Reception Planning?

Question

Ok - So I'm confused. I have no idea what to do about the reception. We have a cake. We have a venue. We have made arrangements for food. We can't afford a dj so we are setting up a system to play music by itself. (The best man will also be gaurding it in case of inevitable screw up.) Now what?

I don't know how to go about planning this reception. It is more or less a meet and greet with the traditional stuff. We are serving appetizers and finger food. My fiance and I can't dance worth a lick and never have danced so we decided against the first dance. No dad so no father daughter dance. The music is basically just background noise. I know normally the DJ emcees the thing, but I need help. How do I let everyone know what's going on? When do we traditionally do all the fun stuff like the toast, and cake cutting, and bouquet toss?

The wedding isn't till November so we have some time, but I'm lost!

And no, we can't hire a dj. Not enough money. Sorry.

We don't have a lot of tables. The venue we are using is the reception hall of the my church. Alcohol is not allowed. To save money we are preparing all the food ourselves in the days before and that morning. The wedding is at three and my fiance and I have to be on the road around between five and six to get to our hotel in enough time.

We aren't looking for a massive or extremely traditional reception. (Thus far the only traditional thing planned for the ceremony is the dress and processional.) We are only expecting between fifty and seventy five people. We basically want the opportunity to greet our guests and thank them for attending in person. And no reception would be complete without cake and a toast. (Plus my mom bought us engraved goblets for the toast as an engagement gift so we kinda need to utilize those)

Answer 1

Have a plan.

Yuo have to have everybody seated before you make the entrance together as husband and wife. There should be a table where people place their gifts and the groom and bride parents should be greeting the guests. Then you get seated in the honour table with the bridal party. After that the best man toast in your honor then the maid of honor, Then you can play the music and encourage people to dance, Then you serve the food. Then you and your husband can have a small speech. And then cut the cake. After cake you can do the flower toss and the garter toss. After that you could leave the reception to you honeymoon and let someone n charge of the party.

If you are clueless about party planning and etiquette, go to theweddingchannel.com or theknot.com or buy a bridal magazinne with more ideas on how to organize your reception.

Congratulations and good luck./

Answer 2

Reception Planning?
Ok - So I'm confused. I have no idea what to do about the reception. We have a cake. We have a venue. We have made arrangements for food. We can't afford a dj so we are setting up a system to play music by itself. (The best man will also be gaurding it in case of inevitable screw up.) Now what?

I don't know how to go about planning this reception. It is more or less a meet and greet with the traditional stuff. We are serving appetizers and finger food. My fiance and I can't dance worth a lick and never have danced so we decided against the first dance. No dad so no father daughter dance. The music is basically just background noise. I know normally the DJ emcees the thing, but I need help. How do I let everyone know what's going on? When do we traditionally do all the fun stuff like the toast, and cake cutting, and bouquet toss?

The wedding isn't till November so we have some time, but I'm lost!

And no, we can't hire a dj. Not enough money. Sorry.

Additional Details

14 minutes ago
We don't have a lot of tables. The venue we are using is the reception hall of the my church. Alcohol is not allowed. To save money we are preparing all the food ourselves in the days before and that morning. The wedding is at three and my fiance and I have to be on the road around between five and six to get to our hotel in enough time.

We aren't looking for a massive or extremely traditional reception. (Thus far the only traditional thing planned for the ceremony is the dress and processional.) We are only expecting between fifty and seventy five people. We basically want the opportunity to greet our guests and thank them for attending in person. And no reception would be complete without cake and a toast. (Plus my mom bought us engraved goblets for the toast as an engagement gift so we kinda need to utilize those)

Answer 3

From a professional Wedding Consultant:

I had friend's who did this kind of reception after their ceremony as well. You could ask the best man to kind of announce when certain things are about to happen (ie. cutting the cake, bouquet toss, toasts) or if there is someone else in the family that is comfortable at public speaking you can ask him or her to take care of that. Although the DJ is normally the emcee it does not have to be that way. Another friend asked her uncle, who is a pastor, but not the one that performed the ceremony, to act as emcee and host for the reception.

Hope those suggestions help but if you want more ideas, check out the website below and e-mail me your questions.

Answer 4

See if one of your family members or friends not in the wedding can DJ for you (for free). Also, see if someone can give you some pointers on dancing, at least enough to get you though the first dance, you'll be too busy the rest of the night making your rounds to do too much dancing anyways. Now a days, anything goes. I have seen the cake cut before the dinner and after. Before dinner, is helpful because they can cut the cake and have it ready to serve by the time everyone finishes dinner. The toast is usually done right before dinner is served and everyone is seated. The bouquet toss is done sometime after dinner, but early enough that people haven't started to leave yet. I hope this was helpful. Relax and enjoy, this is your day, and as long as you enjoy yourself, that's all that matters!!!

Answer 5

You have everything you need! Except an agenda.
Have you checked www.theknot.com.
No one will notice things that are missing, they will
just be really glad to celebrate your day. What will
the people drink? Check with the venue: sometimes
the drinks are included...sometimes not. Ask about
affordable champagne for the toasts, too. IMPORTANT:
The music is SO MUCH more than background noise.
Since you'll set up a sound system, burn some CD's with
good mood music. It will make the night. Lots of candles
and the GUEST ENTERTAIN THEMSELVES while basking
in the light of your love. Also, please don't exclude the kids. Kids are so cute and memorable on the dance floor. My very favorite photo from our day is me holding hands and dancing with about six little girls, neices and family friends. Adorable!
Best wishes! Have fun!

Answer 6

When I had my wedding I did have enough money for a DJ but not everything else. I asked my good friend who had talent in the video world to do the wedding video as his present to the bride/groom. The same with the photographer. A friend that loved Camera equipment and picture taking was our photographer. We also bought the disposal cameras and placed one on each table. .I asked another couple to be host and hostess. It was their function to direct the rest of the guests through the various parts of each individual function.

Wanna make it really festive?? buy a helium tank and a hundred balloons! You can always inhale the helium later and talk funny.

Answer 7

Ask some friends in your wedding party to be in charge of moving things along. Maybe the best man do a toast or speech and then your maid of honor can do one
You and your husband can both give a speech--like "thank you for coming--blah blah blah"
The background music will be nice
it sounds like it has the potential to feel cozy and intimate. It will give you a chance to mingle and thank all of your guests for coming.
Your mom might want to say something? His parents might want to say something
i bet it will go faster than you think--
Make a list of what you want done and then just delegate jobs to people--i'm sure you have family and friends that are willing to help in any way possible.
congrats!

Answer 8

You usually do the "fun stuff" after dinner while people are still sittng at the tables. You need an MC. You can ask a friend (preferably someone funny) who knows you well if he will be the MC.

Answer 9

I know it's too late as you already have a lot planned, but it seems like you guys should just elope since there is not a lot of money to spend on the wedding.

Answer 10

You could nominate one member of your bridal party to be the "emcee", that should help.

Good luck and congratulations on your upcoming wedding, I wish you a very happy life together.