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The wedding reception is where the party really starts. It’s where you and your guests will celebrate your “I dos” with drinking, dancing, mixing and mingling. Find out how to choose the best venue for you, how to decorate it, and of course, how to choose the menu.

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Hank
Projector and screen
Hank, On June 16, 2021 at 21:32

Is anyone using a projector and screen to showcase either a video or a photo slideshow at their wedding? I see it at weddings all the time and was wondering how many here will be doing it. Sometimes...

Christian, tuesday 19-Mar-24 4 895
K
Joining in on First Dance
Kelsey, On March 9, 2024 at 12:19

My FH have been together for almost 10 years and we are dancing to You're Still The One as our first dance. We want to have others join in with us after the first verse. I think it would be really...

Hank, thursday 14-Mar-24 2 37 1
H
Photobooth during reception
Heather, On February 15, 2024 at 22:48

I am considering getting a photobooth to come in and to be available after final speeches/dessert is served for a couple hours. A lot of the guests attending are younger (late twenties/mid-thirties)...

Hank, saturday 17-Feb-24 2 27
Marie
Cocktail Reception Plus Ones
Marie, On January 16, 2024 at 13:34

I would like for guests to be able to have plus ones at our cocktail style reception. However, to keep costs low and have the day remain intimate, I would prefer to have them come later into the night...

Kate, tuesday 13-Feb-24 3 52
Kayleigh
Budget Friendly Food Options
Kayleigh, On March 24, 2023 at 12:12

Hey everyone! My fiancé and I are looking for some ideas on how to make our food budget friendly but enough for around 160 guests. Our goal is to have something memorable for food but it not take...

Bayleigh, monday 5-Feb-24 12 385
B
Table layout small wedding
Busy, On February 1, 2024 at 13:42

Hello, We are (finally !!) getting married March 2025. I have plenty of time to plan but I am not sure what to do with my seating layout for the reception. We are getting married on a big private...

Busy, thursday 1-Feb-24 31
Kira
Tips for services
Kira, On January 14, 2024 at 10:14

Hi all, I didn't even consider the fact that on top of prices, we would need to think about tipping people for their services. I am looking for any guidance and advice on how you have done this or...

Kira, monday 15-Jan-24 4 69
Mackenzie
Is a Grand Entrance a must?
Mackenzie, On January 9, 2024 at 09:47

My fiancé and | are having a super non-traditional wedding. Our ceremony is right next to the reception hall and starts at 7pm (it'll be super short around 10 minutes) and then the reception is...

Amanda, monday 15-Jan-24 2 54
Amanda
Garter Toss!
Amanda, On April 26, 2023 at 18:39

This one's less of a trend and more of a tradition that some people are deciding to do away with. But apparently 37% of grooms still participate in this reception tradition! Will this toss tradition...

Stephanie, tuesday 9-Jan-24 17 163
Simone
Food ideas for my wedding social
Simone, On September 29, 2016 at 17:05

Hello everyone, Next year in May of 2017, I will be having a Wedding social. I am going to post some food menu ideas for my wedding social and let me know what you thoughts are? We are looking at...

Matteo, monday 25-Dec-23 12 354
Donna-Jean
Sip N' Solve - Wedding Crossword Help!
Donna-Jean, On July 28, 2023 at 12:27

Hi everyone! I'm an October 2024 bride! I really want to have some fun interactive things for my guests to do during cocktail hour and I love the idea of doing a giant Sip N' Solve (Crossword).. I've...

Jennifer, friday 15-Dec-23 1 3,534
Emilie
Fun Games for your Wedding Reception
Emilie, On August 12, 2016 at 12:12

Hi lovely soon-to-weds! When everyone gets together at your wedding, games can really make those you love connect with one another even if they have never or barely seen each other before. Which ones...

Jennifer, friday 15-Dec-23 8 688
Alex
How are you planning to keep your guests entertained?
Alex, On November 23, 2023 at 16:24

During wedding transition periods, what do you recommend including at your wedding to keep guests entertained and engaged throughout the day/evening?

Jennifer, friday 15-Dec-23 5 261
Sharlene
Gratuities and rental
Sharlene, On July 3, 2019 at 16:03

Just curious to know were you charged gratuities and/or service charge only on your food and beverage costs or also on your rental cost for your reception rental assuming you are using the same...

Gianluigi, friday 10-Nov-23 23 2,947
Katrina
Suggestions for reception timeline: host, games, at reception? ..
Katrina, On February 10, 2023 at 13:14

Hi community! Still new to planning & being a member on WeddingWire 🥹 My fiancé and I are in the final stages of booking our venue and now comes the part of the timeline/schedule for the...

Katrina, thursday 26-Oct-23 7 219
Julie
Centerpieces - Keeping or Giving Away?
Julie, On March 3, 2023 at 08:27

I have not come across any discussions on centerpiece giveaways so I thought I would ask. For my centerpieces I will have manzanita trees and a floral arrangement at the base. The trees I purchased...

Matilda, sunday 8-Oct-23 12 102
STEPHANIE
Tip etiquette???
STEPHANIE, On September 29, 2023 at 17:20

Hi all, just wondering which of your vendors you tipped eg. Photographer or dj or all? And what percentage of their fee did you tip or what dolllar amount is appropriate? Thanks

Matilda, sunday 8-Oct-23 7 77
Hank
How Much Food?
Hank, On March 30, 2022 at 15:41

How many choices did you get to try at your tasting? How many options are you giving your guests? What appetizers are you having for cocktail hour? How many courses are you serving for dinner? We...

Matilda, monday 25-Sep-23 22 399 2
Emilie
Limited bar or open bar?
Emilie, On October 10, 2016 at 05:18

Hey future newlyweds A party with or without alcohol is still a party... but how much will you actually invest in your guests' drinking... that's another question How much alcohol will be served at...

Matilda, monday 25-Sep-23 56 1,708
Emilie
How will you decorate for your big day?
Emilie, On October 10, 2016 at 05:18

Hey lovely brides and grooms We all know that decorations can make your budget vary quite a lot... How will you decorate for your big day? A. I don't need any decoration B. Most of my decorations will...

Matilda, monday 25-Sep-23 30 338
Emilie
What type of reception do you want?
Emilie, On October 10, 2016 at 05:17

Hey future newlyweds In order to know how much you should be spending on your wedding, it's necessary to know what kind of celebrations you want as newlyweds. What type of reception do you want? A....

Matilda, monday 25-Sep-23 41 546
Miav
Karaoke for Reception?
Miav, On July 29, 2019 at 13:33

Hi! We have been getting some requests about adding a karaoke at the last few hours of the reception. Has anybody considered/done that? How did it go? thanks!

Patty, monday 21-Aug-23 3 92
Hank
Kids Meals
Hank, On July 16, 2021 at 18:38

If you're having little ones attend the wedding, what are you feeding them? A venue's go to seems to be chicken fingers but maybe yours have other options like pasta, grilled cheese or some other type...

Marcella, tuesday 15-Aug-23 9 172
Samantha
Wine for wedding
Samantha, On March 13, 2022 at 19:50

Hello! We get to choose and buy our own alcohol for our wedding and I am wondering if anyone has a white or red they love and is inexpensive (as we will be buying many bottle). The wedding is on...

Patty, monday 14-Aug-23 11 406
Sarah
How does clean up usually work?
Sarah, On December 29, 2021 at 12:42

Hi there, I have been trying to figure out how much I want to Decorate the venue but not sure how clean up usually works. Does everything have been be taken down and out the night of or the next day? ...

Lilon, friday 11-Aug-23 9 245
Jackie
The modern guestbook
Jackie, On July 31, 2023 at 16:10

Guestbooks are one of those beautiful mementos we get to keep and re-visit for years after our wedding day. Couples have been moving away from the traditional guestbook in favour of things like shadow...

Jackie, thursday 10-Aug-23 16 205
Dianne
Karaoke at a Wedding?
Dianne, On July 22, 2022 at 10:47

I love karaoke, but I realize not everyone does. I wonder if it is a good idea to have a karaoke component at the reception.

Kate, tuesday 1-Aug-23 8 438
Kate
Tiny Ceremony Larger Reception
Kate, On July 21, 2023 at 13:14

Looking for some advice - we are doing a private ceremony with immediate family and closest friends (12 people) and then having our reception later that day with about 70 people. What are some ideas...

Carine, wednesday 26-Jul-23 3 69
Michelle
Daytime Cocktail Reception
Michelle, On July 18, 2023 at 12:01

Hello, we are planning an afternoon reception with an open bar and hors d’oeuvres. Our wedding is at the end of October, so we’ll be in full fall mode. We are doing a first look and photography before...

Michelle, tuesday 25-Jul-23 11 86
Rebecca
Table runner: can a person be seated at the ends?
Rebecca, On July 10, 2023 at 16:27

HI Brides and Grooms to be! I’ll be have rectangular tables of 8 (3 on the side and 1 at each end) at my wedding. I bought these beautiful dusty blue cheesecloth table runners and it wasn’t until they...

Mila, sunday 16-Jul-23 4 947
Danielle
Last Dance of the Night
Danielle, On June 30, 2022 at 14:46

What is/was everyone’s last dance of the night? We’ve been collecting videos from guests and one of my friends took this great one of ours! I think this cover will be a popular one this year for sure!...

Kelli, saturday 15-Jul-23 7 111
Loegan
Tipping Caterer using their rentals
Loegan, On July 4, 2023 at 15:07

Hello! Just wondering people's thoughts on this. My caterer is charging 15% gratuity before tax. We are doing a buffet dinner and he is supplying all the tableware except napkins. I have to rent those...

Kelli, saturday 15-Jul-23 4 180

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