You’ve spent a lot of time and money planning your dream wedding, and now your biggest concern is that people remember it. You want your guests commenting to one another that “this is the best reception I’ve ever been to!” Here are a few fun wedding reception ideas to make your reception stand out.
1. Create a Fun Playlist
The best way to get people to have a good time is to play the right music. And the best way to do that is to dip into the oldies. Yes the electric slide and conga are a little cheesy, but can you think of anything better than seeing your 80 year old Grandma bust into the Cha Cha?
2. Create Memorable Photo Opportunities
If you’ll be dishing out thousands of dollars for a photographer, you should create unique photo opportunities for them to take advantage of! One great idea is to order sparklers. Give them out to about 20-40 of your guests and have them all lit while you and your significant other pose underneath them. It makes for a fun moment for your guests, and for your wedding album. Photo courtesy of Sparkle.
3. Creative Table Cards
Creating fun, unique table cards is a great way to distract your guests during any reception down times. Think out of the box, and come up with unique ways to design your table cards:
- Add poetry to them.
- Use your favorite song names instead of numbers for the tables.
- Label the tables as places you and your significant other have traveled to (or want to travel to!)
- If you are big on playing cards, why not use playing cards to number tables (we’d recommend using the Hearts suit.)
4. Prepare!
You can’t expect to have a memorable reception unless you get organized. The two key people you need to get on the same page with are your reception coordinator and your DJ.
The DJ is an easy one. Have the DJ find cool ways to do the garter toss, your entrance, etc. Make sure your playlist is fun (as stated above) and make sure you blacklist any music that you hate!
As for your reception coordinator, you should write down every little detail that you expect them to take care of (for example, when will you be cutting the cake, when is the first dance scheduled, when should the candles be lit, etc.) To save you from unneeded stress on your big day, ask a relative to get there beforehand and make sure everything is going according to plan.
5. First Dance
Taking dance lessons may not be an option for you, but that still doesn’t mean you have to bore everyone with your uneventful first dance. Take a look on YouTube and see how couples are spicing it up! Here is one of our favorites.
6. Open Bar
Finally, if you really want to make sure your guests have a good time – have an open bar. The key to breaking out everyone’s interpretation of Michael Jackson’s dance moves is alcohol. An open bar will ensure each person consumes their fare share of alcohol, and if you’re lucky, they won’t follow our etiquette guide for drunken idiots.
Disclaimer: We strongly recommend not using sparklers indoors or under tented canopies. We are a firm believer in moderate consumption of alcoholic beverages.
