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Wedding reception

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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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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 66
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 52
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 12 351
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 3,326
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 8 684
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 2,882
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 7 216
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 22 382 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 1,700
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 9 171
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 11 399
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 9 239
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 8 413
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 84
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 4 875
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 7 110
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 4 177
Michelle
If you had a weekday wedding, how many people attended vs how many you invited?
Michelle, On June 8, 2023 at 21:53

I'm having a Thursday wedding and we totally understand there may be fewer people able to attend or stay until the end of the night. I'd love to know what the range may be of guests RSVPing yes vs no....

Daily, sunday 18-Jun-23 9 148
Emilie
How to make a charitable donation as a wedding favour
Emilie, On August 21, 2022 at 15:39

My fiancee and I are going to make a charitable donation on behalf of our guests for our wedding favours. We have our charities picked out and how much we want to donate, but we aren't sure how to do...

Jolene, friday 9-Jun-23 4 135
Stephanie
Timing for Speeches
Stephanie, On March 7, 2019 at 15:06

Hey everyone! So I'm working on timelines with my FH now and I'm a bit stumped on when to do the speeches... We are doing a buffet, for 200 people, so I am allocating about an hour for everyone to get...

Jenay, friday 9-Jun-23 13 1,018
Melanie
Grand entrance
Melanie, On June 1, 2023 at 22:05

Hey everyone, In what order are you all doing your grand entrance? My FH and I have a vision, we want to come in on the song Barbie girl in a small car... With our bridal party in pairs following us...

KELLY, monday 5-Jun-23 5 79
K
Catering Issue
Katalina, On April 6, 2023 at 12:02

Hi Wedding Peeps, I have a gorgeous venue but the cut off is now 10pm, due to this we needed to book a second venue for “after party.” And this has now caused our catering budget to fall below 7K...

Katalina, monday 29-May-23 2 57
V
Real candles vs. led candles
Veronica, On October 26, 2020 at 16:35

Hi everyone, I love the look of lots of candles as decorations in the reception venue and creating a romantic warm glow. However, I've heard that some venues do not allow real candles because of the...

Kaye, friday 26-May-23 7 438

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