Planning your wedding reception can take a lot of effort and it all begins with deciding on the location of the reception and the type of reception. For a more formal atmosphere, go for fine china, champagne and a three-course meal. Just don't serve anything too strong—try mimosas or fruit-infused iced teas they can sip before taking their seats (and don't forget to have nonalcoholic versions too). The average cost of having a band at your reception was $3,094. Make sure guests keep warm by offering up some cozy pashminas. From tricked-out transportation to mouthwatering midnight snacks, these unique wedding ideas for your ceremony and reception are sure to make a last impression. Southern-inspired comfort food, like shrimp and grits, chicken and waffles, and homemade bicuits are also making a comeback. And, of course, include delicious nonalcoholic breakfast beverages such as coffee (Americano, cafe au lait, espresso, cappuccino or Thai iced coffee), tea, (black, green, mint, spiced, chai, chamomile, Earl Grey and English breakfast), fresh juices, hot chocolate and fruit smoothies. Then we treated them and immediate family to dinner … Then we treated them and immediate family to dinner at a nice Italian restaurant. Therefore, the tone of the rehearsal dinner is typically very different from the tone of the wedding reception. It’s a way to have an upscale, intimate event without the expense of a wedding. The 272 Best Songs for Every Moment of Your Wedding, 9 Wedding Reception Upgrades Worth Your Budget, 14 Inappropriate First Dance Songs You May Want to Avoid, 21 Wedding Cake Cutting Songs That Aren't Overplayed, 24 Simple Wedding Decoration Ideas That'll Wow Guests, Why the Anniversary Reception Is Going to Be Huge After COVID, Everything You Need to Plan an Outdoor Wedding, 6 Creative Ways to Serve Beer at Your Wedding, 15 Awesome Entrance Songs You Might Have Overlooked. Choosing a wedding venue for your reception and ceremony tends to be the first step in the wedding planning process. After that, create a free, personalized wedding website to keep your guests informed (and excited!) Having an outdoor reception that might get breezy? If your wedding day falls during leaf-turning season, choose an ideal space where windows frame the colorful mosaic of gold and red hues. Have a decadent raw bar if you're really looking to impress. And to add a little flair, think beyond the ordinary. Close off the area with curtains to create a VIP vibe. Your first dance will be one of the highlights of your wedding, so add this extra-special touch to up the entertainment factor (and make for some serious photo ops). This alternative scheduling allows guests more time to see the exhibition in depth at their own pace, before meeting the featured guests. And the easiest way to lighten up a midday wedding dessert is to serve it with fresh fruit. Waffles, omelets, pastries and local fruit, all washed down with freshly-brewed coffee, mimosas, Bellinis and Bloody Marys—we could go on and on. Fact: Melania walked down the aisle with rosary beads. To make this great wedding reception idea come true, stuff personalized tote bags with mini bottles of bubbly or a six-pack of a local microbrew, a gift certificate to your favorite local coffee shop and an individual "Welcome!" Morning naturally sets a more mellow tone. Also, you can never go wrong with food stations, a lively (and less crowded) alternative to the standard buffet that are definitely still trending. Give guests a place to mingle between dance breaks by creating a lounge area at your reception. Or put out silver trays with engraving pens so guests can carve a lasting message on a useful keepsake for you. Are you doing a first dance or other ceremonial dances at your reception? Now that's a wedding idea that will make you feel good. ... don't replenish the wine, etc., after dinner. Book a space with a completely different vibe from your reception (like a relaxed patio bar or a karaoke club to offset a … Instead, these are wedding songs you’ll want to add to your iPod for the reception or after-party, or give to your DJ to mix in his set. Also consider the time of year. 30. If you're including wedding ceremony traditions or rituals some guests might not be familiar with, your program is the perfect place to provide explanations, whether it's the symbolism of a handfasting ceremony or the significance of the chuppah. For a Southern affair, think iced tea with lemon, peach tea, fresh strawberry or watermelon lemonade, and raspberry ginger ale punch. Even better? Parents will love you forever for this helpful and unique wedding idea. Fact: Melania walked down the aisle with rosary beads. Your liquor costs will be much lower than an evening affair, and you won't have to shell out money for a full live band (unless you want to, of course). It's the perfect way to keep everyone in on the party even when they're resting. Who doesn't love a spread of crave-worthy brunch fare? The same guidelines apply here. One creative idea we love: Create a jigsaw puzzle of your photo and let guests sign each piece. Then, post your other favorite video "confessions" on your wedding website and encourage guests to check them out in your thank-you notes. The average price to have a DJ spin your night away was about 70% cheaper, or $941 for the night. 4. Looking to give your bridal party a fresh feel? A dinner party is a social gathering at which people eat dinner together, usually in the host's home. Instead of a paper card that'll get lost or thrown away, upgrade your escort cards to something worth keeping (or eating). We've seen everything from elaborate guitars to football stadiums to armadillos to library book cakes. Brunch is best served buffet style or as a seated meal (or a combination of the two). No valets? To get the party going during the cocktail hour, look into hiring a mariachi band, a bluegrass group, or even a barbershop quartet for some seriously memorable melodies. Justine is a writer, editor, social media expert, and digital engagement specialist. To implement this fun and sophisticated wedding idea, fill the space with couches or chairs and plenty of pillows to sink into. Instead of scraping your dance altogether, why not choose a sibling or two (or all of them) and bring them out on the dance floor with you? B ack when I got married, in the distant past of 2009, if you were picking the best wedding songs for your reception, you were probably also wrangling an iPod and wondering if you were going to be able to make a bumpin’ reception happen without a high-priced DJ. A typical brunch reception will usually take place between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. For an unexpected surprise, get your dad or even your grandpa in on the act. The 46th President of the United States of America proposed five times. When choosing a brunch spot, remember to see it during the time of day you're planning your reception—ask yourself, is it dark and depressing due to a lack of windows? These "live escort cards" walk guests to their tables for an upscale restaurant experience. Does the sun beat down during the day, making the room sweltering hot? Instead, these are wedding songs you’ll want to add to your iPod for the reception or … A kind of informal wedding reception, the rehearsal dinner usually takes place the night before the wedding, just after the wedding rehearsal. to get your guests in the mood; then be sure to send them a copy of their photo in your thank-you note. When it comes to your wedding, timing is everything! Say your vows at sunrise with a breakfast spread to follow, or have a brunch-inspired reception any time of day. The only rule is that has to know enough to the younger crowd that they’re on their feet and enjoy wedding receptions dances. It’s perfectly fine to choose a few top-40 singles or even a few that haven’t hit the radio just yet. Let us know in the comments section below! You can sync your Guest List Manager and wedding website to update everything at once. Send guests home feeling taken care of by having your valets place small favors or end-of-the-night snacks in guests' cars before handing over the keys. If you play it right, your ceremony exit will be one of the most heavily photographed moments of your wedding, so forget the rose petals and birdseed. Once you have a plan for your out-of-the-box wedding reception ideas, search out the right vendors in your area to help you bring it to life. In addition or instead, a celebratory reception may be held partway through or at the end of an exhibition run. Try personalized cake pops with guests' names and table numbers written on them in icing (or on a cute tag), or engraved martini glasses that double as favors. City Hall and a Meal. The average price to have a DJ spin your night away was about 70% cheaper, or $941 for the night. You may already be planning to have your ushers escort guests to their ceremony seats, but here's a unique wedding idea: consider  reception ushers. A table topped with your engagement photos, your parents' wedding albums, and any other from-the-family artifacts would make meaningful additions. Planning on dancing until the next morning? Go light on the liquor, and if you'd like to serve it, consider offering it after some food has been eaten. Consider more abundant healthful or vegetarian offerings, like fruit yogurt, egg-white omelets, gourmet pizza, poached salmon, vegetable tarts, grilled veggie sandwiches, whole-grain baked goods and salad nicoise. Consider an omelet, French toast, crepe or pancake station (with various toppings and syrups). We scouted the Bridal Fashion Week runways to find the trends you need to know. Provide creative variations to satisfy any guests' cravings for lunch: grilled chicken salad wraps, open-face sandwiches made on homemade dill sponge bread, caprese salad and smoked salmon wraps instead of the traditional bagels and lox. Since musical entertainment is usually a big part of a wedding reception, the question is whether you'll shell out for a band or decide to save by going with a DJ. (Seriously, if your reception is a meal other than dinner, and you’re not planning on hanging out with your guests later, please build room in your budget to take yourselves out to a lovely meal somewhere.) Take a sneak peek at the hottest engagement ring trends for 2021 you can shop now—including the new "it" gemstone. This fun and sophisticated wedding idea and herbs. fun and sophisticated wedding that. Celebratory reception may be held partway through or at the hottest engagement ring trends for 2021 you can up... 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