About Charlotte
One of the twenty-five largest cities in the United States, Charlotte is the largest city in North Carolina. Its nickname is “The Queen City” because the city was named after the queen consort Charlotte of Mecklenburg. The city of Charlotte is home to approximately 800,000 people, and the city is constantly growing. Charlotte is home to not only universities and other institutions of higher learning, but it is a metropolis for healthcare education and top-notch healthcare facilities.
People love to visit Charlotte. It is ranked seventh as a Spring Break destination. It is home to one of the most recognized children’s museums in the South, and Charlotte is home to the NASCAR Hall of Fame. There are amusement parks, a plethora of historical sites, and an aviation museum as well. Charlotte offers lots of food and fun as well, and the mild weather makes visiting most any time of the year an enjoyable event.
Reception Options in Charlotte
Once you decided on the perfect reception venue in Charlotte, start thinking about how to make it spectacular.
- Florist
When people think receptions, they think about elegant floral arrangements, centerpieces, and the like. With the consistent growth in Charlotte, you’ll be able to find a talented florist with ease! Many florists offer sit-down meetings to plan the decor, and many will offer delivery, set up and take down as well.
- Catering
One of the highlights of a successful reception is the food. Charlotte is known for a diverse selection of food vendors. Whether you’re in the mood for seafood, Bar-b-que, or just delicious traditional Southern cuisine, there is a caterer in Charlotte with the talent and expertise to make your reception a hit.
- Rental Services
Once you’ve chosen your reception venue, you’ll likely need some single-use items such as linens or decor. Charlotte is home to many detail-oriented rental services that are happy to deliver, set up and pick up any rental items you need for the upcoming reception event.
Reception Companies in Charlotte
The great thing about Charlotte is that it’s a popular city with plenty of stores and restaurants. Finding vendors for your reception will be a smooth process.
- Midwood Flowers
Midwood is an experienced florist in the Charlotte area offering floral arrangements for all types of occasions. Along with special assistance in planning your reception arrangements, Midwood will gladly deliver and set up your reception flowers and centerpieces.
- QC Catering
The pros at QC Catering promises to “dazzle and delight” your reception event guests. QC Catering opened for business in 2010, and since then, the business has expanded to offer everything from specialty menus to full-service catering. Contacting QC Catering is easy – they offer chat and text services for planning a menu “on the go.”
- First Impressions Party Rentals
Whether you need table runners, glassware, flatware or chair covers, the crew at First Impressions Party Rentals offer all types of items you’ll need to make your reception event a success. Looking for custom linens? First Impressions can assist you with this as well.
Pros and Cons of Receptions in Charlotte
Charlotte is a beautiful city with typically nice weather; however, even with all the perks of hosting a reception in Charlotte, there are some drawbacks as well.
Advantages
- Public transportation options
Charlotte is growing rapidly, and one reason people are drawn to Charlotte is because of a smoothly-running public transportation system. “CATS,” the Charlotte Area Transportation Service, offers many bus routes throughout the Queen City. Lynx Light Rail is a high-speed rail system located in Charlotte as well.
- Outdoor fun opportunities
Charlotte is home to a beautiful landscape, and it is centrally located so that visitors to the city can also travel to the beach or the mountains in just a couple of hours. The Catawba River offers whitewater rafting for the more adventurous folks in your party, Lake Norman allows for “safer” water excursions.
- Friendly people
Charlotte is home to many friendly people who love the community and welcome visitors. Charlotte’s people are accustomed to transient citizens as many students call Charlotte home for about nine or ten months of the year. You’ll find people happy to help you with directions or recommendations of fun things to do.
Disadvantages
- Traffic
Downtown Charlotte is notorious for congestion and long commute times. In fact, the average commute is about thirty minutes to anywhere in the city. Visitors may wish to plan a private car service if they do not want to fight traffic in Charlotte.
- Mosquitoes
Charlotte has mild weather for several months of the year, and some winters are unseasonably warm. This is conducive to one nuisance common in the South – bugs. Mosquitoes in particular can be very bothersome when visiting Charlotte. Of course, there are creative ways to battle these pests, including using lemongrass plants at your reception site or allethrin in decorative lamps.
- Hurricanes and other weather emergencies
Charlotte is not a coastal city, but its location in the state still makes it susceptible to hurricane season. Because many citizens come to Charlotte when a hurricane threatens the North Carolina coast, you may not only experience stormy weather associated with a hurricane, but you will see even more congestion in the city when thousands of evacuees roll into town. Hurricane season runs from June to November, so plan your reception accordingly.
Famous Locations in Charlotte
- Paramount’s Carowinds
This amusement park offers fun for all ages! Nicknamed the “Thrill Capital of the Southeast,” Carowinds offers roller coasters, stage shows and water rides. The world’s tallest and fastest giga coaster is featured at Carowinds.
- Carolinas Aviation Museum
The Wright Brothers took flight for the first time in a field in North Carolina, and a replica of their plane is displayed at the Carolinas Aviation Museum. There are also several military aircraft exhibited at the Aviation Museum, and airplanes from various generations are on display as well.
- Hendrick Motorsports Museum
Even if no one in your party is a gearhead, you’ll still want to check out the Hendrick Motorsports Museum. You’ll be able to observe famous stock racing cars, and racing machines including Tom Cruise’s Days of Thunder Lumina is featured at Hendrick Motorsports Museum.
