• Build your southern wedding reception around a passion you share, such as horses.jeunes mari??s image by thierry planche from Fotolia.com
  
  Southern weddings typically include an abundance of old-fashioned southern hospitality. Plan your wedding reception around a theme or idea that complements your wedding ceremony, invitations and personal style. Make your reception welcoming and fun for guests, whether you choose a formal or casual reception.
  
  

Themes

• Use a shared passion as the basis for your theme, which will help narrow down your decisions for decorations, the menu and the entertainment. A cowboy or western theme works for a southern wedding if you both enjoy horses, rodeos, country music or any other aspect of a cowboy and cowgirl's life. Opt for a masquerade or Mardi Gras reception if you want your party to emulate a Mardi Gras party atmosphere. Use a garden tea party or Kentucky Derby theme if you enjoy the spring, big hats and white gloves. A simple southern barbecue or picnic-style reception might be more your style if you like to keep things simple. Opt for a ball or elegant outdoor reception for a reception worthy of a fancy southern belle.
  
  

Venue

• Your reception venue should complement your theme and the type of celebration you want. For example, an open field or ranch would work for a barbecue, cowboy or picnic-style reception. A rustic barn could work for a casual or western reception. A stately mansion, exquisite garden or formal hall are fitting for a masquerade, southern belle or other formal receptions.
  
  

Table Settings

• Your table settings should work with your theme and fit in with the location of your reception. Plain white linens work for most formal receptions, and you can dress them up with colorful runners or centerpieces. For example, use large floral bouquets for a garden tea or Kentucky Derby reception. Large vases could hold turquoise, green, black or purple ostrich feathers for a Mardi Gras-themed reception. Red-and-white checkered tablecloths work for a picnic, western or backyard barbecue-type of reception.
  
  Chair covers should complement the table. Casual settings might include cushions strewn across bales of hay for seating, while formal receptions might include bows or flowers tied around white chair covers.
  
  

Menu

• Offer your guests traditional southern fare that goes with your theme. A Mardi Gras-themed reception might include Louisiana-style gumbo and shrimp. Serve heavy hors d'oeuvres and finger foods for a garden tea reception. Your favorite local barbecue or fresh seafood is another option. Dessert might include a traditional wedding cake or something tailored to your wedding. For example, serve homemade pecan pie, peach cobbler or an assortment of cookies. Beverages might include iced tea, lemonade and mint juleps to mix in with other standard beverages, such as water or soft drinks.
  
  

Entertainment

• Live entertainment can include your favorite local band or group or a combination of more than one. The music should fit the style of your reception. A folk country band would work for a western wedding but might seem out of place for a southern belle formal reception. Other live entertainment ideas include a barbershop quartet, banjo band or instructors to teach your guests how to line dance, square dance or other related dances.