A champagne reception is a sweet and budget-friendly way to celebrate your day! Before weddings became a billion-dollar industry, champagne and cake receptions were the norm for most newlyweds.  If the stress and cost of planning a dinner reception isn’t for you, take a cue from yesteryear and put together a lovely, low-key champagne and dessert reception that your guests will love.

We covered a buffet table with a simple white tablecloth and stocked it with champagne and sweet treats.  To keep the look cohesive, we chose food with a similar color palette (pink, gold, and green).  Goodies like chocolate, shortbread cookies, fruit, tarts, and small pastries are easy for guests to eat using only a cocktail napkin, so silverware and plates are optional.

Strawberries poked with flag-topped bamboo skewers make fun drink stirrers, and tying name tags to each champagne flute ensures that guests won’t misplace their glass during the party.

And with a spread this pretty, there’s no need for fussy florals — we finished off the table simply by filling three vases with single-stem tulips, for a look that’s both simple and fresh.

Images courtesy: Mary Swenson