Brides are always on the lookout for interesting and stylish ideas for their weddings. One of the latest trends to come around is the wine and cheese wedding reception. Learn more about how to use this chic and affordable concept to plan your own wine and cheese wedding.
If you are not planning to have a formal laid wedding reception dinner, you need a great alternative. A wine and cheese reception could be just perfect. Everyone loves wine after all, and of course cheese (along with other foods) is always a hit. This is a fresh twist on the cocktail receptions which have been popular in recent years, and it is a terrific option for a late afternoon wedding. A wine and cheese reception is also reliably budget-friendly, as you will not need to serve a full meal, nor hire a big band.
The ideal time of day for a wine and cheese wedding reception is late afternoon. The ceremony can be held in the venue of your choosing, followed by the reception starting no later than 5pm. Alternately, you could start all of the festivals after dinner; just do not hold people captive over a meal time if you do not plan to feed them a full dinner. Let them know what to expect by saying "Please join us for wine and cheese after the ceremony", so that guests understand to make their own dinner plans.
A great space for this type of wedding reception would be a wine bar. Many have private rooms, or you may even be able to rent the whole space, particularly for an afternoon reception. No wine bar in your town? No problem; a chic restaurant, loft, or gallery space would make a terrific alternative venue. The seating should be comfortable and casual. Modern lounge spaces with low slung couches would be great. You can mix in a few tall cocktail tables with barstools as well. Be sure that you provide enough coffee tables and side tables for your guests to set down their drinks and little plates of appetizers.
The style of a wine and cheese wedding celebration will tend to be chic in a low key way. The bride would be charming in a short white lace dress with pearl custom bridal jewelry for an afternoon reception. A long slender column gown worn with custom vintage inspired bridal jewelry would be fabulous for the bride who likes a bit more drama. In either case, a handsome suit will be ideal for the groom. If you have bridesmaids, avoid the temptation to dress them identically, which is too old-fashioned for this modern wedding style. Allow each woman to select a dress in a color family, rather than asking each bridesmaid to wear the same dress.
Of course, the centerpiece of the reception will be the food. Set up stations with knowledgeable sommeliers who can inform guests about the wine selections being offered. Plan to serve a nice variety of red, white, sparkling, and dessert wines. It would be nice to set up food stations near the wine stations which feature the little bites which best complement the wine varieties. In addition to a broad selection of cheeses (soft, hard, goat, artisan, etc.), round out the food offerings with fresh fruit, bread, small hot bites like tartlets, and some tapas. Play light music in the background for ambiance, and you will have a wine and cheese wedding reception that all of your guests are sure to enjoy.