Wedding Reception Options

Throughout the wedding planning process, you will have several opportunities for your personal preferences to shape your wedding day. Below are a few of those choices for your wedding reception.

The Sweetheart’s Table or Head Table A recent trend in wedding receptions is the sweetheart’s table; a table just for the bride and groom. Traditionally, the bride and groom would sit at a head table surrounded by the bridal party. Here are a few things to consider:

• Wedding etiquette dictates that the bride and groom should be seated near their bridal party.
• Consider they layout of your reception room and discuss the options with your venue. A sweetheart’s table does require additional setup, table linens, centerpiece, etc. The table should be placed so that your guests and those offering toasts can clearly see the new couple.
• If you have a large wedding party, it may be more convenient to have a sweetheart’s table.
• Your bridal party may be offended if you choose not to dine with them. Alternatively, they might appreciate being able to dine with their date or family. Discuss your decision with them in advance.
• If you or your fiance are shy, it may feel like more attention is focused if you decide to dine at a separate table.

Buffet or Seated Dinner Most wedding reception venues will allow you the option of a buffet or seated dinner. Here are some things to consider when choosing between the two:

• Buffet dinners are usually less formal than seated dinners so it is important to consider the overall formality of your wedding day.
• Seated dinners are typically more expensive due to the additional servers required; making buffet dinners budget friendly.
• Guests are able to choose more or less of foods that they like with a buffet dinner.
• Ask your caterer if you will be charged a per plate price with a buffet dinner. Some guests consider buffets an “all-you-can-eat” invitation and may make multiple trips; possibly increasing your costs.
• Buffet lines should allow access from both sides to keep guests moving through lines in a timely manner.

Open or assigned seating Again, the tone of your wedding reception will usually dictate the level of planning required for dinner seating. A simple, informal reception or one where most people will know each other lend themselves to more casual, open seating. The more formal the wedding reception, the more likely there will be assigned seating. (To learn more about creating seating arrangements, click here.)

Cash or open bar It is generally frowned upon to ask guests to pay for drinks during your wedding reception. However, there are not rules forcing you to have a full bar either. An option that is budget friendly and conforms to wedding etiquette is to offer an open, but limited bar. Your bartender can help you to select a few wines, beers and liquors that will meet the needs of the typical guest. You can also create asignature drink for your event too.

Guest Requests – Yes or No At some point during your wedding reception, a guest will ask your DJ to play their favorite song. It is important to discuss with your DJ in advance how you would like him to respond.

• The more your DJ honors song requests, the more likely your dance floor will be filled. (For more ways to pack your dance floor, click here.)
• If you are worried about someone requesting a song you hate, place it on your “do not play list”. Your DJ can then help the guest to pick another song that would be more appropriate.
• If you truly do not want the DJ to play guest requests, have him inform guests that you have asked him not take requests for the evening.

Cake or cupcakes It is a traditional moment of the wedding day when the bride and groom cut their wedding cake. More recently, couples have begun to share cupcakes as well. If you are struggling between the two, consider the following:

• Having multiple flavors of wedding cakes will usually require additional tiers. If you would like to offer your guests a large selection of flavors, cupcakes allow more variety.
• If you have a particular theme to your wedding, each cupcake can be decorated accordingly and presented to guests. While cakes can also incorporate themes, guests will not see that on their individual plates.
• Having a “cut” cake and sheet cakes for service can be more budget friendly than individual cupcakes.

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10 Ways to Have More Fun at Your Wedding Reception

Your wedding ceremony and reception are not intended to be exercises in expert planning and execution, but celebrations of your new life as a married couple. It’s easy to lose sight of the day’s meaning in the clutter of so many preparations. Here are a few suggestions that will help you enjoy your wedding reception …
1. Get a good night’s sleep the night before. Try to plan a day of rest by having everything done two days before the wedding, including your rehearsal dinner. Don’t stay up late addressing party favors or making place cards the night before your wedding. Recharge your batteries by taking a day to breathe and relax while doing regular activities you enjoy.

2. Don’t drink too much (or at all) during the day. If you’re going to drink on your wedding day, wait until you arrive at the hall. Be sure to eat something, too.

3. Wear or bring comfortable shoes. The bride, groom and bridal party should choose great-fitting and low-heeled shoes for the gala affair; or bring a second pair of shoes or slippers that make their feet happy -- especially while dancing.
4. Plan an exit strategy. Ask responsible friends and family members to help you by assigning them end-of-the-night duties, such as removing decorations, taking gifts to a pre-determined destination and settling up with the hall. Parents and trustworthy friends are often asked to handle the latter.

5. Let people come to you. Don’t feel compelled to “hang out” with everyone. Once you’ve finished greeting friends and family during the receiving line or visited with them at their tables, you no longer need to keep them company. Guests will come to you, particularly while you’re on the dance floor.

6. Relax. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Hundreds of details have been planned. How and when they are carried out is mostly out of your control. Let go of things that are not in your power to change. When your best-laid plans go awry, keep things in perspective. Remember that this is one moment of many in a day, and one day of your life. Your sense of humor is your second best friend on your wedding day.
7. Trust your DJ. If everyone isn’t on the dance floor by the second song, don’t start to panic. You can’t rush the party. A great DJ knows how to handle a reluctant crowd and build momentum with the music. Give him some space to do his job, and your patience will be rewarded.

8. Don’t compare: Every party is different. Don't compare your wedding reception with others that you have attended. Each party has its own personality based on a variety of factors. Day-to-day events at home, school, work or in the news can all affect the energy level of the room. Allow your reception to take on its own identity and you'll enjoy it more (and so will your guests!).
9. Spend time with your new husband. A couple can spend so much time apart at their reception, working the room with a “divide and conquer” mindset, that they often forget the day is meant for them. Memories of your wedding reception ought to include moments shared with your new spouse that aren’t staged by a photographer. Make your togetherness a priority, and you’ll save yourself a lifetime of regrets.

10. Dance. Above all, have a great time at your party. Eat, socialize and meet your spouse on the dance floor. Your fun mood is contagious, and guests will follow your lead.

10 Mistakes to Avoid when Planning your Wedding Reception

Your wedding day is a time of celebration with light-hearted, good times that create happy memories. Above all, the day is supposed to be fun.

The less stress you feel on your big day, the more fun you'll have. Great planning helps you avoid forgetting important details. Avoid these stumbling blocks that threaten to ruin your happy day:

1. Not prioritizing your budget on the important things. The banquet is over, and now the party begins. If the majority of your reception time will be spent listening to music and dancing, it makes sense to allocate a proportionate amount of your budget to the vendor responsible for your entertainment. Whether it’s a band or a DJ, the key idea here is QUALITY.


2. Not communicating with your vendors. Have a thorough conversation with all of your vendors, and let them know EXACTLY what you expect. Don’t assume that, because they are professionals with years of experience, they automatically know what you want. Each bride’s vision is different. Vendors want to avoid disappointing you, so share the details of your dream with them from the beginning.

3. Not communicating your needs and expectations with your bridal party. Let each person in your bridal party know, prior to your wedding day, where they are supposed to be and when. Important moments at your reception can’t be rehearsed, so prepare a timetable for your bridal party that includes the Grand Entrance, speeches and toasts, bridal dances and any planned photo opportunities. They will be grateful for your organization.

4. Waiting until the last minute. Finish everything on your checklist at least two days before your wedding. You don’t want to be scribbling place cards at 2 a.m. on your wedding day. Give yourself and your groom a task-free day or two before the wedding to relax and rejuvenate.

5. Having too much to drink early in the day or the night before. Not only is it a good idea to avoid alcohol until the final party hours, it’s best to stay hydrated by drinking water or other non-alcoholic beverages. If you can’t resist a good nip, be sure to eat something.

6. Spending too much time taking pictures. There are the photographs of special moments you MUST have, pictures of spontaneous moments that are FUN to have, and staged photos that become a nuisance. Don’t be afraid to say NO to your photographer when you’ve had enough.

7. Losing your perspective. Keep your mind on what the day is about, and on the things and people that are really important to you. Don't get bogged down in so many details that you forget to have FUN! If something goes wrong, try your best to take deep breaths and think about the big picture. Don’t let the little things that might go wrong ruin your night. Above all, keep your sense of humor!

8. Getting stressed or overwhelmed. Eat! Talk! Dance! Have Fun! Keep things simple. After you’ve greeted your guests, let them find you if they wish to visit.

9. Not planning an exit strategy. Assign end-of-the-night tasks to others you trust, so you can leave unburdened. Final duties might include gathering gifts and transporting them “home,” paying the hall, and removing decorations -- including flowers, centerpieces and other wedding notions.

10. Immediately leaving on your honeymoon. Try not to plan a 6 a.m. departure the day after your wedding. Give yourselves a day to recuperate and get your things together. Better yet, go back to work for a week before leaving on your honeymoon.

Great Reception Song: Electric Feel

Is your wedding all about tradition? Or are you looking to put your stamp on how Detroit Weddings should be done?

A great way to make your wedding unique is by choosing music that represents your personality.


Try an eclectic, fun song and really set the mood. How about MGMT’s Electric Feel…




Your bridal dances don’t have to be stuffy and slow like a junior high dance. C'mon, you're fun and one-of-a-kind. Let your music show it, too!

11 Ways to Pack Your Dance Floor (all night long!)

Every bride wants their reception dance floor packed, and years of experience as a wedding entertainer have taught me a few tricks that can make your dance floor vibrate with the celebratory beat of numerous feet. Following these easy tips can make a bit difference in the success of your dance party.

1. Rent a smaller dance floor. A huge dance floor can appear empty, even when a nice-sized crowd is jamming on the floorboards. Smaller dance floors look full faster, ramping up the energy level in the room and giving shy guests the courage they need to join the fun. Rental companies may insist that you need 2.5 square feet per person for your dance floor. Instead, rent a floor that’s 25 percent smaller than the suggested formula. If people want to dance, they’ll do so whether there’s space on the official floor or not. Leave plenty of room around the perimeter, (free of tables and chairs), for additional dancers.

2. Turn the lights down low. A dimly-lit dance area works best. Keep in mind that daylight lasts as late as 10:00 p.m. in the summer months. If the hall’s windows face west, make sure there are shades you can drop or blinds you can close to keep out the last rays of light. Keep an eye on your photographer, who will try to brighten the dance area for picture-taking, and delegate someone to keep a hand on the light switch.

3. Say no to videographers that require “spotlights” on the dance floor. There’s nothing like the sudden glare of a spotlight to make camera-shy guests scurry from the dance floor. New high definition (HD) cameras allow videographers to avoid the use of harsh lights and capture dancers on tape much more unobtrusively. Be sure to ask around and find a videographer that uses HD.

4. Keep the hall doors closed. Busy hallways can be distractions for your guests. Redirect their attention to the dance floor by closing doors that lead to gathering areas outside the room.

5. Locate the bar inside the room, if at all possible. After dinner, the dance area is the focal point for your party. Guests leaving the room for drinks can’t hear the music and won’t be able to dance if their requested songs are played. Placing the bar in the room keeps guests within listening range and able to respond to their favorite songs on the dance floor.
6. Play requests. People like to hear familiar music and dance to their favorite songs. The more your DJ honors song requests, the more likely your dance floor will be filled. Ask him to leave plenty of room in his music schedule for their requests.

7. Keep “do not play” lists to a minimum. You may have a lengthy list of songs you don’t want to hear, but those may be the tunes people are waiting to dance to. Allow your DJ to play the songs that will bring people to their feet, and you and your guests will enjoy a livelier party.

8. Limit your “must play” list. Include most of your requests on a “try to play” list. It’s thrilling to hear lots of your favorite songs at your party, but playing too many takes time away from familiar and requested songs that others are anticipating. Your DJ can sense the crowd’s mood and decide when a song on your “try to play” list will match the feeling. Generously share your music time with your guests, and watch them respond in kind on your dance floor.

9. Put the DJ right next to the dance floor. Don't hide him in a corner or out of the way. In order to do his job well, your DJ must be located where the party action is, not separated from the dance floor by tables, walls or other barriers. You and your guests need easy access to him for announcements and song requests, and he needs a direct line of sight to read cues from the crowd.10. Hire a Great DJ, and then trust him. Each party has its own personality. Some guests may pack the dance floor right away; others may need a little more time to warm up. An experienced wedding DJ has played to every type of audience and knows what works. Give him time to perform his music magic, and you are sure to be enchanted by the results.

11. Get out on the dance floor and DANCE! Your friends and family want to see you have a fantastic time and will take their cues from you. If you and your groom are enjoying yourselves on the dance floor, they’ll want to be there, too.

Ending Your Reception on the Right Note

After planning the date, finding the venue and arranging all of the other details needed for a great wedding, you may have thought about the last song you would like to have played at your reception. In my experience it can really put an exclamation point on the end of a terrific night. However, deciding the last song of the night before your wedding day has even arrived can be like calling the last play of a football game before it is has even started. You don’t know what is going to be happening at the end and who will be there. It might be good to have a couple of options.

Ending on a slow song

If there are a lot of couples left at the end of the night and everyone is pretty tired out from the long day of partying, ending the night on a slow song can be fitting. It is usually wise to pick something that all generations will know. You want everyone there together dancing at the end.

Sing Alongs

Playing a group favorite that’s easy to sing along to can be a fun way of ending the night. Once again bridging the generation gap can be essential if you want to have people from all age groups dancing ‘til the end. Some suggested sing-along songs are “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond, and “Friends In Low Places” by Garth Brooks and “Piano Man” by Billy Joel.


They’ll Leave Wanting More

If you have a crowd that is just tearing it up at the end of the night, there is no sense in putting ice in the boiling water. It is best to just let it flow and end on a very high note. It could be your favorite club song that everybody knows. “The Grease Megamix” by Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta is always a fantastic song that your guests will be singing all the way home.



I Just Don’t Know

If you cannot think of anything to have played at the end, the disc jockey usually has something good in his back pocket to finish the night. That is what he gets paid for. Experienced disc jockeys have played hundreds of weddings and know how to finish it right due to their years in the business. Many times there is a great song that a guest had requested that just did not fit in earlier and yet makes the perfect last song.
So, my suggestion is that if you want to pick a final song, have a couple of options. But if you don’t pick a final song the disc jockey will have you covered. You never know, the perfect song could pop into your head at the end of the night and you can request it then. The mood at the end of the night should dictate what the last song is going to be.

6 Alternatives to Clinging Glasses (to get the newlyweds to kiss)

If the custom of clinging glasses gets on your nerves during receptions, there are other ways guests can entice kisses from you and your groom. Each has its own charm and possible drawbacks. None of these work for everyone. Pick one that appeals to you, or create your own.

1. Ring Bells. Place a hand-held bell on each dining table. Choose a collection of bells that sound pleasing, as you’ll be listening to them repeatedly through the night. While you can probably find brass bells at any discount store, those made of glass or silver add a touch of elegance. Tie a colorful ribbon to each.

2. Sing Love Songs. Guests at each table stand up and sing love songs, as they have for years, to prompt the happy couple to kiss. This carries on a lovely tradition but guests are occasionally reluctant.

3. Kiss "this" Way. A guest approaches the head table with his or her significant other, and they demonstrate the way they want the newlyweds to kiss. Be prepared for some outrageous suggestions.


4. Putt for a Kiss. Great for golf enthusiasts! Place a small putting green in front of the head table or on the dance floor. If a guest gets a hole-in-one, then the couple must kiss.

5. Kiss to a Song. For couples who wish to share one long kiss, instead of multiple kisses, the DJ will play “This Kiss” by Faith Hill. The newlyweds will then kiss throughout the entire song. Warning: 3:15 is a LONG time to kiss. If you prefer another song about kissing, your favorite could also be appropriate.


6. Play with Hula Hoops. Even though this may be a bit "cheesy", it can be a big hit! Have three hula hoops ready at the dance floor. To make the newlyweds kiss, your guests have to use the hoops in creative ways while standing, jumping or gyrating on the dance floor. (Most guests are more interested in watching the hula hoop “dancers” than they are in watching you kiss). It can be a total laugh fest and is the perfect diversion during a long, sit-down dinner.

Ladies and Gentlemen Please Direct Your Attention to the Dance Floor...

So, you've seen the YouTube videos and you saw it at your friends' reception, but can you pull it off: The Choreographed First Dance? dun, dun, dun..

You don’t have to be on "ABDC" or "Dancing with the Stars" to enjoy your first dance together as husband and wife. Use these tips…

1. Choose a meaningful song. Select a song you both love and one that keeps an easy beat, especially if you’re beginning dancers. When your song lasts longer than the usual three minutes, ask your DJ to fade the ending. Remember: frazzled dancers don’t dazzle.
2. Take a couple of dance lessons. Group lessons can be intimidating, but private lessons remove the pressure of dancing for an audience. Your instructor will teach you according to your ability level. With private instruction, beginners can quickly master the basics with confidence. Dancing, like music, lifts the spirit and is so much more enjoyable when shared with your significant other.
3. Decide who leads and who follows. Gender no longer has anything to do with your decision. Choose the pattern that makes you comfortable. There’s nothing wrong with following a simple lead. The object of dancing is to enjoy the dance! Being able to follow the leader creates confidence in the follower and makes a more pleasurable dance for the leader, too. If you’re feeling brave and brassy, create a dance that switches leads once or twice during the routine.
4. Learn a couple of exciting steps. A pre-planned (choreographed) dip or a twirl makes a splashy statement without the tricky toe work of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. These moves are not only easy, but they offer impressive photo opportunities for still shots and videographers. When you look at them in the future, your photos will take you back to these moments with pride and a satisfied chuckle.
5. Plan your entrance and your exit. Will you clasp hands and kiss before you begin your dance? Will you sashay in from the left and leave to the right? Whatever you decide, be sure to tell your camera operators where and in what direction you will start and finish your dance, as well as any choreographed moves you plan to make. That way, they can prepare to capture the moment in its best light and with the correct angle.
6. Familiarize yourselves with the dance floor. Check out the floor you will dance on. Make sure you know its dimensions. Some styles of dancing (like Foxtrot) require a bigger space. Other styles like nightclub two step don't require much space. Have a good idea of the size and shape your wedding reception dance floor will be so that you can practice and get used to dancing in that amount of space.
7. Practice, practice, practice. Practice on a busy dance floor in a public place. You can also practice at home, of course, (preferably in front of a large, floor-length mirror), but you also need the experience of dancing in front of an audience. Practice your routine at least a couple of times per week, for several weeks, until your feet seem to move without much help from your mind. Concentrate on having fun during your first dance, and your guests will jump to join you on the dance floor.