Eat, drink and be merry. The reception site and time of the ceremony may dictate the format of the reception. Many couples opt now for a sit-down dinner which can be a very expensive choice. The bridal party frequently can't enjoy a full meal because of the emotions of the moment and dinner limits the ability of people to mix and meet. We chose an old-fashioned cake and punch reception for both weddings and had plenty of time and space for socializing and dancing. Again, I began buying ingredients well in advance to save on last-minute expenses. In mid-summer, I added an extra bottle of soda and juice to every grocery trip. My son-in-law-to-be found a special on canned nuts and sent me a half-dozen cans. We bought chocolate molds and one of the bride's maids had a candy-making party with her friends, making beautiful, custom candies, which could be stored in the freezer until the wedding. A month before the Christmas wedding, I began baking cookies and freezing them. Whenever a friend offered assistance, I sent over a gelatin mold of fruit juice for ice rings to be stored in their freezer.

My daughter wanted chocolate-dipped strawberries, which, of course, were out of season. However, her best friend from high school offered to make them, as well as several dozen cookies and goodies. The groom's mother brought several trays of vegetables and Cuban sandwiches. In addition to a standard fruit punch, we offered hot, spiced apple juice, which was a big hit.

For a summer wedding, trays of vegetables with dip, fruit and cheese cubes worked well. One of the bridesmaids lopped off the top of fresh pineapples and nestled a votive candle in the center of the leaves for instant candle holders on the food table.

The cake can also cut into the budget. We surveyed prices at several bakeries and groceries and chose a friend who offered her services for free if I provided the ingredients. She showed us photos of cakes she had done before and we showed her pictures of what we wanted. The result was beautiful and tasty. I hired six teenage friends of my children to serve at the reception and gave them written directions. One of their mothers came along to direct and their efforts were flawless. We did have leftover food, lots of leftovers. Some went home with guests. Some returned to my freezer. An entire sheet cake, several gallons of punch and plates of cookies went to a local soup kitchen which feeds the homeless. They were thrilled to have the donation for their Christmas eve party.

We wanted the bride and groom to be the attention of the reception, not a band and DJ and therefore, chose to use tapes. We recorded the music we wanted and had the son of friends operate the sound system and saved the cost of live music or the services of a DJ.

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