When it comes to unique wedding reception ideas, Anoush Banquet Halls & Catering in California has some pretty amazing ones. Today, I’ve put together a wonderful collection of ideas that will help you decide what style is best for your wedding day. Will you have chandeliers? Will you drape luxurious fabric? Will you have your catering company join you outside? Come see all the amazing wedding reception ideas from Anoush Banquet Halls & Catering . . .

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6 Unique Wedding Reception Ideas

1. Dine with your wedding guests outside with elegant table settings, a fountain nearby and hanging lights that will twinkle when night falls. {location: Hummingbird Nest in Simi Valley}

2. Have a pop-up tent under the stars that’s illuminated in up-lighting with hanging chandeliers. {location: Hummingbird Nest in Simi Valley}

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3. Have your reception in a museum with an exhibit as the backdrop. {location: National History Museum in Downtown Los Angeles}

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4. Go all white with a tent, white linens, white chairs and even crystal white chandeliers - then make it pop with bright floral arrangements {location: Hummingbird Nest in Simi Valley}

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5. Go fancy with the head table for the bride and groom with a lush floral arrangement and candles surrounding the floor in front of the table. {location: the Brandview Ballroom}

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6. Go all out and combine all the elements - chandeliers, elegant linens, name of bride and groom illuminated on the wall, lush and brightly colored florals. {location: Le Foyer Ballroom}

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So, what is your favorite unique wedding reception idea? Please leave me a comment as I'd love to know what idea excites you the most.

Anoush Banquet Halls & Catering is ready to provide your event with sophisticated settings and award winning catering. I'm proud to have them as a member of my all new VIP Wedding Vendor Guide launching in the coming weeks.

The time for Farmer's Markets has started - and today's post is a blast from that past that I had to re-share again not only because I LOVE incorporating seasonal items into weddings, but because I know I have lots of new followers that may have never seen this post. Here are my top six favorite ideas for unique decorating ideas for your wedding reception tables. Many of these tables incorporate fresh fruits and veggies which is great because not only does it make your tables full of color, it's a cost effective way to decorate. {PS: Want to see many more table decorating ideas? Come see my pinterest Table Settings Board which features over 300 pins}

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Want to have have a unique wedding reception table?
Check out these fun ideas . . .

1. Using fresh veggies as both the centerpiece and the hors d'oeuvres
2. Presenting the menu as a folded drop-down under the place setting
3. Stamping or painting the table number onto the table runner
4. Using fresh veggies, flowers, ferns, and/or herbs as an accent at each place setting
5. Creating a fresh lemon boat for place cards at summer events
6. Folding napkins as bows with the napkin ring placed in the center

Don't forget, to see many more ideas, please visit my table setting pinterest board.

Image Credits:
intimate weddings, martha stewart, style me pretty, martha stewart weddings, jessica lorren, marie claire idees, country living, laura ashbrook

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Happy Cinco de Mayo! I have a fun DIY to start today's post with. I was recently sent several blank boxes from Pamela Smerker Designs and asked to put my craft skills to the test to see what I could come up with. Since I knew today was coming, I thought her petal favor boxes {which come undecorated or with patterns on them} was the perfect starting point for my Mini Fiesta Boxes. How cute would these be for guests at your next party of fiesta? Or maybe at your taco bar? {more on taco bars for weddings after the DIY}

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To create this mini fiesta box, I used one of Pamela Smerker Designs' white petal box with crepe paper that I fringed with scissors and then glued around the sides of the box with glue stick, overlapping the colors. I then painted both sides of the petal flaps with matching colors. I lined the box with wax paper and placed in corn chips. It's now the perfect individual serving for your guests' chips to be dipped in guacamole or bean dip. This cute little "take-out box" of sorts, is perfect for today's Cinco de Mayo parties and especially perfect for taco bars at weddings and pre-wedding events. The colors can of course be changed to match your party.

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A perfect way to use these Fiesta Boxes is with a Taco Bar at your wedding. Wouldn't it look super cute to see a box like this filled with chips and decorated in your wedding colors waiting at your guests' place setting? What a fun way to bring color to the table. You could even have small bowls of bean dip and guacamole ready for immediate dipping at the center of the tables. And, then of course, a taco bar is the perfect reception solution. Check out this taco bar from a fiesta wedding styled shoot photographed by Aislinn Kate Photography . . .

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You've had the most beautiful wedding ceremony, but now it's time to CELEBRATE!! At Daisy Days, you will find the latest in wedding reception essentials so it's easy to plan a gorgeous celebration from start to finish.

# 1: Directional Signs : These directional sides are a fun way to add personality to your wedding location and can be used as chair decorations, directional signs or station markers. This vintage inspired wooden sign board is two sided and comes pre-drilled with holes to make installation super easy. One side is chalkboard and the other is a white washed wood surface that can be laser engraved. This homespun charm wedding directional sign is so cute to mark the route to your wedding and/or reception for your guests. This sign includes 2 posters {left and right facing} along with a mounting board and wire stand.

#2: Dance Floor Decals : Customizing your dance floor will add such a unique touch to your reception. Just imagine how many great photos you will have with your first dance atop the personalized decal? The damask dance floor decal features the super chic pattern that is very popular now. You can even personalized the decal with your names, wedding date and color of your choice. The simply chic dance floor decal can be personalized with your names, wedding date and accent color of your choosing. 

#3: Chair Sashes : Marking the spot of the happy couple at the reception is such a fun way to celebrate their new status as husband and wife. The embroidered bride and groom chair banners are super elegant and made of classic linen fabric. The Bride and Groom inscriptions are enhanced with embroidered embellishments and appliques, along with a sprinkling of crystals for the finishing touch. The custom personalized chair sashes can be pesonalized with your choice of ribbon color and embroidered in your lettering style of choice.

#4: Serving Sets / Toasting Flutes Value Sets : The satin finish flutes and serving set are adorned by trellis hearts that are reminiscent of an era gone by. Each set is one of a kind with the exquisite hand blown glass. The flutes and cake knife can be engraved at no additional charge. The silver parisian romance flutes serving set combine elegance and old world charm. The set features a rustic, European feel that easily compliments any wedding setting. The set features hand blown glass, rhinestones and free personalization.

Guest Blogging with The Good Life Special Events

While attending the Wedding Bootcamp in NYC that I wrote about in the previous post today, I met up with the husband and wife wedding planning team, Aleah and Nick, of The Good Life Special Events. They are based in San Diego, CA with a satellite office in Seattle, WA, so it was such a pleasure to be able to meet up with them while they were on the opposite coast of where they live. This was the week that I wished I lived closer to the city so I could have attended all the amazing events that took place (including the Eco-Beautiful Weddings launch party and the Preston Bailey book launch party).

Today, Aleah and Nick are joining me to share with your their top 5 tips for picking and booking a wedding reception venue. To see each tip in more depth, please visit their "Monday Coffee" post here. {photos showcased here are from weddings that Aleah and Nick have planned}

1. Make a list of your favorite places in your wedding town. Maybe it's a favorite hotel, a little inn, or even a restaurant. Be sure to check with these places to see what they can handle in regards to your estimated guest count.

2. Discuss Budget. Most of the time, there's will always be room to negotiate the minimums. For example, you can ask the catering manager what they could throw in. Maybe chivari chairs? Maybe waive the cake cutting fee? Some places will even waive the ceremony fee if the reception is being held at the same place.

3. Talk about minimums. Be sure you understand what a food and beverage minimum is. The minimum is the minimum price you agree to pay. So, for example, if your minimum is $15,000 but your guests/food/drink count only reaches $12,000, you are responsible to pay the $3,000 difference (plus tax/gratuity).

4. It's all about location. Be sure to have your location close to hotels for your out of town guests (or just a short taxi ride away).

5. Check with your venue. You will want to know how many weddings they have going on at one time.

Thank you to Aleah and Nick of The Good Life Special Events for sharing these great tips with my readers today. To read each tip in more depth, please be sure to stop by their blog.

About The Good Life Special Events
Known as the dynamic duo, husband and wife Nick and Aleah Valley plan and design weddings and events along the West Coast, nationwide, and abroad. With a company in Seattle and one in San Diego, they've been bringing their strengths and resources together since 2003 to create truly amazing events. Visit Aleah and Nick online here: The Good Life Special Events in Southern California and Fine Line Management & Events in Seattle