Weddings

Fun and Affordable Alternative Wedding Reception Ideas

If you are planning a wedding in Philadelphia, most likely you are looking for a venue to host your Sunday afternoon ceremony and evening reception. And you’re probably also worrying about staying within your wedding budget. Well, we have good news for you—you can have all the fun and joyous moments of a traditional Saturday wedding in an unconventional and affordable format.

We encourage you to consider these top wedding reception ideas that treat guests to unique experiences infused with your personal taste at a premier Philadelphia venue.

5 Alternatives to a Saturday Wedding in Philadelphia

Monday Morning Breakfast Reception

Let the start of a new day and week bring its radiance to your wedding in Philadelphia. As the sun rises and natural light begins to beam down on guests, you’ll celebrate your bright future while enjoying good company and food. And because breakfasts tend to be on the simpler side and alcohol-free, you’ll save big on your catering expenses—leaving you more options elsewhere in your wedding budget!

Breakfast Wedding Treats

When choosing your wedding venue, look for a location that will share beautiful morning sights and sounds with guests. Springton Manor Farm, situated on more than 300 lush acres from which cattle, goats and sheep can be seen grazing, is one of the most serene wedding venues in Philadelphia. Add some fruit and floral-based decorations to a fresh color theme and you are well on your way to planning a wedding filled with good vibes.

Tip: Let your wedding party and guests know that it is perfectly fine to wear more relaxed attire that adds to the simple beauty of your celebration.

Friday Cocktail Reception

Among top Southern wedding trends are buffets and family-style dinners—both with the goal of bringing guests together without stopping the party. But there’s an even more fun way to do this: skip the seated meal in favor of a big cocktail party. And what more fitting day of the week than Friday to kick off the extravagant celebration?

Friday Cocktail Reception Wedding
Maria Mack Photography

A cocktail reception lets you incorporate a wider variety of rooms and wedding venue spaces, allowing you to extend your wedding guest list and offer them a unique wedding experience. For example, The Manor House and the additional 4000-square-foot outdoor tented structure connected to it from April through October, coupled with the first floor and patio, provide space for hundreds more guests.

A mix of stationary and passed hors d’oeuvres served in patios, hallways, intimate rooms and lush lawns encourages guests to mix and mingle throughout the vast space. As entertainers circulate amid The Manor House’s gorgeous molding and bronze sconces, guests will socialize while enjoying innovative small bites from top Philadelphia catering companies like J. Scott Catering and Queen of Hearts. When designing your custom menu, we encourage you to infuse your personality into farm-to-table fresh small bites and culinary creations that will wow guests. 

Sunday Lunch Reception

A day long respected as one of leisure, choosing a Sunday wedding date adds a relaxing element to your wedding. Free of other commitments and errands, guests will be able to fully immerse themselves in your wedding experience—likely a more casual yet incredibly elegant one. And because less formal wedding menus and Sunday venue rentals tend to be more affordable, your wedding costs will be greatly reduced.

Sunday Lunch Reception
Asya Photography

Remember, a more casual wedding does not mean less class. An elegant wedding venue with a classic design keeps a sophisticated feel to your wedding. With peaked dormers and a wrap-around veranda, The Manor House may be just the atmosphere you’re looking to create at your Sunday lunch reception.

Tip: Check the availability of all your vendors and suppliers—not just your wedding venue. For example, some hairdressers and entertainers take Sundays off.

Weekday Small Bites Celebration

One of the latest culinary trends is having a collection of small bites, or tapas, in place of a traditional meal. To take some of the formality out of the dining experience and encourage guests to socialize, apply this small bites idea to your wedding menu. With casual seating dispersed throughout Springton Manor Farm, guests can eat, play and socialize at their leisure. And they will get to sample quite the variety of food, letting you share more of your favorites! Well suited to any day of the week, this can be just the mid-week break guests are looking for.

Weekday Small Bite Celebration
Vanessa Marie Photography

Weekday Brunch Reception

Everyone loves breakfast foods, so couples are trying to squeeze them into every course of traditional wedding menus. From appetizers to late-night snacks, fresh fruit, pancake skewers and waffles are trying to find their places. So why not make the ever-popular breakfast dishes the stars of your wedding menu by planning a weekday brunch reception? According to CBS News, doing brunch is among the top wedding food trends. And for good reason—weekday receptions are more affordable. And as a Millennial bride explains:

Weekday Brunch Wedding Buffet

“I made my wedding a brunch wedding because brunch is my thing. I’m always brunching. It’s the number one thing I look forward to on the weekends. There’s no rule your wedding has to be at night so I decided to make it during the day…It was the best wedding decision we ever made.” — Theresa V.

Like many unconventional reception ideas, a weekday brunch lends itself to a bright outdoor wedding venue with large lawns. Guests can simply relax in the sunshine while sipping a Mimosa or Bloody Mary, or they can wander over to a game of horseshoes. In fact, with more than 300 acres for you to set up field games of your choice, there is no limit to how many activities guests will find at Springton Manor Farm.

Tip: Next to the horseshoe area, have an arts and crafts table where guests can decorate polished horseshoes to take home as rustic wedding gifts.

We invite you to infuse your unique personality and wedding reception ideas with one of the most historic and picturesque Philadelphia wedding venues. To see how our creativity and award-winning attention to detail can bring your wedding vision to life at The Manor House at Springton Manor Farm, contact us online or give us a call at (610) 733-2516.

More Articles You Might Like:

Share
Facebook Twitter Google
BACK TO LIST