7 Wedding Reception Ideas to Celebrate Your Big Day

Views: 25

At Paint Your Life, with believe in celebrating your wedding with all you’ve got. So, if you want have a fun-filled wedding reception, these ideas are sure to inspire you!

 

 

1. Hire a Live Band! 

There’s nothing quite like dancing with your friends and family at a wedding – especially your own wedding! DJs are great, of course, but why not go above and beyond for your reception and hire a live band? 

 

Live music adds a distinct energy to your wedding night and is sure to get everyone out on the dance floor. Whether the band covers classic songs or plays some upbeat, danceable originals, you and your wedding guests will have an amazing time!

 

When looking for a band for your wedding reception, try to stay local! The further you look for your wedding band, the more you’ll have to pay. Search online for local bands near you. Once you’ve found one that catches your eye, see if they have music recorded. If so, give them a listen, and you just might have found your band!

 

Typically, a great cover band is a hit at any wedding. Original songs can be impressive but singing along to familiar tunes with your friends and family is always a blast. So, while you search for a band, keep an eye out for one with a wide selection of fun covers to play!

 

2. Set Up a Dessert Bar 

Wedding cake is classic and delicious, but when it comes to dessert, there’s infinite potential for creativity and fun. Sweets make a party even more festive, and weddings are no exception. When you’re planning the dessert selection for your wedding, consider having a self-serve dessert bar as part of the menu!

 

A dessert bar includes whatever sweet treats you and your partner love most. It’s something to share with your guests that makes their night even more special and celebratory. Read below for some fantastic options to include in your dessert bar:

      Dipping donuts – These sweet, crispy pastries are an irresistible addition to any wedding reception. Dipping donuts are typically fried and coated in sugar, then complimented by a variety of tasty sauces. 

      Ice cream sundaes – Building your own dessert is a great time – this is a fact known to lovers of sweets everywhere. Sometimes, the toppings you add to a treat are even more fun than the dessert itself. When planning a dessert bar for your wedding, add some ice cream and toppings to the selection! Guests can customize their own sweet, cold masterpieces, dumping chocolate chips and sprinkles on their sundaes to their hearts’ content.

      Milkshakes – If you have the time, budget and space, including a milkshake maker in your wedding reception is a blast. This gives guests another customizable treat to enjoy while taking in the festivities.

 

3. Open Up the Bar 

Enjoying a drink at a wedding makes the night even more fun. Many wedding venues offer a bar, giving guests a chance to take a break from celebrating and dancing to enjoy beer, wine, and mixed drinks. 

 

black and white oil painting of couple at the beach

 

If you and your partner don’t want alcohol at your wedding, you can still have a bar! Dry bars are a creative alternative to the classic wedding bar. A dry bar offers non-alcoholic alternatives to classic drinks. These tasty beverages are often called “mocktails,” and are made with juice, tonic water, syrups, and other inventive ingredients.

 

If you want to have a bar that offers alcohol and non-alcoholic drinks, this is an option as well. Providing both gives your guests options based on their preferences and offers non-drinkers something fun and exciting to try. A great party is one where everyone feels included and considered. And a bar with alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks is a perfect way to make everyone feel welcome. 

 

4. Propose a Toast!

One of the most memorable moments in a wedding is the series of speeches given by dear friends and family. Making room for your loved ones to grab a microphone and tell stories brings joy, laughter and fond memories into the room. 

 

Many newly married couples open the floor to toasts during the wedding reception. The best man, maid of honor, parents and other friends and family take center stage for a moment to share a favorite memory with the bride or groom. These are some of the moments you’ll never forget from your wedding, so let your guests toast in your honor!

 

You’ll laugh, cry, and remember some of your favorite moments since you met your partner, all because you’re surrounded by people who love you both. 

 

 5. Dance the Night Away 

What wedding is complete without some dancing? Even if you’re not the quickest on your feet, you and your partner can share a special moment on the dance floor. Meanwhile, your wedding guests can get their groove on. 

 

a custom black and white wedding photo of happy wedding coup

 

When dancing with your friends and family, it’s easy to lose track of time. The dance floor on a wedding night fills up with joy and celebration that can’t be forgotten. Sometimes, the celebrating gets a little out of hand, but your wedding night is the best time of all to dance your head off and have a great time. 

 

Whether you get a DJ, a live band, or a little of both, keep the music going until everyone’s worn out. Then, it’s time for an unforgettable send-off! 

 

6. Take Things Outside

After your ceremony wraps up, moving the reception outdoors keeps things fresh and exciting. Enjoying the crisp night air while savoring drinks and dessert is the perfect end to a wedding celebration. 

 

Many venues have an outdoor area in the form of a spacious patio, porch, or even an open field. Even when space is limited, spending time in the great outdoors during your wedding night makes the moments even more memorable. 

 

If you get married in a more rural area, you’re in luck – your reception may even be illuminated by stars! City lights often make it difficult to see the stars above you. So, if you’re at a wedding venue in the mountains, the countryside, or even on the beach, take advantage of your surroundings when planning the reception!

 

Moving a segment of your wedding outdoors (or having an outdoor wedding altogether) can is a calming and invigorating experience. Even if your wedding is primarily indoors, shifting the party into an open space with fresh air gives you and your partner a breather from the excitement and bustle of your wedding day.

 

7. Light up the Night for Your Send-Off 

To end the night, many couples choose to hand sparklers to their guests and make a magically illuminated tunnel to end the night. A sparkler send-off is the perfect way to wrap up your wedding night and walk into spending forever together. 

 

Even if you’re keeping your wedding small and intimate, your guests can still light up the night for your send-off. Even if it’s not a big, grand moment – a simple celebration of your union with your partner is all you need!

 

 

Now that you’ve got some ideas in mind, it’s time to your planning started. Choose a date, a venue, a band, a photographer, and more, and enjoy it! Wedding planning is exciting and brings joy to you and your partner, so don’t stress! Just enjoy the ride, and don’t sweat the details. Weddings are all about celebrating spending life with your favorite person – everything else is just a bonus.

 

Sources:

https://www.theknot.com/content/unique-wedding-reception-ideas

https://www.delish.com/entertaining/g3289/mocktail-recipes/

https://www.brides.com/wedding-send-off-ideas-4845594

Total
0
Share