Throwing A Wedding Reception Your Guests Will Never Forget
The wedding reception is a traditional part of the overall wedding experience, but this doesn’t mean you can’t get creative with it. There are a number of inexpensive steps you can take to make your reception memorable instead of boring and bland.
The “Amazing” Guest
Receptions are all about energy. The more energy, the better. The less energy, the more people get bored and sneak out. One way to crank up the energy is to bring in performers hidden among the guests. I’ll give you an example.
I attended a wedding in 2011 that was very traditional. Both families were fairly conservative and, well, it was boring as sin. Then two guests on the dance floor started arguing. Before we knew it, they were pushing each other and things were livening up. Just when it looked like there was going to be a fist fight…they grabbed each other, create a human circle and started doing acrobatic rolls across the floor like something you see out of Cirque du Soleil. It was amazing.
The two “combatants” were, in fact, acrobats hired by the groom. It was a complete surprise as they were dressed in suits and a huge hit with the guests. I still tell people about it today nearly two years later.
Another version of this I have heard about, but not personally experienced, involved a wedding where an older aunt came up to the microphone to give her blessings to the married couple. Suddenly, she started belting out some romantic song in an operatic voice. Turns out she wasn’t an aunt at all. She had been hired by the newlyweds.
Bringing in such people must be expensive, right? No. You would be surprised. Performers will come in and do their thing for a couple of hundred, but the effect is priceless. You can bring in singers, magicians, comedians, dancers or pretty much anything you can think of.
If you have to, skimp back on the reception. Which do you think your guest would prefer – rubbery chicken or an amazing act?
As a cheap alternative, pick out a few guests you know can sing a couple of weeks ahead of the wedding. Ask them to sing a “flash mob” song at some point in the reception. Before you know it, you will have a bunch of guests joining them and you have a reception that is hopping.
Camera Time
The idea of giving out disposable cameras to your guests is hardly a new one. Ah, but times have changed with this new fangled thing known as the Internet. Instead of just giving out cameras, create a Facebook or Flickr page for the reception. Or set up an account at the new Try Capsule -All your wedding photos in one album automatically. The mobile app lets guests instantly add photos to your album
To go the extra step, consider projecting the images on a screen or wall. People will love it!
Looking Back
If there is one thing that stops a guest cold at a reception, it is photos of the bride and groom from the past. For the most part, your guests are family and friends. The photos will bring back a host of memories. People will laugh. People will mist up. The memories will have them appreciating their relationship with you and how far things have come in both your lives. A definite must.
In Summary
A “great” wedding reception is not necessarily an expensive one. You can add small twists like these without shredding your budget. The key is to get creative and think outside the box. The above suggestions are a good place to start.
Guest Blogger, Riki Bynes is a wedding blogger with TopWeddings.com – where you can get other wedding ideas and supplies.