1. Sweet Surprises. If you love dessert, nothing would be sweeter than to invite your guests to join in a decadent dessert reception. Make sure to have your ceremony later than the regular dinner hour and be sure to indicate on the invitation that the reception is dessert only. After you say "I Do," treat your guests to displays of cakes, cookies, tarts, and other sweet treats.

2. Sunny Side Up. Are you an early riser? Celebrate your nuptials at sunrise and follow up with a breakfast reception. Traditional breakfast items can be supplemented with some fun "action stations" like omelet stations or pancake stations. Give oatmeal a new twist and have your chef create an oatmeal crème brulee.

3. Small Plate. Rather than serving a formal sit-down dinner, serve a small plate dinner with a multitude of courses so your guests can experience many flavors and food types without getting overly full. This menu may include six courses or more, all served in smaller portions.

4. Brunch Bonanza. Brunch is a great way to showcase unusual and fun foods for your wedding. Put a twist on traditional breakfast foods with corned beef served over sauteed potatoes or eggs benedict with smoked salmon and spinach. Add some hearty lunch items like carved beef tenderloin. Serve Bloody Marys with an array of garnishes like horseradish, blue-cheese stuffed olives, and grilled scallops and shrimp.

5. Go Tropical Luau. Start by greeting your guests with a Hawaiian Lei shipped straight from the islands. Your décor should include tropical flowers like Birds of Paradise, Ginger and Orchids. Menu ideas are extensive from roasted pig to lomi salmon. Your specialty drinks could include Mai Tais and for those who don't drink alcohol, a fruit punch.

6. Fabulous Fiesta. What could be more festive than a traditional Mexican fiesta? A Mariachi band or Flamenco guitar will get your guests dancing, and so will cocktails like Margaritas and Tequila Sunrises. Don’t forget pitchers of sangria! For the cocktail hour, have a salsa bar including Pico de Gallo, Mango Salsa, and Black bean salsa and for really brave guests, add a Habanera Salsa. Don't forget the Mexican Wedding Cookies!

7. Hot Hue Barbeque. People have fond memories of barbeques starting from very early childhood. Guests will be delighted to celebrate your wedding with this fun-loving party. You can celebrate casually with traditional fare including ribs, chicken and potato salad, or dress up your barbeque with grilled tenderloin, chicken kabobs and grilled lobster tail.

8. Now We're Cooking Clam Bake. This celebration would be perfect on the beach or on the loggia of a great resort overlooking the beach. A fabulous clam bake menu would include Fresh Steamed Little Neck Clams, New England clam chowder, Corn on the Cob, Grilled Steak and Barbecued Chicken and Boiled Lobsters.

9. Paint The Town Red Wine Pairing. People are becoming savvier to wine and how it blends with food. Combine a bit of education with your wedding meal and hire a sommelier (if your reception location doesn't already have one) to work with your catering manager to create a perfect food and wine menu. Print a menu for your guests so they can learn which wines were chosen per menu item and why. A great guest favor would be a bottle of wine from one of your courses.

10. Music To My Ears Entertainment Based Reception. This reception is truly for the adventurous. Consider having a multi-course meal and change your entertainment with each course. For example, appetizer course with an opera singer, soup course with a jazz trio, salad course with acrobatic performers, entrée with a big bad, dessert with string trio. After the formal dinner, switch to a high-energy band or DJ for a night of dancing.