We're having a small wedding at our church and the reception will be in the church hall. Our families are complete opposites and won't mingle very well. Because of my family we are forced to have a dry wedding which his family won't be too happy about. For the reception we were planning on having cake only. What are some ideas of things we could do during the reception so it's not a total bore?
2007-10-22 04:45:24 · 10 answers · asked by KittyKitty 2 in Family & Relationships ➔ Weddings
Hi and congratulations!
Don't worry about it....your groom's family will get over it.
A couple of suggestions:
~ You could make it a little more than just cake...it could be a "dessert" reception. Have CAKE, of course, but maybe also some brownies or other "bars", fruit tray, cheese and crackers, punch, and coffee.
~ This is what was done at my sister's wedding:
We had a table and called it "A Celebration of Marriage"
She made a display with everyone's wedding picture that she could get her hands on (wedding guests, of course). We put them in cheap frames that you can buy at the dollar store. Next to it, or tucked into the corner of the frame was the name of the couple and their wedding date. This gives your guests something to look at.
~ Get a dvd made and show it during the reception. This is so nice and I have been to a reception where it was done. It's basically a "picture show" of you and your groom starting from babies all the way up to your engagement! Look into places that can do this for you....usually there is music playing (on the dvd itself) as the pages are flipping. It's REALLY NICE!
~ Have the maid of honor/best man do toasts! It doesn't matter that it's not alcohol that you are toasting with. A toast is simply a "good luck wish"
~ Have soft music playing on an ipod for background music!
~ Have nice table centerpieces. If you can afford it, get small vases and put 1 or 2 roses in with some greens and place this on a mirror. Then next to it, place some votives or tealight candles....very elegant!
~ You and your groom make a point of going around to all the tables to visit with your guests.
Personally, I would LOVE to go to a reception like this. Not all stuffy and formal....more laid back.
Good luck!
2007-10-22 17:41:19 · answer #1 · answered by iloveweddings 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Punch and cake receptions are difficult. Hopefully you are planning to take all your pictures ahead of time--otherwise they will have to mingle for 30-45 minutes. Does your church even allow you to play music? Many do not.
Perhaps make a slideshow of pictures of the two of you together. Some from your childhood. Or put framed pictures all around the room so that they wander around instead of sitting in groups. We have a collage that my husband and I made of things we have seen and done throughout the years. We brought it to the rehearsal and the reception and a lot of people saw it and loved looking at all the pictures.
One thing with punch and cake is that the reception will be very short. So what are you planning on doing? First dance, dance with father, bouquet toss? You said it's very small. The last wedding I went to that the reception was in the church hall, she didn't do any of those elements. Pretty much expect that after you've done the dances and cake cutting, people have had a chance to speak to you and will head out within an hour or two max.
I personally hate it--but I know some people love the idea of the DJ leading those dances where they find out who has been married the longest, who has been married the shortest, etc. One thing my in-law did at the rehearsal (but you could do at the reception) is she had little scraps of paper--all different sizes that she had everyone write down some marriage advice. A little bit of words to live by. We read them when we got back from the honeymoon and most of them were really great.
2007-10-22 04:57:53 · answer #2 · answered by phantom_of_valkyrie 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First, you are not "forced" to do anything. This is your wedding. The choice is yours. I realize your family may be saying that they will not pay for anything if there is alcohol, but that is still your choice. Certainly if you agree to have a dry wedding that is a valid choice, but if you would prefer to have a champagne toast, or even a full bar, that too is a valid choice.
Now if you are indeed going to have a dry wedding reception, nothing needs to be any different from a wedding with a bar. Choose your music (band, dee jay, or just a family member willing to run the cd player). Set up your cake table, choose a photographer and do all the regular things, throw the bouquet, take the pictures, enjoy your day.
If you are looking for a way to get people mingling, buy an assortment of inexpensive 5 X 7 frames and set up old family pictures from both sides all around the room, on the tables, etc. Encourage people to find the pictures of "Great Aunt Carol" or Grandma or the new baby. It gives people something to focus on and talk about other than the lack of alcohol.
Congratulations and good luck.
2007-10-22 05:03:02 · answer #3 · answered by notmuchofacook 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Make the table decorations yourself. Make the favors yourself. Use a bird cage for any cards that you receive. Guests can just slip them between the bars of the cage. Cut the number of people invited to the reception. That's the best way to cut costs. Don't serve alcohol. Have cupcakes instead of a wedding cake or do the top two layers of the cake as styrofoam and a small layer as part of the bottom layer for you to cut. Then serve sheet cakes as the wedding cake. Guests won't know the difference as the cake is cut and then brought out. Serve finger foods instead of a hot buffet or sit down dinner. Put your favorite music on CD's and then have a friend play them through a sound system to cut out the cost of the DJ. Use your car instead of a limo for transportation from the church to the reception site. Have a friend drive you. See if the reception site will give you a reduced cost if you cut the number of hours that you rent the facility.
2016-04-09 21:39:34 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've been to lots of church hall receptions. They tend to put the honor on the marriage, not on the party. That's a good thing!
Plan for the reception to last one hour, maximum. That's the longest anybody should stay without being served food.
Have ginger ale punch or something else sparkling, and have toasts. One from your father, one from his father, one from the officiant.
Ask your mother to tell three things she loves about the groom. He can ask his mother to tell three things she loves about you.
Have somebody to play light piano music for background.
Ask your attendants (bridesmaids & groomsmen) to take responsibility for mingling with the guests. Ask them to talk to anybody standing alone, make introductions between the members of the two families. Especially if there are children and teenagers, they don't know how to mingle but will appreciate being brought together.
Don't pout, and just expect his parents to be mature enough to realize that your family has your own way of doing things. If necessary, your husband can suggest that his parents take their whole family off for an "afterparty" without the two of you.
2007-10-22 04:59:09 · answer #5 · answered by noname 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Make a gallery poster of photos of yourself and your husband to be from childhood up to your engagement, and display them for all the guests to enjoy.
Have a photo of the two of you mounted with a large matt, then let everyone sign the matt like a guest book.
Give everyone a disposable camera and ask them to take photos of other guests and them place them in a basket or box before they leave.
If you have child guests at the reception, print off free coloring pages and hand them colored pencils and a coloring book to keep them busy. Perhaps some of the older guests will even join in.
2007-10-22 04:53:20 · answer #6 · answered by BluesMutha 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
have some of your photo albums there so people can look though pictures of your lives together so far. that will get people to interact with each other. have some music in the background, maybe make a CD of your favorite songs. have some activities for the kids to keep busy. You can probly just open all your presents there in front of them to have something else to do. I'd plan on extending the party to a bar later in the night. Then you can invite the family and friends that want to drink there to celebrate further with you!
2007-10-22 04:51:59 · answer #7 · answered by Sarahz 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
no booze doesn't have to equal boring party. Play some really fun music to get people dancing. Mingle with your guests and get lots of pictures with them. Have friends and family stand up and give their best piece of marital advice to the happy couple. Arrange a slideshow with music ( you can include pictures of the both of you growing up, and through your dating years....people love happy pictures!)
Congratulations!
2007-10-22 04:57:34 · answer #8 · answered by lee's girl 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
there are some awesome suggestions here, Print them all out!
A good time can be had without alcohol, and you won't have to edit your pictures or video.
My very very best wishes to you, be happy, and have some little kitties!
2007-10-22 05:17:57 · answer #9 · answered by Icewomanblockstheshot 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Play music, have drinks, have your best man/maid of honor make a speech.
2007-10-22 04:56:30 · answer #10 · answered by Mimi 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋