10 Big Mistakes You Don’t Want to Make at Your Wedding Reception
Don't make the same mistakes at your wedding as so many other brides and grooms. Every bride wants a fairytale wedding — and that means navigating around the major faux pas.
Listed below are some mistakes we've seen all too often from unsuspecting brides and grooms. They're all avoidable, and we'll tell you how!
Don't leave early. Your guests came from near and far to see you on your wedding day. Not staying the whole time of the reception would be a slap in the face. This will be the only time most of your family and friends will be able to see you as you will be very busy with last minute preparations the days leading up to the wedding.
Set up all the tables. Your wedding vendors will need to know where to set up. Be sure there is a table for the wedding cake, music entertainment, catered food, sign-in near the entrance, gift table, tables and chairs for all your guests to eat and any other tables you may have planned for specialty items.
Pre-plan with your vendors a day or two before the wedding. Be sure all your wedding vendors know exactly what you want. Clarify times and location so you don't need to worry about them.
Don't arrive late to the reception. It is customary that guests do not start eating until the bride and groom start the food line. Be sure to get as many of your pictures taken BEFORE the wedding. There are many ways to accomplish this. One is to have the entire bride's family pictures taken. Then, have the bride return to the dressing room. Next, take pictures of the groom and his family as guests can see the groom before the wedding. This way you will not compromise the groom seeing the bride before the wedding. Therefore, all that is left after the ceremony are pictures of the happy couple.
Don't seat the "young at heart" directly in front of the music entertainment. Older generations are at a wedding typically to socialize with their family and friends. If they cannot hear each other talk, an unhappy situation may occur. So try to seat your older guests near the wedding party but away from the entertainer's speakers.
Don't have one particular type of music. There are many different types of people in the world. And yes, they include your family and friends. For example, the bride and groom may love country music. It doesn't mean you have to play country music the whole night. There is a lot of celebration music besides what you like.
Start the food line or meal as soon as possible. Guests plan their meal times the day of your wedding around your reception. Guest will not eat a big meal before your wedding because they know they will be eating at your reception. Don't starve them.
Know what it will cost you if the reception goes into overtime. Ask the reception facility exactly how long you have the hall to rent and what time you must be out. Please allow time for cleanup if you are the ones doing it. What is the overtime charge for the facility, music entertainment, photography, etc?
Greet and say hello to all your guests. Finally and most importantly, greet all your guests. Make an effort to have a conversation with each and every person. They are there to celebrate your marriage. Give them the common courtesy of thanking them for coming to your wedding.
Don't get drunk and obnoxious. Often, the only time brides and grooms eat during the wedding day rituals is at the wedding reception. There's not much food in your stomach and alcohol will affect you much faster. Try and eat throughout the day and watch how much you drink. You want your guests to remember how beautiful the bride looked, not how you acted.
Naomi, I am getting married in November, and for our entrance we are having a confetti cannon. I never heard of it before, but I saw it in my photographers portfolio and the photos (especially b&w) looked beautiful. We were concerned that our banquet would not allow it- but apparently the confetti are large pieces that are easily swept up.
Does anyone have any fun ideas to make a unique Grand Entrance for a wedding reception?
My boyfriend and I plan on getting married at some point- but I want a big, fabulous, extravagent wedding. How can I go that without spending a huge fortune?
I am getting married in 12 days! I have been planning the wedding & reception for about 6 months. I have been purchasing things along the way, and shopping around for the things I want so I get what I want at the best price. I have also enlisted people in my family with skills to donate their services. My nephew is doing the music, my aunt is my photographer (professional), and I rented my own chairs and the wedding/reception site. A wedding planner can be helpful but expensive. If you make a list of what needs to be done, and break that down into small manageable steps you may be able to do a lot of things yourself and save a ton of money. For me I didn’t want to pay a wedding planner $50 an hour to make phone calls to have chairs delivered, etc..I made all my own favors, with the help of my friends and family. We had a blast dong it and again saved a ton of money. For things like the cake topper, cake serving set, garters, invitations; I went every week and bought an item from Michaels craft store & used the 40% coupon they gave me on my first purchase. They give you one every time you make a purchase so for the things you can buy ahead of time it is a great money saver. I got a beautiful DIY invitation kit at Michaels’ and made my own invitations; my guests said they are one of the most beautiful invitations they have ever received. I saved so much on making them it and it was very easy, no creative skills needed. It cost me about $.85 per invitation for postage & supplies and they are gorgeous. I checked around and on average people wanted about $2.25 per invitation to do it for me. Well I have gone on and on, so I guess I am going to post this now. Best of luck to you!
Crystal Granite
Tara – just put “dressy casual” as your dress code. This tells people to be comfortable but still presentable. If they aren’t sure, they will ask:D
my fiance and i are planning an april 2008 wedding on a budget. a tight budget actually. we are doing a luau themed wedding reception and the wedding is traditional.. how would i work this into my invitations that everyone is to be comfortable for the reception with out people showing up to the wedding in board shorts and beaters? to add to it. the wedding AND the reception are in his mothers back yard (which is HUGE). but there isnt enough room for all the guests to change..
thanks,
bride-in-stress
Include a picture of you and your fiancé in your invitations wearing what you are wearing that day. I did this for a b-day luau I thru for my mom’s 60th b-day. It worked well for us. You could also put a short message in the invitations stating what you would prefer your guests to wear.
Is there any fun or creative saying to inform guest that there are no escort cards or formal seating and to go ahead and sit wherever they choose? ( I know when people first come into the reception hall they look for their escort card, so I was trying to think of a cute way to tell them their is no formal seating?)
Make sure you have somebody in charge of the cutting cake, dollar dance, first dance etc. etc. Make sure it isn’t a family member, less of a headache that way…Also, put somebody in charge of paying everybody that needs to be payed that day…