A wedding is a timeless celebration of love when two people commit to each other, in front of family and friends, forever. It is a time of love, honor, and tradition. For centuries, weddings have been a joining of families and lives for the better. Weddings today are part serious ceremony and part raucous party. There’s no right or wrong way to have your wedding; it’s what you want it to be and what you can afford. There are some key elements of a great wedding reception, though, that will make yours memorable and amazing.
Get the Guests Involved
Every guest attending the wedding and reception is there for you. You invited them because, for one reason or another, they occupy a place in your heart. Make them feel special beyond the receiving line. Engage everyone at the reception and thank them personally for being there. Once everyone settles in at the reception, give them something to bring them into the celebration, beyond their “funky” dance moves. Let’s face it—some people don’t belong on the dancefloor. Have disposable cameras on the tables or create a unique Snapchat geofilter for the event or make mad libs for the tables. There are hundreds of different games and activities, so pick out some fun ones that involve everyone.
Set the Mood with Music
Music and wedding receptions go hand-in-hand. No reception will be good without music playing all night long. You can hire a band, a DJ, or play your own tunes, but however you do it, make sure it’s appropriate. Hiring a DJ is the best bet for the money, because they serve as Emcee for the night, can take requests, and know when to put on the dinner music and when to crank it up to get people dancing. Take something off your plate and enjoy the night by delegating that responsibility. The music is the soundtrack of your dream wedding, so make sure it’s what you want to hear.
Select the Perfect Venue
The venue for the reception will set the tone for the entire night. As soon as guests arrive, they will see the room and decorations, and the tone for the night will be set. The biggest factor in the venue is size. You must have a room that is large enough to accommodate all the guests comfortably. No one wants to sit in a cramped, stuffy room for hours. If you aren’t in love with the room’s décor, make it your own with table decorations, curtains, and slip-on chair covers. There are lots of different, inexpensive tricks you can employ to make the room unique to your wedding day.
