Wholesale gift basket supply

A WEDDING BRUNCH AT HOME

Small wedding receptions with 50 or fewer guests are becoming a popular alternative to larger, more extravagant affairs. They're economical, and they also let you customize your special day to reflect your own tastes and imagination. Prefer an intimate setting? A continental brunch reception at home---yours or a close friend or relative's--is an ideal way to go.

SETTING The reception location and catering fees are typically the largest chunk of any wedding budget. Hosting your reception at home cuts costs dramatically. Look for a place that's roomy enough to accommodate a buffet spread, cake table and beverage station, as well as mingling guests and small tables with chairs for seating. Tip: To create more space, consider removing unneeded furniture from areas where guests will circulate.

DECOR You only need a few great ideas and well-chosen details to make an impact. We carried a complementary color scheme--peach, yellow and cream--through the invitation (top left), place settings (middle) and wedding favors (bottom). Simple yet beautiful accents--colorful doilies, ribbons and silk flowers, all available at craft stores--add a sweet touch. Tip: Borrow fine china, flatware and serving dishes that suit your color scheme from family members or friends instead of purchasing or renting them. It's okay to mix and match.

PLANNING THE MENU Ask friends and family to help with preparations; pitching in can be their gift to you. Homemade foods, like sweet-potato biscuits and quiches, are easy to prepare ahead of time and freeze well (see recipes page). Muffins, pastries, fruits and juices are favorites and economical.

THE WEDDING CAKE More than dessert, the wedding cake is a symbol of good fortune and married bliss. Guests enjoy admiring and devouring the cake. Even on a small budget, you have many irresistible options. An alternative to a traditional cake is cupcakes! Beautifully decorated and displayed on tiers, everyone will want one. If you have a friend or relative who loves to bake, ask her to bake them as a wedding present. Or hold a cupcake-baking session as a prewedding get-together. Our cake (pictured on Living Well opening page) was made with cake mix that we flavored with rum and nutmeg (see recipes page) and decorated with store-bought spun-sugar flowers. Other low-cost options include buying a stacked cake from a local bakery and dressing it up. Or order your cake from the pastry class at the local culinary school. Many supermarkets and wholesale club stores also offer bargain-priced customized cakes.

Set a Beautiful Table

Follow your wedding theme and colors. For tablecloths and runners, visit a local fabric store for choices in all colors, textures and patterns. Wrap the cake table in tulle, a thrifty net fabric with a dreamy look. Get flower power. Add color and grace with pretty but not pricey arrangements. Choose flowers in season. Tulips (in spring), sunflowers and gerber daisies are more affordable choices. A variety of flowers in a shade or tint of your color theme creates dimension and texture. Choose combinations like yellows, peaches and oranges, or pinks, lavenders and purples. Create a took of abundance. Place two platters of each food item at opposite ends of the buffet table to mirror the look. Use tiered stands and pedestal-style serving dishes to make multilevels.

A ROOFTOP CELEBRATION

Imagine holding your reception in a space that offers incredible panoramic views, high above the hustle and bustled the city. A rooftop locale provides this dramatic backdrop, yet feels informal for kick-off-your-shoes fun. To keep costs and anxiety levels down, plan a simple menu, such as dessert and champagne.

SETTING To find a rooftop location, check out local hotels and museums; many have areas for outdoor entertaining. We discovered this site (pictured here) atop a luxury high-rise apartment building. As you research different options, be sure to ask what safety measures are in place, such as guard rails or fencing, advises Diann Valentine, owner of an event-planning firm in Pasadena, California. "It's for your guests' protection," she says. Valentine also recommends preparing for inclement weather by renting a tent or reserving some space indoors.

LIGHTING Valentine, whose upcoming book, Weddings Valentine Style (Atria), offers a wealth of ideas for planning an unconventional wedding, says you should always look for a venue that has ample electrical outlets and places to hang lights or lanterns. Votive candles in decorative containers are another great light source. "People underuse candles all the time," she adds. "I say, use hundreds."

A WORD ABOUT INVITATIONS To save money, seek out materials at arts-and-crafts and office-supply stores, as well as scrapbook and stationery shops. If you choose to use a stationer, ask her to look into engraving as a printing option, says Amber Renee Polk, owner of Bluorchid by Naked Eye Image (nakedeyeimage.com) in Atlanta. "It looks sumptuous even on less expensive paper," she says. Polk designed all the invitations shown on these pages (for invitation details, see Where to Buy).

DESSERT AND CHAMPAGNE RECEPTION Indicate on the invitation the type of reception you're having. A simple wording of "Cake and Champagne Following the Ceremony" will let guests know what to look forward to and allow them to plan accordingly. For the menu, offer a showstopping wedding cake, a buffet of sweets (homemade and purchased) and champagne.

When buying champagne, count on six or seven glasses per 750-milliliter bottle and two to three drinks a person. A case (12 bottles) pours 72 drinks. A wholesale beverage discounter is a good source of affordable champagne. Many liquor stores will accept returns of unopened bottles for credit or a refund, so open bottles only as needed--not all at once. Be sure to have alcohol-free drinks on hand, like sparkling water, sparkling fruit juice and soft drinks (regular and diet).

A DESTINATION WEDDING

Holding your ceremony and reception at an island resort that caters to weddings is perhaps the most fuss-free option. "The couple tell us what they want, and when they come, it's already done," says Tamika Jones, wedding coordinator at Couples Swept Away resort in Negril, Jamaica. A destination wedding is also easy on the pocketbook, especially when combined with the honeymoon stay, as many all-inclusive packages are.

In her book, Intimate Weddings: Planning a Small Wedding That Fits Your Budget and Your Style (North Light Books), Christina Friedrichsen says there are six steps to choosing a suitable location:

Start planning early, six months or more in advance, so guests have time to schedule the trip. If possible, send out save-the-date notices.

Learn about legalities. Each region has its own marriage laws and document requirements. Jamaica, for example, has a 48-hour residency requirement. That means you'll have to arrive at least two days before your wedding date for the marriage to be legal. The on-site wedding coordinator can assist you with filing paperwork.

Find a place and time of year that fits your budget. A wedding that's planned for the off-season is less expensive than one held in peak season.

Inquire about wedding packages and coordinators. Many hotels and resorts offer these services.

Research the location for detailed information: When is the rainy season? Is the drinking water safe? What are the sightseeing options for guests?

Get it in writing, because a hard copy of the agreement holds more water than a verbal one.

PAMPER YOUR GUESTS. Event planner Diann Valentine offers these tips to make guests feel welcome:

* Make your own welcome basket with information about the city and suggestions for activities guests can do on their own. Much of this info is free through the local tourism board. You might also include items that reflect the cultural customs or traditions of your destination, Valentine says: "Small gestures mean a lot."

* Negotiate perks into the room rate, such as a free continental breakfast or personalized turn-down service, where you include a special note to your guests.

* If the resort hosts a free manager's cocktail reception during your stay, arrange to have a reserved section corded off for your wedding party at no additional cost.

* Let your invitation serve as your wedding favor. A message-in-a-bottle invite, for example, can be filled with cocoa powder (see previous page) or bath salts.

CONTINENTAL BRUNCH RECEPTION MENU

Sweet-Potato Biscuits and Ham

Quiche Kisses

Caviar and Smoked-Salmon

Hearts

Tropical Fruit Bowl

Cupcake Wedding Cake

Bellinis and Peach Spritzers

Coffee and Tea

DESSERT AND CHAMPAGNE RECEPTION MENU

Wedding Cake (purchased)

Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries

Banana-Pudding Tartlets

Lemon Bars With Raspberries

Assorted Cookies (purchased)

Champagne

OTHER WEDDING RESOURCES