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Wedding Reception Tips Your wedding day is one of the few days that will have a profound impact on the rest of your life. It can also be one of the most stressful days too (I think mom has the most stress). To help alleviate some of your stress here are some tips and my typical guide for your reception. I hope they will be helpful. · This is your day, plan it the way you want it. You do not have to follow Miss Manners or The Wedding Book Bible. The order may be change at any time as far as I’m concerned --- even during the reception · Immediately after the ceremony a lot of couples have their formal pictures taken. It is important to allow adequate time for this, so that you don’t start running behind before you arrive at your reception. The suggestion is to plan 3-4 minutes per person in the bridal party, include parents and grandparents. For example, lets say that you have a maid-of-honor, best man, two bridesmaid, two groomsmen, flower girl, four parents, two grandparents and yourselves, a total of 15 people. Allow for 45 to 60 minutes for your formal pictures. If all pictures, except for the bride and groom together for their first time, are taken before the ceremony, this will greatly reduce this time. Your photographer should be of great help on this. · If you feel that you will be arriving at the reception more than 30 minutes after your guest arrive, consider letting them begin eating as they arrive. Guest have a tendency to become anxious if they are waiting longer than 30 minutes. If you are to be announced, only have yourselves announced if you arrive at the reception after your wedding party, you may have difficulties rounding up your attendants, once they have started to mingle. · Receiving lines can be very time consuming, speaking to 100 guest for just 15 seconds adds up to 25 minutes. If you must have a receiving line, have only yourselves form your receiving line. If the reception is out doors, remember how HOT it may be, You and your party are not attired in beach wear. · Photographer, videographer, and coordinators ---, make it clear in your/their contracts as to how long they are to stay and what parts of the reception they are to handle. Also have them coordinate with the disc jockey so he can announce each event. · If possible, do the specialty dances after your guest have eaten. This way your guest will be ready to fill the dance floor after your traditional dances. While we are on the subject --- brides locate your father --- grooms locate your mother and remind the other specialty dancers to be ready for their dances. It would not hurt to practice these dances the night before (at the rehearsal dance that you hire me for) to make sure that you are comfortable with the tempo (beat). This will avoid having to stumble through your dances. · Musical entertainment will be a critical part of the success of your reception. Let’s break down your guests, 25% will be your close friends (more than likely close to your musical taste). This leaves the other 75% of your guest older and/or younger relatives, co-workers, and friends of the families. A good host is considerate of all their guest, keep this in mind when you hire entertainment DJ’s or Bands, this is a way of letting them know that you appreciate them coming. · You (and maybe the groom) are the center of attention, therefore you set the tone of the reception. When you dance the dance floor will be full, when you sit or socialize your guest will do the same. This does not mean you must dance every dance, let me know some of your favorite songs (slow and fast) and I’ll mix them up. · Hire highly experienced professionals. There is no second chance for your wedding day. Please Do Not use only the price for comparison of professionals – know what you are getting for your money. As this day approaches, everything has to fit into place, many people’s efforts are brought together to make this day –YOUR wedding day a success. You do not want misfortunes such as poor pictures, mismatched colors, awful tasting-lopsided cakes, punch, helpers with two (sometime three) left feet, seams that unravel at inopportune times, wrong or ill-sounding music, equipment breakdowns and (God forbid) no shows. The following is a guide to how I do most of my typical 4 hour receptions: Wedding at 6:00 PM and reception at 6:30 is located in same building. I’m ready to go at 6:00. Play soft / love ballads as guest arrive. 1st hour --- continue with same music. --- blessing-eating-chitchat 2nd hour --- cake cutting- toast- traditional dances - mixed music (big band, 50/60’s, old country, 70’s, 80’s) remember grand’s, uncles, aunts, cousins – they probably will not stay around for the last two hours (bedtime – louder music – rowdiness) 3rd hour – the tempo and volume increases 4th hour --- let it all hang out ---- bouquet and garter toss Unless you have a lot of out-of-town guest, most will leave when you (the bride and groom) departs. The out-of-town guest are trapped – they don’t know where else to go so they stay around and P_A_R_T_Y !!!!!!!! Remember nothing is written in stone as far as I’m concerned, this is your day so let us do like Burger King -------- HAVE IT YOUR WAY !!!!!!!!! |
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