Wine reception : Some call it cocktail, aperitif, glass of friendship, (in Switzerland glass),… But the idea remains the same. the wine of honor is to offer a aperitif to his entourage, after the civil and / or religious ceremony and possibly before sitting down to dinner. This use is not compulsory but is part of the traditional. It also comes in handy.
This reception, which usually precedes the dinner, serves as a transition between the ceremony and the major festivities.
It also represents the opportunity to invite around a glass of champagne and a few canapés, all the people invited to dinner but also all the others who are less close to the hostess but whom she still wishes to have by her side… for a limited time. It is also a way to meet the limited places of the chosen place.
Thus, colleagues, neighbors, friends of relatives, members of the choir who animated the ceremony, the religious officiant, uncles and aunts and distant cousins will be ideal candidates.
If the big day is in a small village, tradition has it that locals are invited to join at that time.
The place of the reception: two options.
- The first: near the place of the ceremony. If the weather permits, a nice table set outside will do just fine. You can also get information from the town hall or from the place of worship to obtain access to a small adjoining room.
The +: if you have invited people to the reception who are not at the dinner, this will facilitate their departure.
The -: it is not always easy to find a free and available room right next to the place of the ceremony. This solution could result in additional costs.
- The second: at the reception location
When booking the room, care will be taken to inform the service provider of its intention. A tent set up in the gardens, a buffet lines set up in a courtyard, a room different from the one planned for the dinner could very well welcome the reception.
You can also kill two birds with one stone: one place for two "receptions". Guests are already there before dinner, so latecomers will have no excuse.
But those who are not invited to the dinner but only to the reception will perhaps be a little offended to enjoy only part of the reception. It will then be more difficult to encourage them to leave the premises before the start of the feasts reserved for others.
We often tend to make it last too long, which can often block the rest of the evening.
Ideally, the reception should not exceed 2 hours. An hour would indeed be too short for those who are not invited following the festivities.
In general, during the cocktail party, you should only focus on the people who will not be there afterwards.
The ideal is to offer champagne, alcoholic beverages, fruit juices, sodas (we do not forget the light versions which are often in great demand), bottles byStill water andsparkling water. We avoid the wine which will be served at the table.
Above all, do not ignore the little things to nibble, at the risk of seeing guests fail to hunger and others completely broken by consuming alcohol on an empty stomach.
We must focus on the dirty : None verrines very trendy, surprise breads, canapés, rawness in small skewers, Petit fours salty ...
You have to plan a dozen or so pieces per person.
We will have to make some understand that despite all the attachment we have for them, they are not invited to stay ...
As soon as the invitations are sent, a cardboard box will be inserted which will be exclusively reserved for them. He will specify that they are invited to the reception from 18 p.m. to 20 p.m.