When it comes to planning your wedding reception, there are a surprising number of little decisions that can have a big impact on the flow of your celebration. In Part 1, we covered cocktail hour and dinner timing. Now let’s dive into specialty dances, toasts, traditions, cultural elements, guest experiences, and entertainment.
Specialty Dances
Specialty dances are an expected part of most wedding receptions. Typically, you’ll start with your first dance as you enter the reception. After that, you have a choice:
- Do your parent dances immediately after to keep the flow going.
- Split them up and have them later, often after dinner, which can be a natural way to open the dance floor.
Traditionally, this means the bride with her father and the groom with his mother, but you don’t have to stick to tradition. You can swap, add, or skip dances to reflect your family dynamics and personalities.
Toasts
Toasts are a highlight for many couples, but the trick is to keep them engaging:
- The usual lineup is parents, maid of honor, and best man, but you can choose anyone meaningful to you.
- The sweet spot is two to six toasts. Beyond that, guests start losing focus.
- If more people want to speak, consider moving those speeches to the rehearsal dinner.
- Remind your speakers that two to five minutes is plenty. This is not a TED Talk.
Also think about where they’ll stand. Do you want them next to you at the head table, or speaking in front of the room? Coordinate with your photographer and DJ for the best setup.
Traditions
This category can be tricky because some couples love them, and others want nothing to do with them. Classic reception traditions include:
- Bouquet toss
- Garter toss
- Anniversary dance
- Shoe game
- Dollar dance
Ask yourself three questions:
- Does it matter to us?
- Does it feel relevant to who we are as a couple?
- Will it land well with our guests?
If the answer is no to any of those, skip it or tweak it. For example, I’ve seen things flop when guests weren’t prepared, which created awkward moments. Traditions can be fun, but only if they truly fit your vibe.
Cultural Elements
If your culture includes special wedding reception traditions, think about how you want to incorporate them. Will you follow them exactly, or adapt them to blend with other parts of your day? Every couple has the freedom to honour their culture in a way that feels authentic. If you want to include more complex traditions, seek out vendors with expertise in your culture who can guide you.
Different cultures have their own unique wedding reception traditions. For example, at Greek weddings, you might see lively circle dances or even plate smashing as a symbol of joy. In Italian celebrations, couples often serve sugared almonds called confetti as a wish for health, happiness, and prosperity, and sometimes a glass is broken to represent the years of joy ahead. In Jewish weddings, a glass is traditionally broken at the end of the ceremony to mark both celebration and remembrance or The Hora. During the reception in Jewish weddings, the bride and groom are lifted into chairs while guests dance in a circle around them. It’s a joyful, energetic part of the celebration and often happens to the tune of “Hava Nagila.”
Guest Touch Points
Guest experience is everything. Interactive areas, or “touch points,” give your loved ones a way to feel connected to your day. Options include:
- Photo booth
- Guest book (Whether written or audio)
- Cards and gifts area
- Lawn games
The goal is to balance activities so both introverted and extroverted guests feel comfortable. Ask yourself: What will make our guests feel part of the celebration? Can they take something home, or will we have a keepsake from them?
Special Entertainment
Special entertainment isn’t required, but it can take your reception to the next level. These elements reset the energy of the room and surprise your guests. Ideas include:
- Late night snacks
- Live artists or performers
- Outfit changes for the couple
- A choreographed dance
Even simple changes can lift the mood. Think about where you want to add a surprise element, and remember, it doesn’t have to be expensive to be impactful.
Final Thoughts
Your wedding reception is full of choices you may not have considered until now. From dances and toasts to traditions, cultural elements, guest activities, and entertainment, each decision shapes your guests’ experience and your own memories. Choose the ones that feel authentic to you, and don’t be afraid to bend or skip traditions. Most importantly, create a reception that reflects who you are as a couple.
Happy planning!
Missed Part 1? Don’t worry, you can go back and read it here.
