The ceremony is the focus of your wedding day, but the reception is the fun part. Finally, after all your planning, you can relax, eat, drink, and dance the night away!
But the reception requires just as much—if not more—planning as the ceremony itself! That’s why we’ve put together a few tips for planning the wedding reception of your dreams!
Keep it simple
Pinterest is full of ideas for entertaining your guests at the reception—board games, activities, snack bars. Any of these ideas can be fun, but don’t overload your reception with too many things. After all, you still want people to get up and dance! Giving people too much to do means fewer people will be out on the dance floor or be there to watch as you cut the cake. Pick just one or two activities, especially ones that will keep young children entertained.
Don’t make your guests wait
Nothing makes people grumpier than having to wait for food! Make sure your ceremony starts on time and that you have plenty of time for formal photos. You may even talk to your wedding party and immediate family about being ready for the formal images immediately following the ceremony, to prevent a long wait for everyone else at the reception.
It also helps to give your guests at the reception something to do, whether that’s a classy cocktail hour, a candy or snack bar, or even just some fun games to play while they wait. No one wants to sit in a beautifully decorated room twiddling their thumbs!
Avoid micromanaging
Yes, it’s your day, but you can’t plan out every single detail. For example, it’s a great idea to pick some of your must-have songs for the dancing and give them to the DJ or band, but don’t try to program the entire reception. Your DJ will be able to read the room and pick the perfect song to keep people on the dance floor. This celebration is for you, so enjoy it and don’t worry so much about the little things!
Have a plan for little ones
Chances are you’ll have kids at your wedding, and they will probably be bored out of their minds! Plan something to keep them entertained—and to give their parents a chance to enjoy the party. Even simple activities like coloring sheets or small toys can keep children entertained. You can even have a few songs just for kids to dance to. A little time on the dance floor will give them a chance to work off some energy and let their parents have fun too!
Make sure everyone is comfortable, including you
You don’t want your reception venue to get too warm or leave everyone shivering. Be sure to talk to the venue manager about setting the temperature to a comfortable level, especially if it’s regulated by computer.
It’s also important that you are comfortable. For some brides, that means changing into a reception dress, especially if their wedding dress is long or will keep them from dancing. Or you can just change your shoes. Go for something fun like flats or even sneakers that won’t leave your feet aching at the end of the night.
Make it fun!
Surprise your guests with awesome favors, like a tasty treat to take home, or even unexpected entertainment that will make their jaw drop! You can even go out with a literal bang by having fireworks end your reception. Whatever you choose to do, be sure to have fun and give your guests something they won’t get at every wedding, something they can keep talking about and remembering!
Just like your ceremony, your wedding reception should reflect you and your fiancé’s personalities and your love for each other. Don’t be afraid to have a little fun and think outside the box to create an even that’s truly memorable!
