Of course you don't have to! Remember that this is your wedding and you can do it any way and with any style you want. Outside of religious ceremonies, hard-line tradition for weddings has been left by the way-side in the recent years. Though the majority of couples still choose to have a traditional ceremony (bridal party, communion, rabbi/minister, etc.), so many filter in their own personal style throughout the entire wedding celebration.

Even though a sit down dinner our buffet dinner is a nice treat for the guests and it gives the bride and groom a chance to slow down and enjoy the evening (at least a little bit) - it's not required. There are many different alternatives you can have for your reception. Among a long list of many ideas are: Cocktail Receptions, Brunch Receptions, Lunch Receptions, Casual Receptions and Theme Receptions.

A Cocktail Reception would be where the guests are given hors d'oeuvres and beverages and at that time mingle with other guests and congratulate the bride and groom. As this can be more casual than the dinners, the cost will still be high if you are serving alcohol and if it is not a cash bar only.

Brunch Receptions are becoming more and more popular. Some couples have a regular reception and opt for a brunch the following day, to spend more time with guests and even open gifts. But you can also choose for this to be your main reception. These can be at someone's house, a restaurant, a hotel - just about anywhere. It's nice to give your guests a selection of different foods along with beverages (milk, orange juice, lemonade, coffee, tea, etc). These tend to be more relaxed - not only for the guests, but for the bride and groom as well.

You can choose a morning ceremony and have a Lunch Reception. This can be sit down or buffet style - but lunch costs are definitely less expensive than dinner receptions. At Lunch Receptions, you can serve lighter foods like cheese and crackers, fruit, a selection of salads. You can serve smaller entrees such as sandwiches, Mexican food or fried chicken. Wedding cake or assorted desserts can be served as well.

You can have a more Casual Reception that includes snack foods, beverages and wedding cake (not a formal course meal). These would still be held at a venue that will set up tables and chairs and give you the option of serving food. Doing this allows you to do traditional reception events like the first dance, bouquet toss, garter toss, etc.

So, as you can see there are many options (plus more not mentioned here) that you can choose from to create your own unique reception. Two things that will definitely be major considerations are: What style of reception do you want? And what is your budget? Ask family and friends and get ideas from them. Surf the internet and see what others have chosen. Message Boards are a great place to get ideas and ask questions.

Though you may find that sit down and buffet dinners are more commonly used and are more costly than others - with all the options you have out there - you are sure to find the one best for you!

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