Tag Archives: wedding reception locations in Utah

How-To Tips, Receptions

Planning A Wedding On A Budget

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The wedding budget is becoming a growing concern for couples looking for SLC wedding reception facilities.  The amount of money you have available for your wedding does not need to stop you from having the unique, elegant wedding you have always wanted.  A wedding that you have dreamed of can still be yours, even through these unstable economic times.  To prevent anxiety while planning your wedding, use an open mind and take a while to think about the choices you are presented with for the different details of the wedding.

The Ivy House Salt Lake City Utah wedding venues can help you plan a wedding you have always dreamed of, because of their spacious, elegant venue.  There are different choices you can make, that the staff will show you, which might fit into your budget.

Handling some of the wedding details yourself, can save some of your wedding budget money.  Focusing on the fact that you are there to celebrate your blessed union, some of the more expensive parts of the wedding can be reduced without sacrificing the quality of the wedding.

Reserve wedding reception centers in salt lake city, so you will know how much is left in your budget for the rest of the wedding.  Your closest relatives and friends must attend the wedding to help you celebrate your union, however, cutting out other people will really cut down the cost of the wedding.  Every person attending the wedding will contribute to the cost in a number of ways, like the food, table floral decorations, guest favors, cake, invitations, which could all be saved by cutting your guest list down.

Planning to use the same SLC wedding venue, as the Utah wedding reception, can help save on your wedding budget.  Without the requirement of moving decorations from the wedding facility to the reception venue, will also save you unnecessary wedding day stress.

The wedding cake is another place you can save money on, by using a sheet cake for the guests and a small 2 tier wedding cake, instead of a large wedding cake.  The dinner is where the majority of the per guest cost is allocated, so skip the entree and serve appetizers and drinks.  Offering beer and wine, instead of a full bar, can also considerably cut down on your wedding budget.  You can always leave off the champagne toast, to reduce the wedding budget.

Another way to save on your budget is to make some of the wedding items yourself, like the, menu cards, wedding favors, escort cards, along with some of the other wedding details.  You can also save, by making some of the table decorations and flower arrangements yourself.  Create these decorations with flowers in season, and lots of greenery to save on your floral budget.  Do not choose the more expensive flowers, substitute them with non floral decorations.

These are just a few ideas that can help you have the wedding of your dreams, even on a budget.  The Ivy House staff will work with your budget, to provide you with the wedding of your dreams, while using their spectacular Utah wedding venues.

How-To Tips, Receptions

Affordable Reception Menu Options

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Weddings have evolved into a celebration of marriage, which typically includes dinner, cake and beverages. Western Gardens, Utah wedding reception center specializes in creating beautiful, special moments that both newlyweds and guests will fondly remember.

Food is the essence of our culture, drawing people together throughout the ages. When food is at a wedding it helps guests mingle, get to know one another and provides valuable time for families to become acquainted.

There is a variety of food options available for receptions. If a couple has a larger budget to work with, a multi-course sit down dinner is an excellent option. Another option is a buffet menu, which is less formal than a sit down dinner, promotes more mingling and typically offers a larger variety of food. If couples have a smaller budget, they can still accommodate guests with a cocktail or dessert reception with hors d’oeuvres, drinks and wedding cake.

Some of the most common types of food served at receptions are beef or pork tenderloin, smoked salmon, chicken and a vegetarian dish. It is always important for couples to remember that guests may bring a significant other who has special dietary preferences so offering a variety is advisable. It is best to keep the menu simple, not overcomplicate things or place unusual items on the menu, as this will accommodate most guests and leave them with pleasant memories of the Utah wedding reception at the Ivy House.

It is also important when serving alcohol to make sure that as soon as the reception begins, the food serves immediately so guests can enjoy their dinner and drinks on a full stomach.

Of course, the location of the reception is important when deciding what to serve. If the reception is outdoors, it may be more appropriate to serve hors d’oeuvres. If the reception is in a smaller indoor area, it may be more practical to have a seated dinner versus guests mingling in a buffet line.

Western Gardens Salt Lake City wedding reception works with several catering companies, all offering a variety of affordable menu options that will likely work with any budget. Hiring a caterer makes a significant difference in the quality of food and the ambiance of the wedding reception. It is important that all guests feel relaxed and have an enjoyable time. It is never appropriate to burden guests or family with assignments that include making food. While it is the couple’s special day, it is also a memorable day for family and friends, who all want to share in the celebration and have a truly unforgettable experience.

Sampling a caterer’s menu is very important. Every person has different expectations, taste and it is vital to find a caterer that can help make the food menu an extension of the wedding theme and the overall experience.

How-To Tips

Wedding Don’ts to Remember

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All brides, attention please! Your wedding is a time of great joy and delight. It is also a time when you can be stressed out. It is perfectly understandable that you want each detail of your wedding to go just as you have planned – and you can work towards achieving that. But be careful – there is a line you may have crossed unawares where people are starting to call you a Bridezilla. (You wouldn’t want that, do you?)

Here are some pitfalls to steer clear of:

–          Don’t center everything on your wedding and wedding preparations. Of course, you’re excited about your wedding, but don’t let every conversation with friends and loved ones revolve around your wedding. When someone asks about how the wedding preparations are underway, keep your answers short and sweet. Refrain from launching into the detailed search you have made for that perfect gown or how difficult it is to find that cute cake topper and so on and so forth.

–          Don’t try to do everything on your own. With the many details that go into the wedding, there is one mantra you need to constantly remind yourself about: “delegate, delegate, delegate!” This is the secret to keeping your sanity (and poise!) during the wedding planning days and the wedding day itself. You don’t want to look harried and harassed on your wedding day, do you?

Your maid of honor and bridesmaids, as well as loved ones can be a big help during your wedding preparations. But, you can also consider getting professional help – such as hiring a wedding planner. There are also a number of Utah wedding venues that offer not just their facilities but other services you may need for your wedding. For instance, Western Gardens’ Salt Lake City wedding location, The Ivy House makes things easier by providing you the option of getting in-house vendors including photographers, caterers, florists, invitation printers and linens.

–          Don’t expect too much from your maid of honor and your bridesmaids. Traditionally, your wedding party is there to help you with the planning. However, be reasonable with your expectations – you can’t expect their world to revolve around your wedding and your wedding planning requirements at all times. Remember, these are loved ones and friends who are there to support you. They are not errand girls who are there to do your every bidding. Also, be considerate about their financial capacity – can they afford the outfit you want them to have? There are horror stories of some brides expecting their bridesmaids to wear hair extensions on the day of the wedding (and you know how much that costs!) on top of paying for their gowns.

–          Don’t make your guests waiting for too long between the wedding ceremony and reception. Ideally, the longest waiting time between the two would be two hours, including travel time to the wedding reception location, if this is different from the location of the wedding ceremony. Of course, you may need some time after the wedding ceremony for more photos, as well as to change into your reception dress and freshen up but avoid giving your guests too long a waiting time. If you have to extend the time between the ceremony and reception or if the reception venue is far, provide entertainment as well as transportation.

–          Don’t make the wedding too difficult or complicated for your guests. It is natural that some guests will have to take time off to go to your wedding, especially if these guests are from out of town. But also be considerate about how convenient your wedding date is for your guests. If you are planning a destination wedding, think of how guests will cope up with your plans. Are your elderly guests up to a trip to that deserted beach (which involves a good 20-minute walk from the nearest road?) Will it cost your guests an arm and a leg to go to your wedding in Bali?

–          Don’t focus on perfection. Work at having the “perfect” wedding but be ready for some things to go awry. Smile, it’s your day so enjoy it rather than focusing on the fact that the flowers are a shade off than your color motif or that one flower girl fell asleep and was not able to walk down the aisle.

–          Don’t be a DIY Diva. With today’s tough economic climate, it is good to try to cut corners and save money on your wedding by going the do-it-yourself route on some items for your wedding. But consider your resources – the time and skills you have. If you are new to sewing, it may not be a good idea to sew a quilt as your gift to you and your groom’s parents. Also, making your own favor boxes may sound cute but not if you need 200 of these within a week. You’ll end up sleeping at 4 a.m. and having unsightly dark undereyes on your wedding day. If you can, buy or borrow items that you need. You can still go the DIY route but don’t overdo it.

How-To Tips, Receptions

Choosing the Right Venue for Your Reception

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Planning a wedding has its own unique set of stressors and considerations, one of which is deciding on the correct Utah wedding venue that fits the majority of your reception qualifications, if not all of them. While reception centers in Salt Lake City abound, there are many that are a mixed bag of questionable quality, limited services, and/or are unreasonably costly. Here is what you should take into consideration before putting down that possibly substantial holding fee on a venue:

Cost

Before starting the move towards purchasing wedding supplies and booking your wedding venue in Salt Lake City, you should have a firm grasp of what your total wedding budget is and itemize it. Once this is done you should have an itemized list that dictates how much you have allotted toward each wedding expense such as a wedding dress, floral arrangements, wedding cake, catering, and venue, to name a few. Once you know the maximum amount you are able to spend on a reception location you will be able to narrow down the right Utah reception venue for your big day.

Services

If you haven’t hired a wedding planner you can take a lot out of the guess work  and stress of arranging a wedding if you book a Salt Lake City, Utah reception center that offers you a variety of services such as catering, floral ordering, linens, invitations, hostesses, and musical setups. Venues that present these extra services often provide them at a reduced rate to you due to their ongoing relationship with certain vendors, thus saving you money and the hassle of organizing these wedding services individually.

Type of Venue

Do you want your wedding and reception to take place at the same venue? Would you prefer an indoor or outdoor reception? Are you looking for a location that expresses your uniqueness? These are some of the questions that you should be asking yourself when figuring out which Salt Lake City wedding reception location would work out best for you. Ideally you should not make a venue something that it is not and pick a location that suits your overall personality and style.

After considering all of this, Western Gardens’ the Ivy House has an existing setup that is geared specifically for events like weddings and receptions. Their Salt Lake City, Utah wedding venues present the perfect combination of affordability, extensive services, and an elegant atmosphere that is sure to please both you and your beloved guests.

The Ivy House has an in-house wedding organizer who can assist you in making your wedding and subsequent reception a memorable experience with little fuss. At this Western Gardens venue you are given the opportunity to customize their offered services or employ your own vendors to supply your wedding with the necessary accoutrements.

Beautiful Celebrations, Ceremonies, How-To Tips, Receptions

The Challenges of Planning a Backyard Wedding

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A wedding at your own backyard has several distinct advantages. First, it saves you a considerable sum of money you would have spent renting a wedding reception location. Secondly, it gives an intimate and personal feel to the wedding, particularly if you’re only inviting a small group of close family members and friends. Also, everything is nearby so you don’t have to rush about to get something you may have forgotten.

Some of the basics in setting your backyard as your wedding location include:

–          Space planning. Even with a spacious backyard, you have to allot spaces to key elements of your wedding. This includes the place where you and the groom will stand during the wedding ceremony, the seating space for guests, and space to set the guest tables and buffet tables. You will also set aside some space in your kitchen (and even your dining room) for the caterer. In addition, you will also need to allot for dressing areas, particularly for the female members of the entourage.

–          Rental of equipment. Please note that there are a lot of items that you will need to create that special ambiance for your wedding. This includes the lighting and sound systems, chairs and tables for the guests, decorations such as potted plants and sparkling lights, and more. If you plan to serve lunch or dinner, you may also need to rent plates and linen.

–          Decorations.Of course you would want to prettify your backyard so that it becomes a great setting as a wedding venue and reception location. You may need to work at adding decorative elements – plants, lighting, decorations for the photo booth and for the overall surroundings. Some of these things you may need to have to build from scratch – for instance, if you’d rather make your own gazebo, then you need to allot time and materials to get this done. You will also need more than an extra pair of hands to set up the seating and floral arrangments on the day itself. Some arrangements should also be made with regards to packing and cleaning up.

–          Alternatives to an outdoor wedding. What happens in case it rains? Will you have enough space indoors to accommodate all the guests? You may have to make provisions for this, otherwise, to have some tents or some kind of shelter built to ensure your guests are happy and comfortable during the ceremony and reception.

–          Kitchen space. Your standard sized kitchen may not provide enough space for your caterer’s requirements so you may have to find an area where they can work more efficiently. They may need to set up a buffet table and also a station to heat and prepare the rest of the food.

–          Parking considerations. Remember that guests may be driving over to your home. Your parking area may not be enough to accommodate all these. You may need to make arrangements with your neighbors for the temporary inconvenient of occupying available parking spaces in your area.

As you can see, having a backyard wedding will take a lot of work for both you and your family and friends. However, if you do get it right, your wedding can be as intimate and personal as you want.

If you want to have less stress and hassle on your wedding, you can also think about having your wedding at the many wedding reception locations in Utah. This can free up a lot of your time with regards to setting up and organizing the items stated above. One such option is The Ivy House, a SLC, Utah wedding venue.

The Ivy House is a Utah wedding location equipped with all you will ever need to have a hassle-free and enjoyable wedding experience. These include dressing areas for the bride and groom, a good sound and lighting system, enough table and chairs for a mid-sized occasion, a romantic staircase with indoor and outdoor balcony, a baby grand piano and more.