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Wedding Receptions;
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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, 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... more about Reception venues
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
3) Receiving lines and welcoming guests
4) Seating plan
5) Wedding gifts and where to put them
6) Decorations, cakes and centerpieces
7) Food
8) Drinks
9) Photographs and Photographers
10) Programs
11) Master of ceremonies
12) Speeches and toasts
13) Music and dancing
14) Special dances
15) Cutting the cake, throwing the bouquet and garter and other traditions
16) Changing clothes
17) Bonbonniere
18) Plan for guests who shouldn't drive home
19) Cleaning up
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