Restaurant weddings?

That sounds like a nice idea! We're doing the traditional reception at a venue. I would love to see what other come up with. What ideas do you have in mind?

The first time I got married we had 16 of us and rented out a party room at a restaurant. It was really nice because everyone got a mini menu and got to chose their dish then and there.

How many guests are you thinking of?

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We did this for our rehearsal dinner and I could see it being perfect for a reception. If we had had a smaller guest list, I think this would have been what we ended up doing.

We’re having ours at a restaurant, it’s actually the one we work at!

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That is so special! What a fun and memorable idea.

Is there room to dance at a restaurant? I think it would be awesome but I guess it would depend on space and what activities you want to prioritize

We didn’t do that but it’s a great idea because restaurants usually have nice decor (and delicious food) so you don’t need to waste a lot of money on decor. Restaurants that do company events might also have candles for you to use.

I'm so glad I'm not the only one doing this! I'm Chinese; I'm sticking to my cultural roots and having an Asian themed wedding. The restaurant I'll be having my wedding is absolutely beautiful on the inside! (see picture below) I think it would be a great idea to have a ceremony and reception all in one spot. Since the space is already so pretty, I would just need to add a few personal touches so I'm saving lots of money in that regard. I also figured it would be more convenient for guests to celebrate this joyous occasion without having to go anywhere. I met with the manager and asked if it was possible to have my wedding there and he was very accommodating but with certain conditions: 1) We're in charge of paying for all the food and drinks and 2) the day of the wedding would have to fall on a weekday since they are more busy on the weekends. So I'm all for a restaurant wedding idea! Great for budget-conscious brides!

We're having our wedding at a favorite restaurant in an historic city/neighborhood which is so charming and intimate! They have an upstairs that they seat regular guests in, but we are buying out that portion for a Saturday night. They set a food and beverage minimum, but otherwise have very flexible menu and bar pricing. They even have a pastry chef who can create our cake! Our costs include 2.5 hours, so we purchased an additional 2 hours on top of that. Even with all that, it's a very budget friendly option - no need to rent chairs, linens, decorations, etc.

Our only challenge is that it is a small space. We have just 30-35 guests, so we'll need to get a little creative when it comes to a dance floor. Other than that, we're SO excited about our day! Best of luck on whatever you decide!