Bandstand: The area designed for the live musicians and entertainers. Commonly, a stage or elevated area distanced from the wedding guests is the preferred spot.
Bar Station: A station set up with either a bartender serving drinks to your guests or a self-service bar where your guests can make their own drinks. You can also set up two different bar stations, one serving lighter alcohol and non-alcoholic beverages and one serving specialty drinks and hard liquor.
Buffet: The two most popular styles of dining are sit-down (the various meal courses are served to each guest) and buffet (guests select the foods of their choice from displays set atop various tables). The former allows guests to sit and enjoy the service, while the other allows guests the opportunity to stand and mingle, while also selecting only those dishes that appeal to their tastes. Generally, buffet-style meals are less costly than sit-down. Figure two buffet tables per hundred guests.
Bunting: A loosely woven woolen fabric, often used in making flags, that drapes in a decorative pattern and can be used to adorn tables, bar stations and other areas of your reception.
Cake Table: Throughout the reception, the wedding cake should stand pretty atop a beautifully adorned table. Generally, the table is located in a special location adjacent to the bandstand or stage. After dinner has been enjoyed, the bride and groom will take part in the traditional cutting of the cake at the cake table.
Catering Station: Instead of having a sit-down affair where waiters serve dinner to guests, food stations can be set up. Also commonly called a buffet, you can choose to have different ethnic foods at various tables -- for example a Mexican table, an Italian table, a Chinese table, etc. Or you can have two tables of identical choices to make the lines flow more efficiently.
Chafing Dish: A dish used to keep hot foods warm before or during serving. Also often called food warmers, these dishes can either be kept warm by cooking fuel lamps or electricity.
Charger Plate: A large decorative plate, almost platter-sized, placed under the entrée and salad plate to add color to your reception tables. A beautiful gold or silver leaf charger can add formality and flare to a simple table. It can also be a further way to incorporate your wedding color palette into your reception table.
Chiavari: The chairs to rent for your wedding. These wooden chairs come in black, silver, gold, cherry, natural and white, and have different cushion options available.
Citronella: A fragrant scent used to deter bugs. Frequently found in candles and tiki torches, the aroma keeps unwanted creatures from inhabiting the nearby surroundings.
Cocktail Hour: Following the wedding ceremony, and prior to the wedding reception, drinks -- both alcoholic and non-alcoholic -- and hors d'oeuvres may be offered to guests as they mingle before sitting down to the reception meal. This time generally serves as a graceful interlude between the two events and an appropriate time to take any photographs of the bride and groom and wedding party.
Cooking Fuel: The most common brand is sterno, but there are many others available. These candle-like cans are placed in the well of chafing dishes to keep food warm.
-- Charli Penn
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