The party is here!! Receptions can be a blast! However, it’s important to make sure that you have your event well thought out. This is the job of your coordinator and your DJ/Band. Your caterer will also play a big role in the design and set up of your event. Every aspect of your reception affects the overall outline of the evening. For example, if you’re not having a plated meal, your reception will need to be set up in a way that allows movement. Guests will need to be able to find the food stations easily, and there will be a mixture of dinner tables and hightop cocktail tables. This will encourage guests to mix and mingle. If you are having a plated dinner, you will more than likely need escort cards, full place settings and space for all of your guests to be seated comfortably. Whatever the style of your event, make sure that you plan out all of the aspects of the evening. Your coordinator and DJ can help you set up the evening so that guests won’t experience long periods of waiting for the next thing to happen.
the reception
Traditional Religious Dances
Anniversary Dance
Mother/Son Dance
Father/Daughter Dance
Cake Cutting
Blessing
Toasts
Welcome by Bride's Father
First Dance
Wedding Party Intros
make the night your own
Reception Events
Much like the ceremony, you have the freedom to make your reception your own! It’s your party, it should be exactly how you want it to be! Here is a list of some key events that often happen at receptions:
Sparkler Exit
Shoe Game
Group Portraits (friends)
Bouquet/Garter Toss
It’s time to relax, dance and celebrate!! Your reception should be a blast! The last thing you need to be worrying about is your timeline. Your coordinator and DJ should take care of making sure that everything stays on schedule so that you can enjoy your night. Here are some helpful tips that will help your reception flow smoothly.
The fun has begun!
Reception Coverage
Light it up
Having your DJ use uplighting in the reception room will add so much depth to your photos. I highly recommend it!
Also consider having led wands or glow sticks for your guests to use on the dance floor!
Make it your own
Guest Consideration
Take your guests into consideration when planning your reception timeline. If you have a lot of elderly guests that will not be staying until the very end, make sure you schedule the cake cutting at a relatively early time so that they can be a part of it. Grandma’s love seeing this sweet tradition! I find it works really well to do this right after dinner, and right before any special dances.
Reception Tips
If you want to have a special dance with your grandparents, do it! Make sure your reception is a reflection of who you are and don’t feel tied to traditions. Also, make sure you give your DJ or Band a “Do Not Play” list if there are some songs you really don’t want to hear during your reception!
If you haven’t purchased enough coverage time for your photography to last until the exit, that’s ok! There are several options (see next section)! I recommend planning your timeline so that you can have at least one hour of dancing photographed. The guests who dance during the first hour will still be dancing in the third hour! One hour of dancing will be enough time to really capture the fun of your reception!
Exits! If your coverage ends before your exit, you have the option of planning a faux exit with your wedding party and immediate family (or everyone)! This is more common than you may think. Instead of saving your exit until the very end, you can plan a faux exit with just the members of your wedding party and a few family members. This allows me to have more control over these shots and the party NEVER has to stop! In most cases, no one even notices that the newlyweds are missing for a few minutes! Also, it’s almost impossible to tell that the whole guest list isn’t there waving sparklers and sending off the happy couple! I dare you to look at my blog and see if you can pick out which exits were fake and which were real! This idea allows my couples to save money and still have all the shots that they dreamed of!
controlled exits
I'm here to help you with anything I can as you plan your wedding! Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions, comments or concerns along the way:
inspired@photographybyerinleigh.com
570.529.1603
I can't wait to celebrate you on your wedding day!
Hakuna Matata