How to Host a Reception for a Large Crowd of People

Hold a large wedding reception outdoors if the weather cooperates.

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Whether you throw a reception for a wedding, graduation or other special occasion, your guest list is one of the most important factors. In some cases, your guest list may include a large crowd of people. When you invite a greater number of people to a reception, it is important to ensure you can accommodate everyone properly so everyone enjoys the reception.

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Location is an important consideration for a large crowd. You must pay attention to the capacities for any indoor venue you consider so your guests will fit into the hall you choose. If your event takes place during a time of the year where the weather is favorable, you may also want to consider holding your reception outdoors. An outdoor reception allows for more space. If you worry about the weather, you can rent tents for shelter if necessary.

Amount of Food

Making sure you have enough food is essential when you serve a larger party of people. It is important to make sure you have enough food per person. In general, each person requires 1/4 to 1/3 pound of meat per person. You can also count on a person eating about 1/2 cup of side dishes. For dessert, if you order a cake, check with the baker to learn how many people the cake serves. For pie, one pie can serve about eight people.

Food Service

At a large reception, you can choose from a few options for serving food. While you can still offer a nice sit-down dinner with a larger group, it may take a while for everyone to receive their food. A buffet line can also work, but your guests may need to wait for their food in this way as well. One of the quickest ways to serve food to a large group of people is to offer family-style dining, where the waitstaff brings dishes of food to each table and your guests pass them around and serve themselves.

Make Yourself Available

When you are the host of a party, your guests expect to interact with you. With a large group, you have more people who want to talk with you and interact. However, no matter how many people you invite, you must make an effort to speak with each one, even if you speak to groups rather than individuals. Making sure your guests are happy is one of the most important jobs you have as a host.

ReferencesReal Simple: Party Planning ChecklistEllen's Kitchen: Planning Big BBQ's and PicnicsFood Network: How to Host a Large PartyPhoto Credit Jupiterimages/Pixland/Getty ImagesRead Next:

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