Your wedding should be a day that you remember, but don’t devote all your time and attention to the ceremony itself. Sure, that’s one of the most important part of the day – well, you wouldn’t be actually married without it, but it’s the reception after the wedding where all the fun happens, so I’m sure you’ll want to put a bit of effort into planning this too! In order for you to create a reception that is going to be fondly remembered by all, there are some thing you need to pay attention to. Below are some tips and ideas that will help you ensure that your wedding reception turns out as perfectly as you want it to…
Choose an interesting venue
First of all, you’re going to need to get the setting of your reception right. It’s a good idea to go for a venue that people are sure to remember such as a grand old house in a rural setting or a marquee on the village green. There are companies that offer large houses for parties, and you can find the right size of venue for the number of guests you wish to have. It’s also a good idea to visit all your venue options in person before making your final decision on which one to choose, because a space that looks beautiful on paper might not feel quite right when you’re there.
Be Clear About What You’re Paying For
You need to know exactly what you’re getting for your money when you book a venue to host your reception. Some places include catering, entertainment and decorating services, while other venues offer you nothing but the space that your reception will be held in. So ask questions and compare deals depending on what you get for your money. Often, if you just compare the ‘book price’ of different locations, you won’t be getting an accurate comparison because they might be offering you very different things in their package.
Splash Out on an Open Bar
The open bar is always an important part of a wedding reception. Yes, they can be pretty expensive, but they make the evening more fun and more relaxed for everyone – and you can always set a spending limit behind the bar. It’s a nice touch to thank your guests for attending your wedding, and will encourage people to stay for longer and have a good time with everyone else at the reception. What more could you ask for than that? A really chilled out event is what will make your reception memorable for all your guests, so why not splash out on this?
Do Something Original with Your First Dance
Your first dance as a married couple is always a special moment. This will happen at your reception and will be remembered by all the people who attend your wedding, so you want to make sure that you get it right. Your dance can be anything you want it to be and, because these things can now be recorded so easily, it will probably live on forever on social media! So put some thought into the choice of song and do some planning to create a dance that you’re both comfortable with. These days, many couples even take dance classes and something very elaborate.
Think Carefully About the Type of Entertainment
There are lots of options out there when it comes to entertainment at your reception. Don’t fall into the trap of assuming that you simply have to hire a local DJ to take care of things because that’s not necessarily true. There are lots of other kinds of bands and performers that can add something to your wedding reception. Perhaps a friend is a whizz on the guitar and can perform an acoustic set for you? Could you play a selection of LPs on a vintage record player? Or do you have a brother who can create the perfect party mega-mix for you to dance the night away to? When you consider some more out of the box ideas, you can make your reception more memorable; it won’t just be like every other wedding that your guests have been to in the past.
Have Someone Overseeing Things Regarding the Reception
It’s definitely a good idea to have someone who can oversee the reception preparation plans on the day of the wedding. After all, you’re probably going to be focusing on other things. By having someone take care of any minor problems ahead of your arrival at the reception, it should all go according to plan without any hiccups. Having a stress-free day has to be one of the most important things to consider (and it’ll ensure that your reception won’t be remembered for the wrong reasons!) It could be someone who you know and trust. Or it could be someone involved in professional wedding planning.
Let me know if you have any other tips for creating a memorable wedding reception by leaving me a comment below. What did you do at your own wedding? And have you ever been to a wedding that really stood out from the rest? I’d love to hear about them!
This article is a sponsored collaboration. The pink links in the content indicate a sponsored link or information source. The blog post reflects my own experience and the sponsor hasn’t had any control over my content 🙂
