Do you want a more exciting, memorable, fun Reception? Here are some very good ideas:

It’s basically about guests' entertainment.

 

·         Start with a drama to introduce the couple as they come in.

 

·         Organize or call a dance group maybe from your church (to cut cost) to dance in between the cutting of the cake and to even usher the couple into the ceremony.

 

·         Rehearse a dance for your entrance along with your train ... it could by pair or gender wise or even color or family …just as you think it.

 

·         Add sweets and gum to the table decoration, it keeps us busy.

 

·         You can organize a projector or LCD (like two) to display through flash player, your relationship history from dating till date

 

·         At the reception, a wide trivia contest with personalized awards for the winning team (per table) – questions will be asked about the couple to get the guest that knows them better (E.G when did they meet, whats their best song and how many kids do they want to have?) Just like at bridal showers you can ask the oldest couple and youngest couple to play ‘knowledge trivia’ and the audience would answer and judge by ticking yes/no, so the winner

 

·         Have a covered box and a pile of index cards with pens where Guests can write some loving marriage advice and put the cards in the box (great reading and helps you not feel depressed after all the festivities are over, haha)

 

·         Have some sort of outdoor relay activities (advisable if your event is outdoor or in a tent). I've seen guests have a hilarious time playing egg-and-spoon or three-legged races. Once they get into it, everyone forgets that it's not normal "wedding" stuff…yeah

 

·         Instead of trivia, you can have a Jeopardy-style wedding game, of course with some questions about the two of you but basically about the couples involved (testing their knowledge of each other! Mingling games, like where also have a sheet and walk around getting signatures of guests that meet certain criteria (has same birth month as you, been married for more than 20 years, etc.). Or you can assign everyone to meet one person that you think they would find interesting, once they meet them and come up to you, you can give a favor or whatever you have like a souvenir.

 

·         If someone does the glass-dinging thing for a kiss, announce that all couples married longer than 30 years stand up and also kiss. Next time you can do 20, or 10.

 

·        You throwing the Bouquet to the lucky single gals....Your first dance is for U and your new hubby, (it may be rampant now but it may easily slip off the agenda and your mind, every single lady awaits that part of the wedding). *do not miss this even if you're running out of time.. lolz*

 

·         A first dance surprise. When you start the Mr. & Mrs. first dance start off in a nice romantic ballad. Then...mix it up as you like. Trust me...it'll definitely be a memorable moment after the 1st minute, invite others to join...get the in-laws involved; don't let them stay on the sidelines... So, throw a new twist on the funny bride and groom dance at the reception. You will need to start off serious with a song and then mid way have it change, we have all seen that. What we have not seen is a costume change!

 

·         What about karaoke? Let your guests have at it with the Mic, and watch the laughs begin!

 

·         Let there be representatives from each table and then the best singer or performer as the case may be would get a beautiful souvenir, just an idea.

 

·         Get your guests loosened up with cocktails and then a comedian (a must do at today’s weddings), don’t be left out and everyone will be expecting one even if not funny.

 

·         Place disposable cameras at each table or row with camera men (if you can afford it) so they can take photos of some of the memorable moments for you!

 

·         For children capable of feeding themselves, set up a children sized table with a disposable plastic tablecloth. Place a box or two of disposable hand wipes for messy fingers. You may wish to provide each child with a color book with small boxes of crayons so they can color while waiting for the meal to be served.

 

·         Set up a play area with a rug, various toys and games for small children. Inform the parents that you will have such an area and reserve the adult tables nearly with signs for "Parents of Young Children". We did this at my daughter's wedding and I was amazed how well the children behaved by remaining at this area for most of the night. Their parents also enjoyed eating their own meals while keeping a watchful eye on their kids playing nearby.

 

·         Wedding favors are easy for children. Create a wedding activity book for kids with coloring pages of weddings, bridal paper dolls and a page that they are to draw a picture for the bride's memory book. You should often see some of the little artists at work during my friend's reception! We also included paint with water pages and provided small cups and squeeze bottles of water. No mess to clean up! The children had as much fun using these kits as we did making them!

 

·         If you wish to give the parents even more freedom, hire one or two teenagers or position two ushers to supervise wedding activities for kids. Provide a room or corner that they can play simple games with the children.

 

·         Instruct the DJ to play a "Dance with Our Children" song (a popular song kids will be familiar with). Invite your kids to share the dance floor with both of you after your first "Bride and Groom" dance.

 

·         Again you can have a fashion show were the best dressed and the couples train plus those clothed in Aso-Ebi will showcase their outfits.