Wedding Receptions

Even though your wedding ceremony is the most important part of the day, since it is, after all, the time when you really do become a united couple legally and maybe religiously as well, it's the wedding reception - the celebration of this event - that people really look forward to after you say "I do".

After the ceremony, the stress is relieved substantially.

Everybody who was supposed to do so has showed up (or not), the vows have been said, the rings have been exchanged and now it's time to party and, in our own particular way, bless the newly married couple.

I distinctly remember the stress sliding off my shoulders at the end of my daughter's marriage ceremony the moment the priest introduced the newlyweds to all of us assembled at the church.

Walking into the church with my daughter, all I could think about was my baby girl and how incredible it was that I was walking her down the aisle to her soon-to-be husband and how could that have happened already?

Walking back out of the church after the ceremony, I had a new son-in-law, it was all good, and it was time to celebrate.

Now, I thought, it's time for laughing and hugging and looking forward to a good meal and a great party with all of our friends and family - old and new!

There was still a great deal to see to, but the whole tone of the day changed after the ceremony and became less uptight and more fun. There was lots of laughter and congratulations and hugs and wonderful "warm fuzzies" circulating amongst the group assembled.

A perfect feeling.

In most cases, the church or officiant has definite ideas and rules about how the ceremony is to proceed and there is very little input required by the participants for this part of the day, as compared to the reception. Wedding receptions are the part of the day that requires the most time for which to plan and to prepare.

There are many things to consider when planning wedding receptions. Just below are the things that I'm planning to help you with. Each of the categories on the following list will link to their own page (in time). Please follow the links for more information on....

1) Reception Venues: Choosing your wedding reception venue is going to be one the major decisions that will need to be made on this whole wedding journey. If you've read this website's section called "Basic Rules", you'll know that, when it's time to decide about where the wedding reception is going to be held, you'll need to be realistic about your reception venue. Here's more information on the right venue

2) Guest Books & Displays: In this segment about wedding receptions, we're going to talk a little bit about Wedding Guest Books and Displays. One of the cardinal rules when planning a wedding reception is that you must remember the wants and needs of your guests... more about Guest books and displays here.

3) Receiving Lines & Welcoming Guests: We've reached the day of the wedding. The bride and groom have become a married couple. The tension falls away. Now let the wedding celebration begin! Start your wedding reception off on the right foot... more about Receiving Lines right here.

4) Wedding Seating Plan: So you didn't freak out (too much) when you received the estimate for the food and bar costs from the caterers. You saw the price tag on your daughter's wedding gown and after a brief hiatus, your heart resumed beating in its regular rhythm. The wedding invitations had to be more about Wedding Seating Plans right here.

There is more information on the following coming shortly.

Wedding gifts and where to put them
Decorations, cakes and centerpieces
Food
Drinks
Photographs and Photographers
Programs
Master of ceremonies
Speeches and toasts
Music and dancing
Special dances
Cutting the cake, throwing the bouquet and garter and other traditions
Changing clothes
Bonbonniere
Plan for guests who shouldn't drive home
Cleaning up

From wedding receptions back to home page.