Amaze Your Guest with a Truly Unique Wedding Reception
By Jen Carter
Finding a stunning unique wedding reception location is a huge part of establishing your wedding theme.
Since the reception generally follows the theme you've carefully established in your stationary and ceremony, you'll typically want to plan it around the same ideas, though this isn't written in stone.
Regardless, aim to make the reception a place to 'let loose' ... and let go of any stiffness or ultra-formality you might have seen in the ceremony.
Unique wedding receptions usually begin with an unusual, creative location. A drab and lackluster venue, no matter how well it's decorated, probably won't 'wow' your guests. But a unique setting will inspire you to create wonderful ideas, 'break out of the box' ... and create something totally your own.
No matter where you choose to host your reception, there are essential details you need to look after when planning:
1. Weather / Environment — is the wedding reception inside or out?
2. Setup — Is this a non-traditional location? Will it have enough power for the entertainment? Enough parking space for guests? Also consider distance — most guests don't want to drive into the deep woods to attend your reception.
3. Cleanup, setup — Most 'traditional' wedding reception venues have cleanup in place. Be sure to ask about this when selecting the venue. Otherwise, you may need to draw on family and friends to help with this aspect.
4. Theme — Does the location fit the theme you chose for your wedding. Keep in mind, you don't need a wedding theme, but it does help keep things on track.
5. Wow Value — Does the location invoke 'wows' from friends? Take a small group of friends there, and ask them what they think.
Truly Unique Wedding Reception Locations
Cleared corn fields. Now don't laugh! I've seen a stunning Western wedding theme done up perfectly in a cornfield clearing. Complete with rented gazebos, a fire pit and a country-western band for entertainment, the event went off perfectly.
Sports Venues. Why not host your reception at your favorite sports venue, if you're a sports fan? Theme the reception with football, golf or baseball favors.
High Rise Roof. A wedding reception on the top of a city skyscraper can be both exhilarating and memorable, although this might be on the 'pricy side' depending on where you live.
More common wedding reception locations include barns, gardens / display gardens, ranches, beaches. Since the wedding reception is only limited by your imagination, take the time to sit down and really brainstorm some great ideas. It'll be well worth it in the end!
Jen Carter is owner of
My Wedding Blog, a free wedding planner. The above article is found in our wedding receptions category.
wedding venues, unique wedding venues
My dauhter is getting married in August, she loves the ostridge feathers, decorator said it is a winter decoration, is that true? also, she wants what she wants for her dinner buffet, her aunts telling her heavey food is not good in August. she does flowers and interior design, but she is hurting my girls feelings with her do’s and don’ts, Clearity on these two concerns would be helpful.
Roz,
If you have a decorator that will not work within your tastes, then it is wise to find one that will. Feathers are not only for winter they are for vintage weddings and other seasons. August is a odd month and falls in between main summer and borderlining fall. She should choose the food she wants whether light or heavy. Clearly, the bride needs to say firmly that she wants the weddign to suit the vision on her mind and dreams. The bride should always go with what she loves or she will look back and not be happy. Which we dont want. If you need my help I will be more than happy to help the bride have HER day not someone elses.
Roz, I work in the wedding planning business and help brides every day with their wedding planning. Everyone has a different opinion in what is okay and whats not. Who’s to say who is right. Sadly enough I see those types of things rip brides and their mothers apart. It is heart breaking to watch a bride and her mom walk out of the showroom in tears because of a difference of opinion, when this is supposed to be planning for such a joyous day.
Unless your daughter is trying to have her wedding featured in a wedding magazine or something, who cares if “technically” feathers are a winter thing or food is heavy… she should do what she and her fiance want. (provided it doesn’t have anything to do with the budget, then those decisions really have to be made with the budget payer in consideration of course.) I have never heard of either of those Don’t but thats not to say that its not “what’s in style now”. That changes like the weather.
After all it is their wedding and their memories. Besides not many people are even familiar with those kind of do’s and don’ts so most people wouldn’t even pick up on it. All they will remember is if they had an enjoyable time and how happy the newlyweds are. (Untill it comes to the do’s and don’ts that will offend people like not sending a “thank you” note for wedding gifts or things like that, don’t worry about the other technicalities.) Let the bride and groom have the memories that they want. After all, you never want to have regrets because your never gonna get to do that day over again.
Maybe someone other than the bride can sit down with the Aunt and explain that the advise is really appreciated but the bride really has her heart set on certain things and is okay with the wedding being different than Main Stream thinking. So to please not be offended if the bride only implements some of her great advise. If the Aunt really cares about the bride (which is sounds like she does or she wouldn’t be trying to help out like she is.) than she will understand and respect the request.
Im having problems on the color theme i wanted like the colors that was on the page with the purple and greens . any advice on how i would do that with the brides maids dresses? When it comes to picking them out do I buy them or do I have the girls buy them . im probably making this harder than it seems but im just lost right now and dont even know what theme to do as well. can anyone suggest or help me
Su
Sunny Decker,
Sure. The girls buy the dresses and accessories. If I could get a look at your venue link or pic, I would love to help further.
My fiance is not keen on receptions that follow the traditional flow. He and I would like to have some kind of activity to do at the reception (like paintball, mini-golf or laser tag) other than dance, but naturally I also want to have the traditional dances there too (bride/father, bride/groom, groom/mother). Is there any way to put a fun activity into the reception without it seeming really weird? Also, I am trying to consider the older guests that will be there. I want them to have fun doing something different but not strenuous. Ideas?
laser tag bride,
I saw a wedding once that was outdoors. it had a tv playing movies- set up for the kids and a station for them to make their own sundaes, all with supervison of course. It had a hayride for anyone interested, also all the traditional aspects like the outdoor dancing etc. There were outdoor games like, badminton, horseshoes, croquet. One other wedding had a mini bowling strip. I do love the mini golf idea too. Even a softball or volleyball game has been known to happen at some weddings. The sky is the limit and I love it! It gives guests a chance to really have a great time!
* links
Laser Tag bride,
FOr more on this google: mystery theater wedding
I forgot to mention a scavenger hunt would be fun. Or if you can hire a group to do a mystery theater. talk about fun!!! This would be a neat way to involve all ages, as long as it is appropriate of course. Unless you did a mystery theater, whodunnit, with the adults while the kiddos were busy in their activites. You coudl even centralize your wedding around a mystery theatre, theme and all. Like the 20′s etc.
My bro is getting married in June – this is the 2nd marriage for both bro and his fiance. I will be hosting a bridal shower in May. They have requested I include an enclosure card with the invitations requesting gift cards from a local home improvement store as they are renovating an older home on a pay as you go basis. They don’t need anything else for housekeeping. Any suggestions for tactful ways to “word” their special request.
TIA!
cris, hi!! i just answered another bride with a a similar issue. I wouldnt add it to the invites or request what kind of gifts the guests should buy. it is rude. you can have your family and friends spread the word. i just read some posts on this type issue and many said they would be offended if this was presented, guests giving gifts is optional. but there are mixed emotions about this type of shower. talk with other family and friends and see what their take is on this. if noones minds then have a gift card/recipe shower as stated below. i hope these links help!! good luck!
*My Shower
*Invitation Etiquette
*How do you politely ask for gift cards for wedding presents?
*Ask Rosemary
*Bridal Shower Theme Ideas
*stacey reply to kristina ( scroll down and i would prefer this approach to your dilemma, ask the stores to add gift card option to your registry is possible)
We are wanting to have a Renaissance Recepton any ideas? We want it to be lots of fun.
Hi Chaka! Try heading over to Shannbrite Designs and scroll down the page until you hit “Bridesmaids/Newsletters.” HTH!
Hello, does anyone have a letter that you used to send out to your wedding party and individuals that are part of the ceremony? This letter would include the details of the wedding, the expectations, etc. Help!
Jessica,
How fun! You could have each pair in the wedding party dress as a famous couple. Frankestein and his bride, Barbie and Ken, Marc Anthony and Cleopatra. Or you could do a classic Transylvania theme. Have someone be the mummy, Dracula, the warewolf, Frankestien, and goulie ghost.
Alright two questions, first my rehearsal dinner is on Halloween and I’m trying to come up with a theme for the bridal party to dress up as. Any good/funny ideas? Second I’m wondering if anyone knows where I can purchase or rent chair covers for less then the normal $2.75/ea rental cost?
Jessica I know you posted this a while ago, but my rehearsal dinner is also on Halloween and we are doing “Snow white and the 7 dorks” My fiance and I are being Snow White and Prince Charming and the bridal party are dressing up as dorky dwarfs. Everyone else involved is encouraged to participate by being any other disney character or dork.
I am getting married in August and my problem are the placecards. Every wedding I go the place cards are on the table in alphabetical order, and people get bothered by the person in front who is taking tlong to find their name. Does anyone have any creative suggestions on seating the guest?
Let them seat themselves. I have been to, literally, over a hundred weddings and I like to seat myself the best. It allows me the option of sitting by people I like or not sitting by people who annoy me..like my aunt.
In regards to your friends Party (or no party). I understand where people would feel a little “used” if invited to 2 parties (where they had to brind a gift) and no wedding but could you consider it an “after the fact” bachelorette party? That way all her close friends can still get together and have a party but it will be totally different then the party that she is throwing in March. That way too you can only invite the close friends (and the ones that really don’t mind giving 2 gifts either way) but not make anyone else feel slighted that they weren’t invited to both parties. People that wouldn’t understand most likely wouldn’t want to go to the bachelorette party anyway. – EVERY girl needs her bachelorette party whether it is before the wedding or after. (I just might skip the whole striper thing since its after the fact. LOL)
Can someone please help me? Do we throw a shower or is it in poor taste for the invitees.
My friend has decided to get married rather quickly and the wedding is in about 5 weeks. She is not inviting any friends, FAMILY only. Then she will be having a party in March when everyone is invited. Some friends and I were talking about throwing her a Jack and Jill shower in January. However, I had some people tell me that is not the correct etiquette to invite people to a shower after a wedding they weren’t invited to, before a party where they will most likely bring a gift. Dilema? A little help?
I’d like to have a winter wedding. Any ideas????
We are planning a pink and black fall wedding,we wanted it to be nothing anyone would expect and pink is my signature color!!No one will expect that for fall wedding either,we hope that they believe they will be walking into a fall colored wedding!!Suprise:P
I say SKIP the favors!!!
Most of them are cheap and end up just getting thrown away anyways. I think I have only ever used or kept 2 of them (one was homemade soap by the bride’s sister) for the many dozens of wedding I have been to. I am skipping favors and having snacks during the dancing at the reception instead. Mixed nuts, trail mix and truffles to keep everyone’s energy up for dancing all night! And for a sort of “favor” everyone is getting a fun photo of my fiancé and myself that says “Thank you” which we will sign and has our wedding date on it.
I’m still debating on chair covers. May just buy some wholesale rolls of fabric and tie them onto the backs of the chairs.
I agree with everyone else that the chair covers can really set a wedding off just right. I actually work for a wedding rental supply company. We rent those white chair covers, sashes, colored table linens, center piece mirrors, and pillars amongst many other wedding items. The chair covers can be very reasonable in price if you are covering a folding chair. (once you get into a banquet style chair, the covers go up drastically in price.) We rent ours for around $3.50 each.
Another really nice option that is becoming huge with brides now a days is linen overlays. They can be very reasonable in price and add an awsome spice to the table. A lot of halls or caterers provide white linens for the tables already. So why not throw on a small square overlay in your wedding color of choice to tie in a formal unique look to set your reception apart from everyone elses out there. One other option is the chair sash. The sash is so versital that you can decorate many things with that one little swatch of fabric. We tie them around chairs (many different ways), we tie them around centerpieces (to hide ugly potters or just add the right color) we run them across the middle of tables to act as a table runner, we even pin them around the edge of the head table skirt to cover the top gathered frilliness of the skirting (some of our brides don’t like all the skirt fluff at the top). There are so many things you can do with those cool little sashes, and we rent them for only $1.00. So depending on where you live and the rental stores in your area, it may be worthing checking out to add a more colorful formal touch but yet still keeping it in a reasonable budget.
A friut and cheese display would be a good idea.I’m getting married in July 2007 and am having the fruit and cheese display put out for guest arriving at the reception site before we finish pictures.Since it’s at home,you can set up a table with some trays that you can make yourself or purchase at any local grocery store deli.Good Luck!!!
hey i’m doing a butterfly themed wedding with pink and either teal or turquoise the reception is going to be in my small hometown at a elks farm but the wedding will be in a church i would really like to release live butterflies but i do not know how too incorpate them since we will be indoors after we say our vows this will only be about a dozen cause i am on a budget but it is pretty inportant to me even if its only 12 it would be to honor my fiances grandmother and also my sister that passed away this past sept. our wedding will be this sept. any suggestions on how to make this work or to honor them in some other way thanks for any ideas
My son is getting married in August. They are planning a small wedding/reception in Philidelphia. My son has a TON of friends that will not be able to make it to the wedding, so we are planning a “party” the week before. We cannot do it the week after, as they are both teachers and thier jobs will start after they get back from the honeymoon. We don’t want to “out do” the reception following the “garden” wedding (It will be beautiful) but would like this more of a fun, let your hair down gathering. Also…what should we call this? HELP. P.S. Can you tell I’m a first time MIL to be???
I really like the chair cover idea too. Where can I find the white cover material for the chairs? I’ll be having a red themed rustic(not cowboy style) style wedding on my parents long and narrow backyard. I need to keep it under a very small budget too.
Help me please? Thank you! We’re getting married on July 7th.
Thank You
HELP!!! Pls. 8-| We are planning on getting married on a Yacht, I live in NY (Bronx). The yacht will leave from a pier in Manhattan. Our guests are coming in from many places so I though a NYC theme would be cool. They’d get a cruise around the Hudson River taking in the views. Another thing, I want to honor my mother by using her favorite color in our wedding(She loves Sage). In my MIL’s honor I’ll be using her favorite flower (Roses). So now I’m having a hard time putting all this together so it will look like “A” THEME not mish mashed together!
So I have a NYC Yacht Wedding in Nov. 07. Our colors are SAGE and CHAMPAGNE and the flowers of choice are cream colored roses. Any ideas on how to tie it all together?
P.S. Have no clue on the favors!!!
We are having an outdoor wedding in June with reception following right
after. Any ideas what guests can do while bride & groom are getting some pictures taken right after wedding. Both wedding & reception will be at our home.
I agree. The covered chairs are very easy yet elegant.
hey i really like the whole chair coevr idea, it is so adorable