Backyard Receptions

How about a Luai (I probably spelled that wrong, but hopefully you know what I mean) with grilled shiskabobs (beef, pork, and chiccken for variety), fresh fruit, veggie tray, assorted salads, etc. Shiskabobs are fun and they look great! They`re pretty inexpensive and you have a theme to go with it.

I wouldn`t do favors-- not necessary-- you could simply give everyone a lei to wear.

It could be a lot of fun! Good luck planning.

I think she meant LUAU!!
Great idea, and everyone has an ALOHA shirt in the closet they are looking for a reason to wear!!

Thank you Kay and Saramarie fro your reply. Although that is a great ideas and very reasonably priced, i had just had a luai last year in my other place of residence. So i was looking for something diffrent. But thank you for your quick and greatly appreciated response.

We are having a casual BBQ for our reception. Ideas for food could be BBQ beef sandwiches,smoked polish sausages for the kids, baked beans, potato salad, pasta salad, deviled eggs, tossed salad, chips and dips, corn on the cob. I think any food that would normally be served at a casual BBQ would be fine for a reception. As for decorations, the last bbq reception that I attended had an international theme. Tables and picnic benches had centerpieces that were the country`s flag and small sampling of cheeses, dips and sauces from that country as favors. Each table had different favors. Another idea could be decorating with photos of the wedding and honeymoon. You could print out copys on a computer so you do not have to worry about damaging the original. Or you could have an era theme such as the 70`s or 80`s. Decorate with newspapers and magazines from that time so quest can remember the good ole days. A kind of blast from the past reception. I attended a wedding where the bride and groom displayed photos of them from infancy to adulthood. They photo copied photo, pages of school annuals and photos of them together. And for favors why not make copys of your favorite bbq recipe or another recipe quest would enjoy. Print out on computer with clip art of bbq utensils and punch holes in the top and decorate with ribbon. Hope these ideas help!

If you are having a BBQ, try serving some bbq beans and hot rolls and salad. Be careful serving anything like potato salad, as it can spoil easily in the heat and you can get botulism from eating it. Food can be served in the kitchen, then taken out to the backyard to eat at tables that are set up. Depending on the outdoor temperature, things like wedding cake icing, chocolate desserts, etc. Can melt in the hot sun, so be careful with that.

I myself am getting married this August. We are going with a backyard reception at my (son-to-be) mother in laws house. We are doing BBQ style food... We were able to find a caterer locally who includes all day burgers & dogs & italian suausage, plus sit down dinner of sirloin strip steak or terriyaki or bbq chicken (guest choice) and beer & wine & soda all day. Plus our choice of 6 sides... We went with salads & fresh friut & baked beans etc.. Very fun summery bbq type of items. They come & set up & cook & serve etc all for under $25 per person. If you look around you can find a reasonable price. We really aren`t doing much along the idea of a theme - other than just keeping it simple. We figure it will be more comfortable & intimate this way - for our "centerpieces" on our picnic tables just a plain bouquet of lily of the vallys with a twine bow. Sometimes I think less is more - especially when you are doing a cozy home setting.