Mike Staff Productions: 25 Wedding Reception Ideas

Planning your wedding reception can seem like an endless list of details, choices and compromises. Cupcakes or wedding cake, head table or sweetheart table, open or reserved seating – the list goes on and on. While the list may be big, it doesn’t have to be difficult. These 25 tips help make the most of your plans and possibly save some money along the way.

Accentuate the positive. Once you have selected a venue, look for elements that you might highlight, such as staircases or balconies. If you will have access rights to the lobby or gardens, consider them as welcome or cocktail areas.
Light it up. Lighting can help to set the right vibe for your wedding reception. Nothing else can add the “Wow Factor” to your reception room more than decorative Up-Lighting & Accent Lighting. A professional can help you to create the right stage for your special night.
Make it twinkle. Candles create a sense of romance. Whether you use exquisite candelabras for an elegant feeling or simple hurricanes for a rustic reception, candles can be a beautiful and inexpensive way to make a statement.
Welcome your guests. You don’t get a second chance to make a first impression is just as true on your wedding day. Let your guests know what to expect for your wedding reception from the moment they walk in by decorating the welcome table, escort cards and tablescapes in a manner in keeping with your wedding theme.
Personalize the venue. Using photographs from your engagement session or courtship as wedding reception decor accents allows you to tell your story as a couple. Select images of your lives separately and together for your welcome table, cake table or centerpieces. You can also share aphoto montage with your guests during the cocktail hour or during your first dance.
Choose your palette. If your wedding reception venue has a very strong color in the room, select a wedding color that compliments. This will create a cohesive look and be most visually pleasing.
Downsize centerpieces. Selecting smaller centerpieces allows your guests to converse easily and pass food items around the table; 14 to 20 inches high is ideal. If your heart is set on tall centerpieces, consider using tall thin vases to elevate the arrangement. A smaller arrangement may help to save a few dollars from your floral budget too!
Plan your wedding reception timeline. With a little prior planning, you can be sure to get in all the celebratory moments, without having to pay for additional time. Most Michigan wedding receptions are six hours. For a typical reception timeline, click here.
Hire professionals. When preparing for the day of your dreams, your selection of the right vendors is of the utmost importance. Doing proper research on wedding vendors will make your special day go as smoothly as possible.
Seating arrangements. Take time to carefully plan your seating arrangement, placing guests at tables with others they know. They don’t have to be fast friends, just acquaintances or people with some connection. Seat out of town guests with people that have similar interests. You can turn place cards into conversation starters by having them match another guests or even have trivia questions about the bride and groom printed on the cards. Also make sure the room has adequate space for the guests you have invited without putting the tables so close that guests can’t get up to dance.
Master of ceremonies. There are so many details that cannot be overlooked at your wedding reception … so many opportunities for something to go wrong – an amateur DJ or hobbyist doesn’t stand a chance. The list of things that could go wrong is endless, but the result is the same – the bride and groom are confused, anxious or stressed during their own wedding reception. This should never happen … and at Mike Staff Productions, we make sure it never will. You can trust your DJ to ask guests to be seated for dinner, help organize toasts, and handle any problems – as well as play the songs that keep the dance floor packed.
Mind the guest list. It’s a difficult task to decide who makes the guest list “cut”. With the average wedding reception cost per person of $100, this can be a wedding reception budget saver though. When considering a wedding reception venue, it’s a good idea to ask the guaranteed minimum and absolute maximum number of guests they can accommodate. The minimum number is the amount of guests you will pay for, even if your wedding guest list is fewer than this number. The minimum number may be negotiable if your wedding reception will be during non-peak dates. When considering the maximum number, think about the layout of the venue. Will guests be seated in overflow rooms, making it difficult to hear toasts or view dancing?
It’s all about appearances. You can also display a fine bottle of champagne at the head table, but have a less expensive sparkling wine for the toast. No one will be the wiser.
Make it a GRAND entrance. If you want your reception to be all about fun, start it off with a GRAND, grand entrance. You can stop and pose or dance your way into the room. Your wedding DJ can work with you to customize the grand entrance music so that it matches the mood you want to set. This is a great way to make a big impression and set the stage for a fun wedding . Read more about Grand Entrances here.
Kids at receptions. If you choose to invite children to your wedding reception, consider asking for budget friendly children’s dinner options such as chicken fingers or sliders. Consider welcome bags of coloring books or activities to keep them busy for dinner service. For more tips on kids at your reception, click here.
Guest favors. Small tokens of appreciation for attending your wedding can add up to big budget busters. Consider making a charitable donation in their honor or a simple favor, such as chocolates.
Double duty decorations. Repurpose the flowers from your ceremony for your wedding reception. Altar arrangements are perfect to flank the head table. Bridesmaids bouquets double as centerpieces for the bridal table when placed in a simple glass vase.
Shorten the cocktail hour. If your timeline allows you to shorten the cocktail hour without negatively affecting your guests, you may be able to negotiate a lower price due to the decreased volume. You can also limit the cocktail offerings to a signature drink, requiring fewer liquors.
One stop wedding. Having your wedding ceremony and reception at the same location can reduce the need for additional decorations and wedding day transportation.
Limited menu. It is perfectly acceptable to limit the menu to one main entree. Your bar can also limit the number of liquors or wines offered.
Let them eat cake. Your wedding reception is a celebration of your wedding, not a pie eating contest. Your wedding cake can go beyond ceremonial and function as the desert too. It is common to have a display cake for the cake cutting ceremony, with one layer for cutting, and a sheet cake in the kitchen for dessert service.
Bundle services. You can reduce your costs by booking multiple services with one company. Mike Staff Productions offers significant savings to couples that book their DJ, Photography and HD Videography services.
Reception music. A professional DJ can read the room to play the right music at the right time. Work with your DJ to select the music for your wedding reception songs that are perfect for your guests.
Make a Grand Exit. If your wedding reception venue allows, consider sparklers, rice, flower petals or balloon launches for a grand exit. Just make sure you have found helpers for the end of the reception tasks.
Fees and Gratuities. Typically, most fees are paid prior to the wedding day, but it is possible you will have some due that evening. One of the best man’s duties is to handle any fees or gratuities for the couple. Prepare and label envelopes in advance so he can handle those tasks for you.