My-Wedding-Guide.com
The Wedding Reception
Wedding Reception TimelineCocktail Reception / Pre-ReceptionBy beginning your reception with cocktails or a pre-reception period, your guest will have the chance to locate and gather at the reception hall, deposit their gifts, and mingle with other guests. This time can be used by the photographer to take portraits of the wedding party.Receiving LineThe bridal couple opens the reception area with a receiving line. This ensures that the bridal couple has the opportunity to greet each guest individually during the festivities. The reception line traditionally includes the bridal couple, the couples' parents, the best man, the maid-of-honor, and any special guests.Introduction of the Wedding PartyOnce the guests are inside the reception hall, the wedding party is then introduced by the master of ceremonies. The groomsmen and bridesmaids are introduced first, then the flower girls, ring bearer, the parents, and the bridal couple.BlessingOptional but often added by religious couples. If you invite the person who performed the marriage ceremony to the reception, I would recommend having them conduct the blessing. If they are not able to attend, a parent or family friend is a good idea. Lastly, the master of ceremonies could give the meal blessing. Be sure to communicate with whomever is giving the blessing in advance so they are prepared to give a personal touch.ToastsThe best man will then make the first toast, followed by the maid-of-honor, the father-of-the-groom and the father-of-the-bride. The bridal couple may choose to make a speech thanking the guests for coming, the parents for paying, and anything else they may wish to say.The Meal is ServedDuring this time, the bride and groom may eat or else they can mingle and make informal visits to each table. Guests may make speeches and/or planned or impromptu gestures of affection and goodwill toward the bridal couple.DancingTraditionally, the bride and groom have their first dance after the food is served. After the bride and groom dance, there is the father/daughter dance, then the mother/son dance. Then the attendants may join in the dancing and the guests are invited to dance as well.Alternately, the you may choose to have to previous dancing take place immediately after the bride and groom are introduced to the reception area. This allows for the guest to dance while others are waiting in the buffet line and eliminates the lull that so often happens prior to eating. Cake CuttingThe bride and groom cut the cake for dessert. Additional toasts may be made at this point.Bouquet and Garter TossMore Dancing, if time allows.Departure of the Bridal CoupleTraditional throwing of confetti, bubbles, birdseed, or rice.Guests Depart
Planning an Outdoor ReceptionHosting your reception outdoors can be a lot of fun for you and your guests. When you host your reception outdoors you have a lot of options as to how you want things to be. The only downside to doing this is whether or not the weather conditions will permit it. Because of this your reception and its success is often at the hands of Mother Nature. Other than that, it may be the best decision that you could make. Outdoor receptions give you an endless supply of ideas and freedom in how your reception will be handled. The best thing is that you can host an outdoor reception at a hall or beautiful grounds, or you can do so in your own back yard. There are many ways that you can make an outdoor reception easy to plan, cheaper to pay for, and a great deal of fun. Of course, there are small formalities that go with it as well. You have to start with a thorough to do list when planning an outdoor reception because this will keep your affairs in order. When creating your list, you have to consider having a contingency plan. The reason for this is to accommodate bad weather conditions that may prohibit your reception from taking place at all. Or having your reception ruined due to a thunderstorm or severe winds. Outdoor reception to do List :
|
The sky is the limit when it comes to planning your wedding reception. Even when you are working on a budget, you can have a wonderful reception. It really doesn’t matter how small your budget is for the reception because all budgets can be accommodated. Your reception allotment should consist of approximately 30-40% of your wedding budget or more. Most wedding receptions are so expensive due to the fact of providing meals, decorations, hall rentals etc. Still, you have a variety of options when deciding what type of reception to have.