A look into the option of non-traditional wedding receptions

by Jessica Gallup GAL04010@BYUI.EDU Scroll Staff

Barn, lake, mountains, garden, roof, ranch or the ol’ backyard.

Every day it seems that the world is spinning a little bit faster than the day before, that times are ever changing and tradition sometimes seems to be a thing of the past.

The above may seem to be traditional places, but does the word traditional ring out when these normal pleasures hold the setting of a wedding reception?

Year after year churches have supplied the location for traditional wedding receptions.

“Churches prove to be very convenient because of price, location and easy reservations,” Kymberly Stoddard, owner of Elegant Settings, said. “But the problem with having a reception at the church is you are competing with the basketball hoops, which are not very conducive to a wedding reception.”

Different creative options are available for couples seeking something besides the customary reception. Ideas vary from formal to simple and sweet to elegant.

The Joseph Smith Memorial Building in Salt Lake City is a popular location for couples married in the Salt Lake City Temple.

“I almost did hold my reception at a church, but to me it seemed so stressful. I would have to decorate, I would have to find a caterer and I would have to find a photographer,” Ashley Birch, a junior from Spokane, Wash., said. “But I am holding my reception in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. They do all of that for me: decorations, caterers, photographers. It is going to be so classy, elegant and beautiful.”

A barn may at first not seem appealing as a reception location. However, with the right touch of decorations and combination of elements, it can turn into something spectacular. Picture white lights strewn around posts and beams, wedding flowers speckled here and there and an old fashioned aura that would fill the air, making the “old barn” seem pretty glamorous.

“Outdoor receptions are enjoyable, but take the weather into consideration,” Stoddard said. “Once we had been decorating for about six to seven hours, and it started to look like it was going to rain. We had to cover up everything with canopies, but in the end it turned out to be a clear and beautiful night and a wonderful reception.”

A lake could prove to be a delightful setting. Covering picnic tables and adding elegant detail to each table is another unique option.

Using nature as a natural backdrop serving small sandwiches or other finger-food can give the reception an elegant picnic setting. Renting a boat for the bride and groom to take the first romantic ride and afterwards allowing guests to go on rides around the lake.

The aromas and colors of various flowers would permeate the air and add to the feeling. Trees could surround and envelop guests, enhancing the atmosphere.

A rooftop of an old building can ring out classy and modern at the same time. Decorations could be very modern and geometric and rich in shades of velvet colors. Hanging lights could surround and work as a warm and inviting frame.

Wedding receptions do not need to be solely traditional. It is something that can be carried on, but in all kinds of unique ways.

“You need to find a place that is personal and has meaning in your life, like your grandma’s back-yard, a park or even a restaurant,” Stoddard said.