Social Hall, Wedding Reception, Wedding Venue
Your wedding ceremony and reception are the biggest days in your life for you and your beloved. You are full of excitement but be aware of one thing. This day is going to be extremely stressful until the event begins. But it doesn’t have to be horrific.
For this article we will focus on the wedding reception.
Some Tips from Insider Experts
Here are some tips from wedding planners and other insiders who make a living planning and hosting wedding receptions.
- 1. Choosing the Right Venue
- The built-in amenities can make or break an event like a wedding reception. Look for an event that offers its own catering, has outstanding décor and event coordinators to help you along the way.
- 2. Hire an Event Coordinator for the Day of the Event.
- An event coordinator who is there for the day of your reception will be a real lifesaver. You can have a friend do this for you, but a friend doesn’t necessarily know all of the things that are important to check on. A pro will also know how to quickly turn around a potential disaster into an unnoticeable hiccup.
- 3. Have a Realistic Timeline
- When you’re planning your events within the event, be sure to add plenty of buffer time. You know Uncle Leo and how he tends go on and on with his toasts! It is best to have extra time planned after every planned activity. It can take 15 minutes to get everyone’s attention sometimes, too!
- 4. Focus on What Truly Matters
- Everyone is going to throw at you so many fun ideas that you’ll want to include them all. But unless this is an old fashioned 3-day Polish wedding, you have to consider the time involved. So, you must choose which activities are truly the most important and stick with those.
Use an On-Site Event Coordinator
At Villa Ragusa we have an on-site event coordinator that is happy to help you with many tasks. She can steer you clear of common problems and ensure your wedding reception is fun, memorable and problem-free.
Event Planning, Wedding Reception, Wedding Venue
For most couples there isn’t any reason to overspend on their wedding. You really can get more for less. Then you’ll be able to spend the most on what matters the most, like your Honeymoon!
Here are Some Ways to Cut the Fat from Your Wedding
- Off-Peak Wedding Reception Date
- Venues and vendors often offer discounts for weekday or off-season weddings. And you can sometimes add an afternoon or brunch wedding to reduce the cost even further.
- DIY Invitations & Décor
- You can make your own invitations and save $100s or even $1000s, depending on how elaborate the invitations are. So, save the environment and go digital. You can design your gorgeous wedding invitations using an online tool and print them or send them digitally. A company like Evite can also track your RSVPs and keep your wedding on track.
- Rent or Buy a Pre-Owned Wedding Dress
- Aside from your rings, the wedding dress is a huge expenditure. And a wedding dress is something you’ll wear only once and then you’ll keep it in storage for the rest of your life. Sure, possibly your future daughter might want to use it, but if you’re not buying a well-crafted top of the line dress, it is not likely to hold up.
There are budget options like borrowing from a wedding dress collection your church curates for brides of all ages. You will give the organization a donation. This will save you $1000s!
Or you can buy a used dress from a former bride who is selling hers – then donate it back to her after the wedding. Now it is “something borrowed”!
Villa Ragusa is Here to Help
Our Event Coordinators are here to help you with a beautiful location for your wedding and reception. We have rooms that can fit less than 200 or up to 800 guests. If you’re having a tight budget wedding, we give generous discounts on typically slow times on our calendar. Be sure to ask us about when to book your event.
Event Planning, Wedding Reception, Wedding Venue
Hiring a wedding planner sounds like an unnecessary expense, but actually, they might save your sanity as well as your relationship.
Weddings! Yikes!
Wedding ceremonies and receptions are chaotic to plan. They are expensive. You will feel like this is the most important decision in your life so you must get every single thing perfect. But you don’t have to get everything absolutely perfect.
So, here is how you get it done right.
Hire a Wedding Planner
Planning a wedding is something that is not as fun as you thought it was. Actually, it is a bit of a nightmare. Every person you know, and some you have never met before in your life, will tell you exactly what you need to do. To make matters worse, if you don’t do it the way they want you to do it they’ll be hurt. If you hurt a stranger’s feelings, that’s sad. But when it is Grandma. Oh, boy.
The way around the nightmare is to hire a wedding planner. This is a person who knows wedding ceremonies and receptions like nobody else. Your planner will tell you about things you never heard of before. This is a person who has a list and asks you many questions. Then sketches it all out, gets your approval, makes adjustments, lines up vendors and boom! Your wedding is done. Haha, not quite.
Tragedy Strikes
Your planner will probably warn you that always, always, always something will go horribly wrong! Your 6″ shoe heel will break off just before going down the aisle. Your caterer made the wrong menu. It rained and your back up place is locked – you and 500 guests can’t get in! There is always some tragedy that happens. But when you hire a wedding planner they jump right in, wave a magic wand over every single incident and save the day.
You won’t even know all that your wedding planner is doing for you because they take care of things and tell you later – after your big day.
It is the wedding planner’s duty to save the day – over and over – shielding you from all of it. And they keep Aunty Alice and your soon-to-be mother-in-law muted. That is worth every penny you paid right there.
Banquet Hall, Wedding Reception, Wedding Venue
It’s your special day, so you want to make sure you get it right! Our staff at Villa Ragusa understands that. We are so excited for your wedding reception, too!
Beautiful Setting – Amazing Architecture
Villa Ragusa has its own old world style that takes to back to a time where beauty in architecture mattered most. The lobby is built with a focus on limestone, marble and mahogany and features a long, curved staircase.
Was it your dream to ascend a winding grand staircase to meet your wedding guests? We built our lobby just for you.
Villa Ragusa’s location was originally a bank. We kept those classic European stylings of natural stone and beautiful dark wood accents in our remodel, because we know our guests want more than just a location for an event. They want to have THE location for their event!
If your event is your wedding reception, you have found the right place. A spectacular space!
Our lobby is on the first floor. Our resizable event spaces are upstairs on the second floor. We chose to have spaces upstairs so you can enjoy the beautiful, elevated view of Campbell during your event.
The balconies are available in every event space. There is an entire wall lined with ceiling to floor windows and gently flowing sheer drapes that move with the breeze, when access doors are open to the outside. This is the absolutely perfect setting for a wedding reception.
The small balcony tables allow guests to take a break after dancing to catch their breath out in the fresh air while socializing with a friend or two. Once rested they can get right back to the celebration by stepping back into the room.
Superior Service
You’ll find you’re in excellent hands from the time you make your first call to inquire about a space to after the wedding reception. You are our priority. We’ll help you with planning your space and make sure you have everything you need to have a joyous, handsfree celebration.
Contact us today to discover what we have to offer.
Wedding Reception, Wedding Venue
Most people today spend a lot of time checking to ensure the products they purchase meet their expectations of protecting the environment. But what about your wedding? Shouldn’t brides and grooms be concerned about their wedding?
The Environmental Issues with Weddings
Dream weddings are often in a far away, exotic locale. While this brings elements of beauty and excitement to one of your most important and cherished events, it’s costly for the environment.
How is it Costly?
All of your wedding party and your guests need to board a plane to fly a great distance and likely have to ship wedding presents to the location. That’s a lot of carbon. Additionally, that location might not be so picky about environmentally friendly decorations and meals.
Make Your Wedding Friendly for the Earth
These days we do have friends everywhere. It’s common to want to invite your friends who live in other countries to your big day. However, most of your family and friends live somewhat nearby. So, having your wedding in the middle of your city, so most people will be able to drive in or take public transportation, helps a great deal.
Wedding Vendors
There are many vendors you’ll use to make this wedding a success. Pick those who sustainably source and buy mostly eco-friendly, natural products for decorations, dinnerware, photography settings and flowers.
It helps a great deal to select local businesses. Not only is this building your local community, but a local vendor will add a hometown flair that you can’t get anywhere else.
Sustainable Invitations
Consider doing digital invitations. You can do a lot more with them, like add videos, and no trees need to die for it. Be sure to let people know you’re making many sustainable choices so that Mother Nature can be as delighted as you are about your wedding ceremony and reception.
We Can Help
When planning your reception party for our Villa Ragusa location, please be sure to mention your plans to make this reception as sustainable as possible. We will do everything we can to support you in this choice. And we’ll likely have some great ideas you hadn’t thought of yet.
Wedding Reception, Wedding Venue
A wedding is a celebration of love, but it’s also a perfect opportunity to honor your heritage and share your culture with family and friends.
Cultural traditions in your wedding reception adds meaning, connects generations, and creates unforgettable moments.
Here’s how to beautifully blend tradition with modern elements for your big day.
Start with the Venue
Choose a venue that complements your cultural traditions. For example, if your culture values outdoor gatherings, consider a garden or courtyard space. If rituals require specific setups, work with your venue to ensure these needs are met seamlessly.
Infuse Cultural Elements into Décor
Incorporate traditional colors, symbols, or patterns into your reception décor.
Think table linens, floral arrangements, or even the dance floor design.
For instance, a Chinese wedding may feature red and gold for luck and prosperity, while Indian weddings might incorporate vibrant hues and intricate designs.
Serve Traditional Dishes
Food is a universal way to share culture.
Add traditional dishes to your menu or create a fusion spread that combines your heritage with modern tastes. Highlight their significance with small menu cards or have the caterer explain them during service. Check with Villa Ragusa’s event coordinator about catering options.
Include Traditional Music and Dance
Blend modern hits with traditional music or invite cultural performers to showcase dances from your heritage.
You could also teach guests a simple traditional dance—it’s a great way to engage them while honoring your roots.
Incorporate Rituals and Symbolism
Work meaningful rituals into the reception timeline.
Something like a tea ceremony, a blessing from elders, or a symbolic unity activity like handfasting. Explain their significance with a brief announcement or include it in your program.
Personalize Guest Favors
Send guests home with traditional favors, such as sweets, spices, or handcrafted items, to give them a taste of your culture.
Blending cultural traditions with modern elements makes your wedding uniquely yours. These touches celebrate your heritage while creating a day that resonates with everyone.
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