Weddings are an opportunity to impress those closest to you. From family to friends, those at your reception encompass the closest people to you. How can you make your wedding reception stand out? Here are a few ideas for making your wedding reception something others will talk about for years.
1. Consider Food Stations Rather Than a Sit Down Dinner
A sit down dinner is classic but it doesn't give guests a lot of time to talk and interact. Rather than committing to a sit down dinner, you could instead create multiple food stations where guests can select their favorite dishes. Your food stations can even be themed; guests can choose from different exotic locations, seasons, or memorable occasions throughout your life.
2. Offer Unique Mini Foods/Canapes
Rather than relying on a few large dishes to blow everyone way, consider some inventive and creative canapes. Laissez Faire Catering is able to blend unique presentations with fresh, seasonal flavors to create canapes that have never been seen before. By using special presentations, food can be elevated into a more memorable experience.
3. Present Activities and Games
A number of optional activities and games can be carried out during your wedding reception in order to keep your guests entertained. Consider trivia contests about the bride and groom or raffles for fun items. You could even play a wedding version of bingo.
4. Actively Decorate the Space
Don't just commit to decorations; let your guests decorate too! Your guests can take Polaroid photos and place them around the reception hall, or can even do something fun and creative such as putting their hand prints on a sheet of paper that you can then take with you. Everything can be placed in a wedding memory book at the end of the event.
5. Personalize Your Invites
Every invitation is special. Rather than spending a lot of money on elegant but generic invitations, consider personalizing each invitation for the person you're sending it to. Select different colors and styles or add stickers and decoupage to show the unique aspects of your relationship with each person. That shows that you're thinking about them as well on your special day.
6. Go Unique With the Cakes and Desserts
Rather than just having a single cake, consider a dessert bar that has a number of unique and exciting desserts that your guests can partake in. Many have two cakes: a cake for the bride and a cake for the groom. Others are even foregoing traditional cakes for things such as gourmet cupcakes or specialty desserts that are easier to distribute among guests.
7. Place Flowers Throughout
Flowers don't have to just be a centerpiece. Flowers can also be strewn throughout the reception hall, suspended from ceilings, and otherwise integrated into your decor. If you have a favorite flower or a favorite color, this is an excellent time to really highlight it. Of course, it also depends on season; depending on when your wedding will be, different flowers will usually be available.
8. Get Creative With the Lighting
Lighting has a dynamic influence on your reception area. Consider getting creative with lighting, such as suspending holiday lights from the ceiling, using accent lights to create focal pieces, and using candles (or electric candles) for a more intimate and relaxing atmosphere. Don't forget that the coolness or warmness of the lighting will influence the colors around you.
9. Integrate Social Media
While amateur photography is best banned during the wedding itself, the reception is another story. Encourage guests to take photos and post on your special hashtag, while also creating photography opportunities such as areas for guest photos -- such as a flower or balloon arch that depicts the day, time, and event of the picture.
By thinking about your guests and the things that they care about, you can happen upon a number of unique ideas that will make the day truly memorable to them. Of course, what people remember most about any reception is going to be the food. To start developing some creative and clever food ideas today, contact the experts at Laissez-Faire.