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We threw out a challenge to five top wedding pros to come up with unique low-cost receptions. Here’s what happened when they put on their thinking caps!

Chic Backyard Brunch

Guests: 100
The Planner: Andrea Correale, Elegant Affairs, New York City

“A home with a large backyard is the perfect setting for a brunch celebration under an elegant white tent,” says Correale. Since a backyard is usually a blank palette, pretty much any color scheme will work. You could do bold linens in fuchsia and yellow or go more traditional with pastels or florals. Either way, instead of assigning seats, set up small cocktail tables. For centerpieces, buy masses of one type of flower—roses or Gerbera daisies work nicely—and place them in clean, sophisticated glass vases for a fresh look.”

Fine Feast: “Keep food simple, but get creative with the presentation. Skip the typical crudités platter, and arrange cut-up veggies in individual servings. Impress your guests with a robust buffet featuring frittatas, room-temperature salads, grilled chicken, spring vegetables, tea sandwiches and shrimp cocktail. Deviled eggs are the rage right now. Have two or three variations such as blue cheese with bacon and chives, Cajun with chipotle seasoning and
Boursin and beets.”

Three Cheers: “At brunch, you can get away with not having a fully stocked bar. Serve a champagne cocktail, a vodka cocktail and a variety of fresh organic juices such as watermelon, papaya and carrot. For a pretty presentation, arrange large glass jars of drinks on a table with ladles for serving. A specialty coffee bar is a nice touch that’s easy to do. Offer herbal and green teas, regular coffee and chilled hazelnut coffee. Add fun extras like rock candy sugar sticks.”

Sweet Things: “Have a small but beautiful heart-shaped cake. Your helpers can slice a sheet cake in the kitchen to supplement with extra slices. Or cut a sheet of strawberry shortcake into small pieces. Place each piece on a spoon for a unique presentation.”

Gotta Dance: “Instead of arranging for live music, put money into renting quality speakers. Download your favorite music onto your iPod. Have a small dance floor for the first dance.”

BUDGET BREAKDOWN
Rentals (tent, tables, chairs, linens): $2,000
Hired help: $1,000
Food/drinks: $1,000
Dance floor: $300
Flowers: $500
Speaker rental: $200
Total: $5,000

Photography: Courtesy of Elegant Affairs.

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