Wedding Reception Checklist for a Flawless Evening
A wedding takes a great deal of planning and, for many couples, the evening reception is super-important when it comes to ending your event on a high. In this article therefore, we’re sharing our essential wedding reception checklist for a flawless evening.
The anatomy of a wedding
A wedding is generally made up of a number of different sections and these are:
- The ceremony
- The drinks reception
- The wedding breakfast
- The evening reception
All of these things need to be planned carefully to ensure that the day and evening flow beautifully and your venue will usually be able to help you to achieve this.
Your evening wedding reception checklist
In most cases, the evening reception will be less formal than the daytime proceedings – but that’s not to say that proper planning isn’t essential. In this section, we’ll take you step by step through the essential wedding reception checklist for a flawless evening.
The numbers game
First things first, you need to figure out how many guests will be attending your evening reception. Lots of couples choose to invite extra guests to their evening do (largely due to number limitation for the actual wedding). This is a good way to include those who you could not invite to the whole shebang; however, sticking to one list for the entire day and evening makes things simpler and more intimate.
No kidding
If children are included in your guest list, you need to be mindful of the fact that they are likely to become tired therefore they – and their parents – may leave early. This is something to keep in mind if you’re planning something special for the latter part of the evening. Also, if kids are among your guests, it’s a good idea to provide toys or games to keep them occupied.
The food of love
As with most types of celebration, you will want to provide food for your guests during the evening reception. Most couples choose to keep things simple here by providing a buffet for people to help themselves to. It’s usually best to instruct your venue or caterer to bring out the buffet around the middle of the evening in order to keep guests fueled for all that dancing !
If alcohol is to be served at your wedding, some choose to have an open bar; however, depending on how many guests you have, this can become extremely expensive. Instead, you may want to allow guests one free drink with any more to be paid for at the bar.
Music and dancing
A party isn’t a party without music and, traditionally, the newlyweds will book a DJ to keep those toes tapping throughout the night. Some, however, prefer a live band to add a special touch to the evening. Before booking your DJ or band, be sure to check with your venue for rules such as finishing time for music or special requirements ie acoustic bands only. When sourcing music for your evening, your venue will usually be able to make a recommendation but, if not, always be sure to check reviews – and the small print – before booking a DJ or a band. Your entertainer(s) will generally require soft drinks and snacks during the evening so don’t forget to make your venue aware of this.
First dance
The newlyweds first dance is an important ritual as it signifies the couple’s first dance together as husband and wife. This is normally the first song of the evening which is chosen by the bride and groom. Always ensure that your band or DJ knows the song that you have chosen and either has a copy of it or has rehearsed it. Some couples then choose to have a mother / daughter or mother / son dance directly after the first dance. During these special dances, guests should not be permitted onto the dance floor.
Best foot forward
Your wedding guests will be turning up to your special day in their gladrags and, for the ladies, this will often include high heeled shoes. Many couples like to provide a box of flip flops for the ladies to change into so that they’re more comfortable (particularly for dancing) and these can be found cheaply either online or in stores such as Primark.
A photo finish
So, so far we have food, music and something for the little ones. Lots of couples also like to add a fun element to the evening such as a photo booth with props. These can add a great touch to your wedding – but you may want to appoint a bridesmaid or groomsman to keep an eye on things as any damage caused will be coming out of your pocket !
A little something
As we’ve mentioned, you may choose to invite extra guests to your evening reception. While you will probably have gifted wedding favours to your day guests, you may also want to give these to your extra evening guests too as a thank you for sharing in your special day.
Perfect planning for a flawless evening
There’s a lot to think about when planning your evening wedding reception and so preparation is key. To ensure that things run smoothly, liaise with the staff at your venue and make sure that your guests know what’s expected of them during the proceedings such as what time to arrive and, just as importantly, what time they will be required to leave!