Wedding Reception Essentials

The wedding ceremony is a solemn occasion and should be observed with reverence and a degree of decorum, but the wedding reception is a joyous and gala celebration. Eat, drink, laugh, dance; this is your party! This is your wedding reception. Unique wedding reception, simple wedding, elegant reception - the choice is all yours.

Reception Planning

One of the first things you will want to accomplish when beginning the reception planning is to establish a reception theme that compliments the overall wedding theme. Is this going to be a fall wedding or a winter wedding or a beach wedding? Are you having an outdoor reception, such as a beach reception or a garden reception? Once you begin thinking about your wedding style the reception ideas will fall into place.

Reception Decorations

The wedding cake with its wedding cake topper is always the focal point of the reception table decorations. Here is the place for a beautiful wedding serving set and graceful toasting flutes and small floral bouquets that don’t upstage the wedding cake.

The smaller wedding reception tables provided for your guests give an opportunity for you to expand on your wedding decorating ideas. The wedding tables will usually have a centerpiece that has wedding candles and/or flowers. The reception centerpieces can be as traditional or as unique as you wish. Be sure to think about what kind of reception accessories you want to place on each table. Wedding place cards will help your guests find their places at the reception tables and can often be combined with a wedding favor to save money. Personalized napkins are a nice touch and lately, couples have often placed a single-use wedding camera on each table so guests can take candid photos of the wedding reception.

Other Wedding Accessories

If it is your area’s custom to have dollar dance you might want to consider having an elegant moneybag to hold the money during and after the dance. Money boxes or card boxes are also a good idea to have on the gift table for guests who wish to give money or gift cards.

Some couples invite guests to the reception who were not invited to the wedding ceremony. In this case it is important to remember to have a guest book and pen close to the entrance for guests to sign.

Departure and Send off

Throwing rice is no longer accepted because it is harmful to birds. For a short time birdseed was used, but it seemed to cause weeds to grow in lawns. Now most couples are choosing to use little individual bottles of wedding reception bubbles or provide wedding bells for the guests to ring.