Evening weddings are usually elegant and formal. They are beautiful events and need attention to every detail. When planning an evening wedding with dinner to follow there are some key points to keep in mind.

Early evening dinners can be less formal than later evening dinners. This really depends on you and your wedding budget. If you are planning and early evening wedding with dinner to follow you can have lots of fun with less formal themes.

For a summer wedding you can do a Hawaiian theme. Some inexpensive decorations from places like the Oriental Trading Company and you will think you are in Hawaii.

Tell your guests that dress for the dinner is business casual or semi-formal. Hand out beautiful fragrant floral leis to all of the guests.

This type of wedding can be spectacular outdoors, catered, with tiki torches and other special lighting.

For an evening wedding with dinner to follow you may want to go all out.

Some suggestions are a black and white wedding, or other color theme. When planning your menu and drinks, keep in mind that your guests will be wearing expensive clothing.

Appetizers and foods served should not be messy. Avoid ribs, and anything that is heavy with sauce or is sticky.

Decide if you want the wedding party to arrive at the dinner area in limos, or if this will be reserved for the bride and groom. Be sure that your wedding director and or master of ceremonies has the reception timetable for the dinner.

Other things to keep in mind, no matter what time in the evening your wedding and dinner are held. Be sure that the parking lot of the facility is well lit and has ample room to accommodate all of your guests.

There may be elderly relatives and friends that will have trouble navigating a dark parking lot. It is also a safety consideration. If you are hosting the wedding at a private residence, you may need to notify the local police about potential parking issues.

An officer may have to be present at arrival and at the dinners end to control traffic.

You can keep your wedding costs down and still have an extremely elegant affair when planning an evening wedding with dinner to follow. Serve wine and champagne as the only alcohol.

You can buy less expensive wines, and have the wait staff walk around and serve drinks by the glass. It’s an elegant touch and you will save tremendously on the bar tab.

The same holds true for the champagne toast. If you have a large wait staff and have them serve glasses of champagne to the guests simultaneously, the effect is amazing and your can save by not having to buy top label brands because nobody will know.

Overall, evening weddings are the most formal and elegant of all weddings. When planning an evening wedding with dinner to follow, keep these simple tips in mind, use your creativity and have fun!