What is an agape reception at a wedding?

The agape is a custom dating back thousands of years that originated in the Christian faith and was traditionally held not only at weddings but also at other important events such as baptisms, First Communions, and Confirmations. Today, the agape is mainly held in conjunction with a wedding, and for many couples, it has come to be regarded as the same thing as a champagne reception. However, that’s not entirely accurate. The following paragraphs will explain the differences, what the word “agape” actually means, and how you can enhance your wedding with a beautiful agape.

Agape—what does that mean?

To put it as simply as possible, the word “agape” comes from Ancient Greek and refers to a God-inspired, selfless love for one’s fellow human beings. As an expression of this love, a love feast eventually emerged—a communal meal to which each guest brought food, so that everyone could eat a little of everything. Of course, the agape has evolved over the centuries, and—especially in Austria and the Alpine region—the custom took root of inviting one’s home parish to an agape on the wedding day. Thus, during the wedding ceremony, all the villagers would gather at the church, bring small gifts, and congratulate the newlyweds before the couple left with their family for dinner.

The Difference Between an Agape Meal and a Champagne Reception

These days, you probably won’t invite the whole village to your reception; instead, your wedding guests will include coworkers, neighbors, business partners, or distant relatives. However, they usually don’t bring food—just small gifts for you, if anything. Otherwise, little has changed: The guests gather outside the church or the registry office, congratulate you, have a light snack, and raise a toast to you and your future together. But what’s this?! There’s sparkling wine in the guests’ glasses! Start a Telegram group, let Aluhut-Andy know—a major conspiracy has been uncovered! The reception and the sparkling wine reception are one and the same, after all.

Not quite. The main purpose of the pre-reception is to give those who can’t join you for the reception that follows a chance to be part of your big day. Toasting with sparkling wine is just one part of it. A traditional sparkling wine reception usually takes place at the actual wedding venue. There, you welcome your guests with a glass of sparkling wine, making the wait until dinner a little more enjoyable for them.

What do people eat at the Agape?

In addition to sparkling wine, beer, spritzer, and non-alcoholic beverages, small snacks are also served at the reception. Traditionally, these include open-faced sandwiches, filled pretzels, or classic finger foods like melon wrapped in bacon. However, sushi platters, tapas, and mini-burgers are also becoming increasingly popular. Just try to make sure there’s something for as many guests as possible. Don’t just think about the vegetarians and vegans in your wedding party—think about your young guests, too. Many children are put off by fancy food. But this problem can easily be solved with a candy basket or a dessert table, which you can often order along with your wedding cake.

Here we are now—entertain us!

Even though the trend is on the decline, many couples still use the time during the reception to take their wedding photos. Depending on your schedule, this might mean the reception lasts a little longer. But eventually, all the questions about the weather will be answered, and the pool of small-talk topics will quickly dry up. That’s why your guests will be grateful if you provide some entertainment during the reception. This could be provided by a band, a DJ, or maybe even a magician. Kids, in particular, want to be entertained. But luckily, it doesn’t take much. With simple games of skill—like a plate-spinning set, stilts, a balance board, or a kendama—the little ones can keep themselves occupied for a while before they start asking for their parents’ smartphones.

Agape—yes or no?

Whether or not you should plan a reception is a matter of personal preference. We recommend that you make this decision while you’re planning the guest list. If you have a lot of people who are on the fence about attending, inviting them to a reception is often a good compromise. On the other hand, if putting together the guest list is easy for you, then a champagne reception at the wedding venue might be the better choice.

After all, hosting a reception at the registry office or church requires quite a bit of organization—even if your friends and relatives are surely happy to help with setting up and serving drinks. However, most venues are well-equipped for a champagne reception and are happy to assist you with the arrangements. This means you don’t have to worry about the glasses, the drinks, the food, or the setup and takedown. A champagne reception also gives you the opportunity to use that time to take photos. But if you don’t want to keep your guests waiting, we’ve summarized the best times for a bridal couple photo shoot here.