How to Have a Fun Wedding Reception

Let them eat cake and ditch the stuffy reception traditions.

Your wedding reception is a time when you have your closest family and friends together to celebrate your nuptials. No matter the size of your wedding, you're likely to have gone through a fair share of planning to execute the entire shindig. When the big day arrives and you've said "I do," it's time to party. Use the reception as a time to really have some fun while dancing, drinking and mingling with your guests.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

1. Assign a point person to make sure you have all details completed. From the timing of cutting the cake to making final payments to your wedding vendors, let someone else handle those details so you're not running around during your wedding making sure final logistics are being handled.

2. Create a kids' room or area at your reception where younger guests can enjoy activities such as coloring, playing video games and story time with a babysitter. Allow the kids time to participate with everyone else, but give them their own area so adults can be carefree as the reception develops.

3. Change into something comfortable. Switch out restrictive wedding attire with something more casual that allows you and your spouse to stretch out and have a good time. That might simply mean the groom removes his tie and cufflinks and the bride removes her veil and additional tulle or skirting. Change your shoes so you're comfortable and can have a good time.

4. Eat! Don't get so busy making your rounds to greet your guests and going through specialty dances and speeches that you forget to eat a solid meal. Take the time to enjoy a plate of food even if that means kicking up your heels and eating at a table with your Uncle Pete while he congratulates you.

5. Nix the stuffy stuff. You don't have to have a formal reception full of long toasts and a seated affair. Get your party moving by wishing everyone a word of thanks and getting right to the elements of the reception you enjoy most --- like the cake.

6. Entertain outside the box. Host a trivia section. Do something nontraditional at your reception like performing a choreographed dance routine or playing a did-you-know game with your guests. Your game can include tidbits like, "Did you know Uncle Pete drove from San Francisco because he refuses to fly? How many people hate to fly?"

7. End your wedding in style. Give guests cool wedding favors like lottery tickets. End the night with a fireworks show or a special performance by a band. End a fabulous night in a deluxe suite where you two can flop down and relax before the honeymoon.

References

• The Knot: 10 Secrets to a Fun Wedding Reception
• Party Savvy: 6 Ways to Make Your Wedding Reception Memorable