Choosing the Site
You want a reception site that will suit your wedding style
and accommodate your guests as comfortably as possible.
The options are limitless:
- Holiday Inn Hurstbourne/I-64 East
- Conference center or banquet hall
- Private home or manor
- Gallery or museum
- Restaurant
- Country Club
- Outdoors, in a park or under a tent
Be sure to ask what's included with
your reception site. You may find that you'll need to hire
an outside caterer, or even rent tables and chairs.
Eat, Drink, and be Married
Whether you're having a cake and punch reception or a seven
course meal, deciding what to serve your guests is never
easy. Work with your Holiday Inn hotel banquet manager or
caterer to create a menu that you and your guests will enjoy.
- Ask our caterer or our Sales Department
for menu recommendations. We can tell you what dishes
will go well together, and which ones will work best with
your wedding size and budget.
- Let us know about any guests with special
dietary restrictions. We can help you accommodate your
guests' needs.
- Don't forget your other wedding professionals.
If necessary, we can provide simple meals for your photographer
and musicians.
Taking the Cake
While some traditions have come and gone, the wedding cake
has endured as a spectacular centerpiece to the reception.
Before you make that first cut though, you'll need to decide
on what kind of cake you'd like:
- Today's cakes come in every shape and size
you can imagine. You can choose something that really
fits your wedding style and your personal taste.
- White cake isn't your only option. Ask your
baker about creating the cake in your favorite flavor,
or make each layer of the cake a different flavor.
- You can decorate your cake however you choose.
Bakers can create intricate flowers and decorations with
frosting and sugar, or you can use fresh flowers for an
elegant touch.
- Let your baker know how many guests will
be attending so you'll be sure to have enough cake for
everyone. For extra savings, you can have a smaller, tiered
cake to cut, and sheet cakes waiting in the kitchen for
your baker to serve to your guests. Don't forget to ask
for a taste test.
- Don't forget about the groom's cake! Traditionally,
the groom's cake is a dark chocolate or a dark fruit cake.
It's usually cut right after the cutting of the bride
and groom's wedding cake to create another sweet moment.
Reception Music
When you're ready to have your first dance as husband and
wife, you'll need a little musical accompaniment. Most couples
prefer to hire a disc jockey or band to provide reception
entertainment. A band gives you the energy of a live performance
and their expertise at reading crowds and choosing songs
that will keep the dance floor full the entire night. A
disc jockey is less expensive alternative that allows you
to hear the songs as performed by the original artists.
Whether you choose a disc jockey or band, you'll want to
discuss these points with them before the wedding:
- Audition all prospective musicians/disc
jockeys before you sign them. You want to make sure their
sound fits your wedding style. Ask for references.
- Let them know in advance about any special
songs you'd like them to play, so they'll be sure to bring
along the sheet music or CD. And, don't forget to tell
them about any songs you'd rather not hear.
- Get it in writing. The contract should include
the name(s) of the musician(s)/disc jockey, what they
should wear and what you'll be charged for any overtime
they work.
