The fun has begun!
It’s time to relax, dance and celebrate!! Your reception should be KICK ASS! The last thing you need to be worrying about is your timeline. Your coordinator and DJ should take care of making sure that everything stays on schedule so that you can enjoy your night. Here are some helpful tips that will help your reception flow smoothly.
GUEST CONSIDERATION
Take your guests into consideration when planning your timeline. If you have a lot of elderly guests that will not be staying until the very end, make sure you schedule the cake cutting at a relatively early time so that they can be a part of it. Grandma’s love seeing this sweet tradition!
KEEP IT MOVING
Chat with your coordinator about how you can plan your reception in a way that will keep guests engaged and moving all night!
MAKE IT YOUR OWN
If you want to have a special dance with your grandparents, do it! Make your reception a reflection of who you are and don’t feel tied to traditions. Also, make sure you give your DJ or Band a “Do Not Play” list if there are some songs you really don’t want to hear during your reception!
DON’T GET CAUGHT UP
in the formalities and the details. Sure, details are pretty and fun to photograph, but they can steal the joy of the day if you get too caught up in them. (Just speaking from experience here). Plan your centerpieces, welcome table, etc. well before the wedding date, and teach your coordinator or family friend how to set them up so that you aren’t even thinking about those things the day of!
RECEPTION COVERAGE
If your coverage ends before your exit, you have the option of planning a faux exit with your wedding party! This is more common than you may think. Instead of saving your exit until the very end, you can plan a faux exit with just the members of your wedding party and a few family members! This allows us to have more control over these shots and the party NEVER has to stop!
I recommend planning your timeline so that you can have at least one hour of dancing photographed. The guests who dance during the first hour will still be dancing in the third hour! One hour of dancing will be enough time to really capture the joy of your reception!