Arguably, a wedding has two different phases which are often in two different venues. First is the ceremony itself, which will take place in a house of worship, overseen and presided over by an appropriate figure such as a minister, a rabbi, or a similar person of religious authority. Some weddings, in fact, are mixed-faith weddings, and this may be arranged ahead of time such as a Jewish groom marrying a Hindu bride. In any case, though, the other half of a wedding is the reception, and this is a larger and more party-like event. The level of formality for the reception and the number of attendees may vary, but thee basic idea is the same: find a suitable venue where all of the wedding guests may gather for a meal, dancing, an open bar, mingling with the crowd, and much more. There’s no “wrong” way to do this, but some brides and grooms (and their families) may have some personal preferences. Popular places for wedding receptions may include a golf course, and golf associations may be contacted ahead of time to arrange for a wedding reception. Such places for wedding receptions may work out great if many wedding guests enjoy golf.
The Reception Meal
Typical places for wedding receptions include a catering service, and guests at a wedding reception may expect a lunch, dinner, or even a brunch (hybrid breakfast and lunch). Such places for wedding receptions as a large golf club may provide just that, and fine golf courses may have a large resort building complete with a restaurant or diner for all of the guests. Here too, the bride and groom’s preferences will be a major factor, and there’s no one-size-fits-all where wedding meals are concerned. In the United States, wedding meals may include fairly “typical” dishes and ingredients, but others may involve more ethnic food based on the wedding party’s identity, region, and more. A wedding meal for a Southern family will probably have different dishes than one taking place in a New York City ballroom (not that one is better than the other).
Ethnic foods may also be desired, and many caterers at places for wedding receptions such as golf courses may provide just that. Kosher food for Jewish families, halal meals for Muslim families, or Indian, Greek, Chinese or South American meals may be served. Whoever is responsible for organizing the wedding party and booking a venue may check ahead of time if a venue is able to prepare certain styles of foods, and this gives the staff time to procure the ingredients and prepare to cook them. Calling ahead of time is best for this, since some restaurants may have a more limited on-hand supply.
Even the meal type may vary. Some wedding parties serve lunch and many serve dinner, but there’s a popular third option: brunch. This hybrid breakfast-lunch was devised in the UK in the 1980s, and it soon became popular in the United States as well. What is more, brunch can be ethnic-inspired as well as involving mainstream American or Western food, and 67% of respondents to a recent survey said that they considered ethnic brunches a “hot trend” in 2015. This is purely optional, though, and different wedding parties will have their own preferences. Brunch may be served in the mid-morning or so, or sometimes closer to noon, and this may be a fine option for a morning wedding.
What about the venue itself? Whoever is responsible for finding the wedding reception venue may choose a golf course if enough members of the guest list are interested in this sport, and today, more and more women are joining their ranks. If this is the case, someone may look up local golf courses and find one whose restaurant can hold all the people in the guest list who want to attend the reception, and book it. Not only will a fine golf course include a restaurant, but anyone interested may bring their golf gear and play a game as their highlight of the reception.
