What follows your wedding ceremony is one of the most anticipated events of the day: the wedding reception. Like other newlyweds, you want to fill it with significant (and quirky) events that your guests won’t forget for many years to come.
To help you create an extra special wedding reception with a well-planned order of events, we gathered this simple yet effective guide for you. By ticking off this list, you’ll have a memorable and entertaining wedding reception that will have you saying, “We wouldn’t have it any other way,” with your guests repeating, “We sure did have the time of our lives that day!”
Book a reception venue.
Consult your wedding coordinator or browse online to find the most suitable reception venue to match your dream wedding reception plans. Decide if you’ll have an indoor or outdoor reception. You can select from various event spaces, ballrooms, galleries, and gardens across Canada. Perhaps you have a free room at home you can use as your venue, especially with a short guest list?
Whatever the size of your wedding venue, select somewhere that can accommodate your needs. Choose it with your guests’ convenience in mind as well. Ideally, the restrooms should be fully functional, clean, and well ventilated. If you choose an outdoor celebration, have an alternate plan in case of rain (your guests will detest getting drenched)—like renting tents and other space-covering alternatives.
Plan your approach to your décor and style.
Formal sit-down dinners might be the most popular reception type, but you can select your wedding theme based on your lifestyle if you want yours to be more unique. You can go from artsy, coffee-obsessed, bookish, vintage, historic, trendy, and vibrant to a minimalist theme.
Selecting your preferred wedding decorations can also be tricky because they will make or break your venue enhancement and overall theme impact.
You can use string lights or paper lanterns for a romantic ambiance with simple centrepieces. For a sweet effect, you can hang flowers. You can even set up a cozy lounge area for your guests to relax.
Finalizing your decorative items is not complicated if you have already laid out your preferred details. You also have to consult with the event contractor to make sure that they allow installing your desired decorations in the venue. If you need to rent chairs, furniture, tents, etc., find a trusted rentals supplier near you.
Finalize the seating plan.
Before your wedding ceremony takes place, one of the most essential parts is to confirm the number of guests present. This should be determined to ensure that the wedding reception venue can accommodate each guest and all can comfortably sit.
This will also make it easier for you to create a seating plan. You can opt to place cards with the guests’ names on the table so that they can seamlessly find their seats upon entering the venue. Another thing you can do is to list each group of people who will be seatmates. You can then put up each group’s cards on a table or board found at the venue entrance (and make it stylish as well).
Organize your menu.
While all the parts mentioned above are the essentials of capturing a dream wedding reception, another vital element that contributes to your reception’s success is the choice of food and beverages. To create a food and beverage menu that will wow your guests, you can attend food tasting events. You can list your top choices for tasty and unique hors d’oeuvres, entrée(s), appetizers, side dishes, desserts, etc. As for the beverages, you can choose from soft drinks, champagne, wine, liquor, or all.
If needed, you can hire a trusted team of caterers offering premium services for wedding catering in Toronto. Also, confirm your meal plan and other additional instructions and give your caterer the final headcount.
Plan how your guests can arrive at the venue.
Not all of your guests have personal vehicles. To provide them comfort and convenience, you can hire a tour vehicle rental company that offers services like wedding coach rentals and private tours in Toronto. You can make sure that your guests will not get lost from the reception venue in this way and have a safe trip.
If you have lots of friends who have personal vehicles, you can even ask them for favours to give your other guests a hitch. Also, to provide them with the exact location of the wedding after-party, you can include route information along with the invitation cards you distribute.
Capture real moments with a talented film crew.
An experienced photographer must be around the venue to capture every special moment on your wedding day. It is worth the money when you look for services in wedding videography in Hamilton. You can rest easy knowing that you will record your special day’s most emotional and entertaining events. In addition, you can guarantee quality and professionally taken pictures! After all, each moment of your wedding should be captured and remembered beautifully.
Keep the party vibrant with entertainment activities.
For couples who don’t know a wedding reception timeline based on culture and tradition, we recommend you conduct research or ask your host and wedding coordinator for input. From your first dance, bouquet toss, to the last call announcement, you must let loose and enjoy the rest of the evening. And what better way to do that than hiring an expert, witty, and engaging host and DJ! This is also imperative to keep your reception well-organized.
Make sure to provide your guests with not just delectables but also entertainment that will keep the party alive! You can plan for a dance showdown or opt for a liquor drinking contest (with a controlled liquor intake since you must avoid lousy incidents). Give your guests something to cheer and laugh about by having them participate in some quirky, naughty, or traditional games. It is also necessary to communicate all these details with your event planner.
Prepare customized giveaways to thank your guests.
Your wedding reception will mark you and your partner’s new milestone, but it is equally significant that you show your gratitude to your guests for celebrating it with you. One of the most thoughtful ways to show them your appreciation is to give them customized gifts before they exit the wedding venue. On top of your thank-you speech, you can hold a receiving line to greet and thank your guests personally.
Photobooths are a hit nowadays, so you can also consider installing one at your reception. This is a fun and candid way to capture their experience on your wedding day with a photo remembrance they can bring home.
Conclusion
Every wedding reception is different in that they are tailored according to the couple’s preferences in terms of theme, location, food, and activities included. To guarantee that you and your partner get what you want can be as tricky as giving your guests the ultimate wedding reception experience, so prepare it well to highlight and end your big day with a bang. Most importantly, hire a team of reliable florists, caterers, photographers, stationers, and planners to give you, your partner, and your guests a wedding reception featuring unique, festive, and memorable moments—with all of you leaving in high spirits.