Recipe(tried): I absolutely agree with AJ (inexpensive wedding reception)

AJ said it so well. Simple can be better and oh-so-lovely. AND, yes, it is important not to get bogged down with lots of details, stress and expenses for the wedding day.

I helped a friend give a wedding reception for her nephew a few years back. They did not have any money at all, not even for a cake. Sooooo... we solicited help from friends and coworkers. We asked quite a few people to bake 2 or 3 dozen of their very favorite cookies.

Our friends got so excited to help that we received cookies from friends of friends of friends (people we had never met.) The result was glorious. We recieved hundreds and hundreds of cookies and bar cookies. And, we received so many compliments at the wedding.

We served the cookies on lovely serving platters (none matching) with coffee and punch.

We bought some very small paper dessert plates so guests could pick and choose a variety of cookies upon which to munch. We had sooo many compliments on this. The men in attendance were particularly vocal with their praise.

And, after the wedding we packaged up the many leftover cookies and many people took home treats from the wedding. It was kind of like having groom's cake.

Our total "food" outlay for this lovely wedding reception was the punch, the coffee, the paper plates and napkins -- oh, and the cookies we also baked. No silverware was needed. Setup and cleanup was a snap.

One more idea that was previously posted on Recipe Link was related to an outdoor summer wedding. This gal (I wish I could remember who posted this) provided selected guests with containers of bubble liquid and they blew bubbles in the yard as the bride walked up to be married, and again after the actual wedding ceremony. She said it went great. I think that sounds lovely.

Congratulations on your marriage, Tiffany. I applaud you for not running up huge bills for your wedding day. I look forward to other posts from TRLers. So many creative folks visit this site. Many hugs. Kel.