Once the bride and groom have exchanged their vows and the "I dos," the celebration can begin. Don't take any chances, since your wedding reception will likely outshine any other party you've ever thrown, including anniversaries, birthday celebrations, and New Year's Eve bashes.
There is a lot that goes into preparing the perfect wedding reception, from selecting the right wedding location to ensuring that the entire event goes off without a hitch. Let’s take a look at some tips that will surely help you.
Create a plan for your budget
When organizing weddings the most money goes to the reception. This is why thinking about your budget is important.
When reserving the venue, you'll need to estimate how many people will be attending the event. Therefore, being thoughtful of how many people are on your guest list is crucial to any wedding reception preparation.
Don’t forget about the budget you’ll need for food, entertainment, and the photographer. You should also set some budget aside for a wedding videographer. Why wouldn’t you wish to have your wedding reception professionally documented from the beginning to the end? This video will be very fun to watch with your kids when they get a bit older!
Be considerate to your guests
The comfort of your visitors should be a top priority while you make preparations. Provide enough seating and convenient parking. If small kids are attending your wedding, it’s important to have a place to change the diapers and even breastfeed. Though this is your big day, it’s important to ensure that your visitors have a pleasant and stress-free experience right from the start.
Choose a venue
When choosing your venue, you should consider your budget, your preferences, and your guests' needs. It’s most important you find the right place for your budget, but you should also make a list of non-negotiables.
Try to think of the deal breakers. Is providing your own food one of them? Do you have to decorate the venue according to your own wishes or is the default wedding package of the venue sufficient? Know what you’ll be ready to compromise on and what not.
Pick out the right decor
Be mindful of the colors in the venue you finally settle for. Then, when it comes to invitations, centerpieces, flowers, ribbons, linens, and other elements of the setting, you may choose complementary colors for the final touches. Colors that contrast with one another should be avoided if you want your wedding reception to appear polished and put together.
Make a grand entrance
Nowadays, the bride and groom often make a grand entrance at the reception. Many couples choose to dance to their favorite song. First, the attendants make their entry, then the bride and groom themselves make their way to the head table.
Make the entrance to the venue pop. You may design a flower arch to walk under. The photos of you and your partner under the colorful florals will look great on your bedside table.
Pick out the menu
It's crucial to provide your wedding guests with delicious food. Have trays of finger foods and hors d'oeuvres circulating so that your guests may munch on a light snack before the main dishes are served.
A good idea is to have your guests opt for the main meal on their RSVPs. There you can have them choose between meat, vegan, or even pescetarian options. This way even those with certain dietary restrictions won’t have to stay hungry.
Figure out the seating arrangements
Carefully arrange the tables so that attendees sit with people they already know. They don’t need to be close friends, simply being casually acquainted with one another will do.
However, this isn’t always possible. Place out-of-town visitors at a table with others who share their interests. Always include a separate table for children.
Schedule the toasts
Even though they are lovely, the toasts can be annoying if they are excessively lengthy, too sentimental, impolite, or simply boring. Hold the toasts in between courses, or at the beginning of the meal.
Have someone in the wedding party time the speeches and be firm about keeping to the allotted amount of time. Before you cut the cake, you and your significant other can also make a toast.
Decide on the music
It's becoming more common for couples to add their own unique musical touches to parties, in addition to the main band or DJ. A cocktail hour with a pianist, jazz trio, steel drum ensemble, or simply a well-curated compilation CD will set the tone for an unforgettable evening.
Think of the atmosphere
Relaxing music, a relaxed mood, and enough space for dancing are crucial for having a good time at a wedding reception. Evening parties are better when the lighting is more dramatic, the music is louder, and the guests are brought closer together.
Make a grand exit
Instead of letting the celebration go away quietly, go out with a boom. To ensure that all of your guests leave your wedding with a grin on their faces, you may choose to play an emotional song during the final dance, have people send off the happy couple with sparklers, or hand out wedding favors. Finally, plan for everyone to take cabs home safely so that your wedding reception goes off without a hitch.
If you follow our tips, we’re sure your wedding reception will be one to remember. Be mindful of your budget and schedule. We wish you a long and successful marriage!
