Wedding Reception

Wedding Reception
 
After the wedding ceremony, this is where you will entertain your family and friends who will be helping you celebrate your most special day.
 
By now you will have decided on your wedding theme and going by this, you will be able to select several suitable reception venues.
 
Most venues have a coordinator who handles all the function arrangements. and you will need to make an appointment as these people do get very busy.
 
The coordinators will be able to provide you with times and dates that they have available, menus, prices, details regarding the bar and drinks and give you a very good idea of how the room can be set up.  You may have an idea of the approximate number of guests but at this stage it is not all that important.  You are on a fact finding mission with this first round.
 
The things you will be looking for are

• The color scheme, will it be suitable with your theme?
• Table linen, china, cutlery, glasses, will they charge extra for the napkins to match your theme?
• Chairs, are the chair covers included or are they an extra cost?
• Dance floor, enough room for your guests to dance and have a good time?
• Room for a band or DJ?
• Can you reserve the room for the whole time and not have to rush your guests out early?

 
These are just some of the things you need to be asking, I’m sure you will think of more.  It is a good idea to have your lists ready, one for each venue so you can compare them later. 
 
Be careful you don’t get carried away with a view, a grand foyer or a majestic driveway leading to beautiful entrance.  The more important aspects are on the inside.
 
If you are able to add special touches, you will have such wonderful memories of your special day.  Things like
 

• Arranging the tables for ease of conversation, round ones work better that long banquet styles.
• The bridal table is often best in the shape of a U, that way it is easy for the guests to approach the bridal couple.
• The biggest impact for your wedding reception room will be the tables, the cloths, napkins, cutlery, glasses, centerpieces, candles.
• Check for the above to see if you need to add extra to the budget to cover the hire of table lined etc.
• Candles do add a sparkle to the room, check the burning time, the gel candles are very good so try a few different styles and sizes.
• Check if the venue looks after the table centerpieces and if you can choose the style, otherwise arrange with your florist or maybe make up something in your theme yourself.
• Plan if you are going to greet your guests which means you will need an area for the receiving line or if you are going to arrive at the reception after the guests so you will be announced as Mr and Mrs  and make a grand entrance.
• Have a plan of how the reception will go, like pre dinner drinks, whether the meal is sit down or buffet, when the cake cutting will be, the bridal bouquet and garter tossing, speeches, how many and the spacing throughout the evening, music, dancing etc.
• Check with the wedding photographer as to if they are going to stay for the whole reception and continue photographing throughout the night or will they take the necessary photos after you arrive at the reception and before the night begins.

 
Keep a record of everything, planning the little things and taking care of the detail will ensure less stress and no panic at the last minute.
 
You can allocate jobs to the wedding attendants and this will relieve you of a lot of the running around too.
 
Above all, if the planning is put in place, you will have a much more enjoyable time at your wedding reception.

Carmel Baird is a freelance writer and publisher of wedding information and resources at Creative-Wedding-Planning.com

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