Lemon Tart

with sour cream sorbet and grapefruit foam

Coffee or Tea

$74.00 per person

plus taxes and gratuity

Dinner Menu 1

Vichyssoise

chilled leek and potato soup with smoked trout

and preserved wild leek

~

Baked Sea Bass

in a fragrant ginger and lemon garlic broth

with new potatoes and dandelion salad

or

Pan Roasted Capon

stewed tomatoes, herbed peas, crème fraîche

and jus rôti

~

Pavé of Passion Fruit

passion fruit curd under white chocolate mousse

with hazelnut crunch, ginger and frozen yogurt

~

Coffee or Tea

$65.00 per person

plus taxes and gratuity

Dinner Menu 2

Auberge Wild Mushroom Soup

with chives and truffle

(no cream or butter)

or

Crab Salad

avocado purée with lime, apple and perilla leaves

~

Cold Poached Organic Salmon

on cucumber salad with marinated mussels,

herbed yogurt and sauce gazpacho

or

Loin of Lamb

Moroccan spiced, on fragrant tajine style

vegetable ragoût with coriander

and harissa jus

~

Marinated Strawberries

with vanilla biscuit, blood orange sorbet

and crunchy granola crumble

~

Coffee or Tea

$75.00 per person

plus taxes and gratuity

Dinner Menu 3

Romaine Salad

with crispy smoked bacon, Gruyère croûtons

and roast tomato vinaigrette

or

Roast Vegetables Pressé

with aged vinegar, crudités and sauce vierge

~

Free Range Chicken Suprême

with sweet corn, sage pudding, asparagus

and foie gras jus

or

Pan Seared Sea Scallops

on braised Kobe beef cheeks with sweet peas

and Champagne cream

or

Beef Tenderloin

on warm truffle potato salad with spring onion, tomato confit and fortified wine sauce

~

Chocolate Truffle Délice

decadent chocolate mousse with, cocoa nibs, organic peanuts and cinnamon ice cream

~

Coffee or Tea

$82.00 per person

plus taxes and gratuity

FEEL FREE TO COMMENT ON WHICH ONES SOUND THE BEST!

 

[brooklyngirl]

Lunch menu 1 sounds delicious! It would be my pick.

 

[zoebartlett]

Date: 6/26/2008 4:11:35 PM
Author: ilovethiswebsite
Wow that sounds perfect!

Are you having an open bar during the lunch?

The whole reason why I started thinking about this plan was because the restaurant only lets you rent the entire place for lunch on sat or sun or dinner sun...

Yep, we''re having an open bar for the whole time. The food you listed sounds incredible! Would guests have all of the options or will you choose a couple of them to offer? I''m not sure you mentioned it, but how many guests are you planning on having?

 

[neatfreak]

We had a luncheon reception at a beautiful restaurant and it was perfect. Wouldn't change it. No one in our families are nighttime people so it just made sense for us.

We had an open bar the whole time, but the bar menu was limited to a few nice wines, micro brew beers, champagne, and mimosas.

 

[ilovethiswebsite]

Date: 6/26/2008 4:56:03 PM
Author: ZoeBartlett

Date: 6/26/2008 4:11:35 PM
Author: ilovethiswebsite
Wow that sounds perfect!

Are you having an open bar during the lunch?

The whole reason why I started thinking about this plan was because the restaurant only lets you rent the entire place for lunch on sat or sun or dinner sun...

Yep, we''re having an open bar for the whole time. The food you listed sounds incredible! Would guests have all of the options or will you choose a couple of them to offer? I''m not sure you mentioned it, but how many guests are you planning on having?

I think we are going to invite 120 people but I am sure only 80 or so would make it (both are families are coming from 3+ hrs away)

 

[ilovethiswebsite]

Date: 6/26/2008 4:56:03 PM
Author: ZoeBartlett

Date: 6/26/2008 4:11:35 PM
Author: ilovethiswebsite
Wow that sounds perfect!

Are you having an open bar during the lunch?

The whole reason why I started thinking about this plan was because the restaurant only lets you rent the entire place for lunch on sat or sun or dinner sun...

Yep, we''re having an open bar for the whole time. The food you listed sounds incredible! Would guests have all of the options or will you choose a couple of them to offer? I''m not sure you mentioned it, but how many guests are you planning on having?

I think I need to pick one of the options..But they said the menu changes seasonally so I doubt it would be the exact same as what is listed here by next spring.... I personally like Lunch 3 or Dinner 2... yummmersomes

 

[CrownJewel]

ilovethiswebsite,
For a moment, I thought you were looking at the same French Restaurant with a beautiful outdoor patio area that FI and I chose. But we are having our wedding at Le Chateau in NY. We are having a Sunday lunch reception. Ceremony starts at 11:30 and reception ends at 5PM.

I didn''t think of the potential difficulties of planning a Sunday, daytime wedding when we booked the place. But in case it helps you decide one way or another, here are two issues I had to deal with:
1. It''s better to have a Saturday daytime wedding because then your guests can fly in Friday night, relax, go to wedding, relax and fly home on Sunday. Much better than frantically trying to fly home right after the reception on Sunday night.
2. You may want to limit your wedding party size, because the more girls you have getting their hair/makeup done in the morning, the earlier you have to wake up. I have 4 ladies in my bridal party...but if I had thought of my hairstylist driving up to us at 4am, I might have done things a little differently. We start hair at 6AM and go until 10AM.

Otherwise, I''m still excited about our wedding. I''m glad it''s a daytime wedding. I''m glad I can relax Friday and Saturday and get some last minute things pulled together without work getting in the way. And we were able to get what we wanted within budget!!

 

[ilovethiswebsite]

Date: 6/26/2008 6:26:59 PM
Author: CrownJewel
ilovethiswebsite,
For a moment, I thought you were looking at the same French Restaurant with a beautiful outdoor patio area that FI and I chose. But we are having our wedding at Le Chateau in NY. We are having a Sunday lunch reception. Ceremony starts at 11:30 and reception ends at 5PM.

I didn''t think of the potential difficulties of planning a Sunday, daytime wedding when we booked the place. But in case it helps you decide one way or another, here are two issues I had to deal with:
1. It''s better to have a Saturday daytime wedding because then your guests can fly in Friday night, relax, go to wedding, relax and fly home on Sunday. Much better than frantically trying to fly home right after the reception on Sunday night.
2. You may want to limit your wedding party size, because the more girls you have getting their hair/makeup done in the morning, the earlier you have to wake up. I have 4 ladies in my bridal party...but if I had thought of my hairstylist driving up to us at 4am, I might have done things a little differently. We start hair at 6AM and go until 10AM.

Otherwise, I''m still excited about our wedding. I''m glad it''s a daytime wedding. I''m glad I can relax Friday and Saturday and get some last minute things pulled together without work getting in the way. And we were able to get what we wanted within budget!!

So true - thank you for the tips. You are right - a saturday lunch is probably more convenient for all the out of towners! Are you also having your ceremony at the restaurant?

The more I think about it the more I love the idea of a luncheon wedding reception. Will be gorgeous if the sun is out and it''s a beautiful day! I will let you ladies know what we decide when we do - but please keep the posts coming!

 

[Haven]

We''re having a morning wedding (11 AM) with a cocktail hour and reception to immediately follow. Our wedding is very formal, from the 8-piece band to the engraved invitations, and we never once thought that the time of day would affect the level of formality or "wedding-y" feel of the whole thing.

We chose a morning wedding and lunch reception because we happen to love morning weddings, and we''re Jewish so we can''t get married between sunset Friday to sunset Saturday (it''s the sabbath, day of rest) so a Saturday wedding would have to begin very late, and we don''t love Sunday weddings because everyone always leaves early because they have to work the next day.

I think the way an event is executed and the hosts themselves will dictate how business-like it feels far more than the time of day. You can have a beautiful daytime wedding with a lunch reception that is intimate and lovely.

My bridesmaids and I are going to start getting ready at 6 AM, which is pretty early.

 

[ilovethiswebsite]

Date: 6/26/2008 6:26:59 PM
Author: CrownJewel
ilovethiswebsite,
For a moment, I thought you were looking at the same French Restaurant with a beautiful outdoor patio area that FI and I chose. But we are having our wedding at Le Chateau in NY. We are having a Sunday lunch reception. Ceremony starts at 11:30 and reception ends at 5PM.

I didn''t think of the potential difficulties of planning a Sunday, daytime wedding when we booked the place. But in case it helps you decide one way or another, here are two issues I had to deal with:
1. It''s better to have a Saturday daytime wedding because then your guests can fly in Friday night, relax, go to wedding, relax and fly home on Sunday. Much better than frantically trying to fly home right after the reception on Sunday night.
2. You may want to limit your wedding party size, because the more girls you have getting their hair/makeup done in the morning, the earlier you have to wake up. I have 4 ladies in my bridal party...but if I had thought of my hairstylist driving up to us at 4am, I might have done things a little differently. We start hair at 6AM and go until 10AM.

Otherwise, I''m still excited about our wedding. I''m glad it''s a daytime wedding. I''m glad I can relax Friday and Saturday and get some last minute things pulled together without work getting in the way. And we were able to get what we wanted within budget!!

I just looked up Le Chateau NY and is it ever beautiful! You lucky gal! It''s going to be spectacular! What a view!

 

[ilovethiswebsite]

Date: 6/26/2008 6:38:37 PM
Author: Haven
We''re having a morning wedding (11 AM) with a cocktail hour and reception to immediately follow. Our wedding is very formal, from the 8-piece band to the engraved invitations, and we never once thought that the time of day would affect the level of formality or ''wedding-y'' feel of the whole thing.

We chose a morning wedding and lunch reception because we happen to love morning weddings, and we''re Jewish so we can''t get married between sunset Friday to sunset Saturday (it''s the sabbath, day of rest) so a Saturday wedding would have to begin very late, and we don''t love Sunday weddings because everyone always leaves early because they have to work the next day.

I think the way an event is executed and the hosts themselves will dictate how business-like it feels far more than the time of day. You can have a beautiful daytime wedding with a lunch reception that is intimate and lovely.

My bridesmaids and I are going to start getting ready at 6 AM, which is pretty early.

Hi Haven - you''re totally right. That is what I want to do too - have a very formal lunch reception. Just have to convince my fiance hahaha.

 

[little miss sunshine]

I am also having a luncheon wedding reception! Our ceremony is at 11, followed by the reception 12 - 5. We chose to have it during the day because most of our family was within a few hour radius, and it''s so much nicer for older relatives to drive home at 5 rather than 11 PM. Also, our venue (a country club in phila. suburbs) was discounted during the day, which allowed it to be in our budget. We are having an open bar, DJ and a sit down "dinner" meal served. A few of my co-workers were surprised to hear it was during the day, but for the most part, the response has been very positive. We picked a nearby hotel to stay in that night and invited our friends to stay over and go out to a few local bars in the town and continue the party for people who wanted to make a day/night of it...

Good luck working on your fiancee to come around!!

 

[Clio]

We had a noon ceremony with a luncheon reception right after, and it was lovely. The food was delicious and everything was very relaxed and elegant.

I''m from the South, and Brazen is right that daytime weddings are more common there. However, one of the best weddings I attended in the Northeast was a 10 am ceremony with a luncheon reception.