1. More food – potentially
A sit-down dinner may be a bit of a hassle when it comes to seeing to everyone’s dietary requirements, but you can be assured you and your guests will leave feeling full and having had a great knees-up.
2. But you DO get to eat
And, part of that is that you both – the bride and groom – will actually manage to eat something. With a stand-up reception, couples frequently forget to eat – there are just too many people to thank and too much dancing to do. But, here, there’s no danger of that!
3. Fantastic for a smaller wedding
The trend for smaller weddings shows no signs of abating and, as a result, more and more couples are turning to more intimate dinner-style affairs. After all, you don’t want to walk into a large reception hall with just 50 people milling about, do you?
4. Easy on the feet
Yes, you get to sit! Sing Alleluia! Many brides feel pressured to wear high heels (but, remember, if you don’t want to, you don’t have to!) so a sit-down event is a perfect excuse to rest your feet and stop them swelling.
5. You can experience different wedding modes
Love the idea of a full-blown dinner, but don’t want to forego mingling or dancing? Well, seated events allow you to split your day into different ‘mini-events’: start off with a stand-up reception of an hour, followed by dinner and, afterwards, have the tables cleared for a spectacular party!
Pros for a stand-up reception:
1. You get to mingle and chat
You’ve invited your nearest and dearest and many people you haven’t been in touch with for some time – but who still hold a special place in your heart. A stand-up reception allows you to catch up, say thank you properly and spend some time with your gang.
2. It can be cheaper…but not look it
Stand-up receptions may end up being less pricey than a seated-do since the overheads are less: the set-up of the venue and canapes would not require huge expenses, which gives you immense flexibility!
3. More food choice!
And more food. Spending less on table settings and larger portions allows you to invest more dosh into a bountiful spread of glorious hors d’oeuvres, which caters to every single one of your guests.
4. It’s more informal…for everyone
Or as someone once called it, it gives your guests the opportunity to be single and mingle. If your friends do not come with a better half, a reception is a great way to (perhaps) meet someone new. And, for those who are already coupled, there will be lots of opportunity to catch up with old mates.
5. You can invite whoever you want
The flexibility a stand-up reception gives you also extends to invites since the costs per head are much less than a seated affair, and the venue will be able to hold more. So, if you want to host all your 72 cousins, just go ahead!