Newly planning couples may find the reception planning overwhelming at times. Here are 5 “pro tips” to make your planning easier and guarantee you will have a successful reception.
1. Do your “First Dance” before dinner. This helps break up the awkwardness you may feel by doing multiple dances in a row. The attention span of your guests is shorter too. This is your moment in the spotlight so enjoy it before you sit down to eat.
2. Do your “Parent dances” after dinner. To help maximize time guests should be eating their cake while you are finishing your dances. This makes it easier to have guests come out to the dance floor when it opens for the night. That way they aren’t competing against yummy cake versus an open dance floor.
3. The “Dollar Dance’ or “Bridal Dance” is big in our part of State College, Altoona and Central Pennsylvania. Keep it short and structured. Make sure you designate what bridal party members will help organize the lines and keep guests moving through quickly. This keeps guests from getting bored and your party vie from coming to a halt.
4. Toasts should be short and brief. A wedding toast is not a roast. One funny story and words of wisdom is enough for the guests. Remember to remind your “Best Man” and “Maid or Matron of Honor” that not every guest in the room knows them as well as you do. Keep the intimate details private and keep the attention of the guests. if you wish to have a “roast or longer toast, do this at the rehearsal dinner. For a more detailed look into “Toasts” click here!
5. Pick a “Last Dance” song. It’s a good thing to end the wedding with your guests wanting more. I recommend you pick a fun “Sing Along” song for you and your guests to expel energy and have a fun late night memory. Pick a song all guests know and are excited to be out on the floor to send you off. One of our favorites is “Piano Man” by Billy Joel. There are lot’s of great Penn State traditional sing along songs you can end with. I don’t always recommend you save a floor filler like “Don’t Stop Believing” or “Sweet Caroline” until the end because they may be better earlier in the night.