Modern Marriages, Modern Spaces

by Charles Davidson

For many people who are planning a wedding, the traditional format and venue of ceremony and reception can be (at best) a forced fit. In times where the guest list and the family units were simply “his and hers,” the ceremony in a church and the grand ballroom reception was a given. Now, however, with multiple marriages, “step families”, differing faiths, later in life marriages, alternative lifestyles etc., the traditional format isn’t desirable.

Therefore, when one is choosing a reception site, one shouldn’t feel constrained. Find a space you love and the wonderful day you envision will happen. Consider, for example, a restaurant or private home with multiple rooms where guests can find their own comfort zone. Additionally, this has the advantage of designing different sub menus, music and even décor. For example, we have created receptions where one room was designated kosher, one alcohol free and yet another a martini and raw bar.

One can go beyond this, a barbecue in a park, a Victorian luncheon in a private garden, a yachting party, a barn dance with hay rides in the country, a wine and cheese tasting at a vineyard, a roarin’ twenties costume ball in a theatre, even a picnic and crab feast in an amusement park. A good event planner can make any venue the perfect party, once one opens up to the possibilities and considers all of the desires (and dimensions) of today’s modern wedding.

Charles Davidson is executive chef and co-owner of Café Zeus in Rehoboth Beach and has planned and catered over 300 weddings throughout his career.

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