A Detailed Look At The Wedding Reception

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The wedding reception is usually what everyone looks forward to. Sure, the ceremony is fun and the planning is a great time, but the reception is where everyone gets to come out of their shell and get rewarded for all of their hard work.

If you have been to a wedding reception before you are probably aware of the basic details that go along with this event. Of course every reception is different, but there is usually a stage of events that unfold one after another. For people that have never been to a reception this may seem a bit structured, but it is all just to help the occasion run smoothly.

The receiving line is one of the first things that you will notice about any reception. This is where the couple stands along with their parents in order to greet all of the guests. For the couple this is a great way to thank everybody for coming to the wedding, and also ensure that they are comfortable with everything. In addition, this is a great chance for both sets of parents to introduce guests to each other. The groom's parents will probably have friends that the bride's parents do not know, and vice versa. By getting this out of the way before the reception starts, the ice will be broken from the beginning and hopefully all of the guests will feel comfortable around one another.

The receiving line is more important at larger weddings. Can you imagine trying to hunt everybody down after the reception starts in order to say thanks? By having a receiving line this can all be done before the event really gets started. It also helps to ensure that you do not miss anybody. There is nothing worse than inviting somebody to your wedding and never thanking them.

On the other hand, if you are having a very small wedding you may or may not want to have a receiving line. It can be a very nice thing to do, but if you only have a few guests it really isn't a necessity, and you may wish to skip it. Since there will not be a lot of people in attendance, you may want to spend some time with each of the guests during the reception itself.

As far as the order of the receiving line is concerned, tradition dictates that the first people in the line are the bride's parents, followed by the newlyweds, the groom's parents, and then the bridesmaids.

If you are not going to have a receiving line at the beginning of the reception, it is quite important that you make yourself accessible to every guest. The best way to do this is by standing in the center of the room. This allows everyone to see where you are at, and in turn they will approach you with their congratulations. Try to avoid getting lost in the crowd - it shouldn't be too hard to do. You don't have to stay in the middle of the room the entire reception; just long enough so that the guests can find you without any hassle.

After the receiving line, guests are going to want to go sit down. Here's where a seating plan comes in handy. Make sure that the seating plan you set up is easy for everyone to follow, and that it also allows people to socialize with one another.

If you are having a reception with a seated meal, buffet or served, you will want to have a seating plan. It will ensure that everyone has a place to sit, and that they will be comfortable during their meal. If you're not crazy about the idea you may want to assign guests to a particular table, but not a particular seat.

After all of the seating is taken care of, the real fun starts. The first dance of the reception does not have to necessarily be between the bride and the groom, but when they hit the dance floor together for the first time, everyone else should clear out of the way. This way the newlyweds can have their first dance together without being interrupted; it will also give the guests the chance to watch the happily married couple together.

Later on, dances between the mother/son and father/daughter usually take place. And of course all of the guests are encouraged to jump in as well.

In many cases, the bride and groom will choose a song to dance to during the first dance. They can choose something that is personal to them, or a song that they both agree on before the wedding.

The best man usually gives the first toast of the evening. Following him is a toast by the groom and then the bride. Remember that if you are giving a toast it should be tastefully done. There is no point in being crude or obnoxious. Make sure that whatever you say that it is in the spirit of the occasion and appropriate for everyone that is in attendance.

Moving on, the bouquet and garter toss are also a highlight of the reception. Tradition states that the person who catches each of these is going to be the next to get married; not necessarily to each other though.

During the bouquet toss, the bride will turn her back to a crowd of single women and throw the bouquet.

The garter toss consists of the groom removing it from the bride's leg, and then tossing it into a crowd of single men. The two people that catch these will then share a dance together.

Towards the end of the reception the cake is usually cut. The only exception is if you are having a cake and champagne reception. In this case you will cut the cake after the receiving line. During this process, the groom puts his hand over the bride's, and they cut the first slice together. They then feed each other a piece of the cake.

Finally, the couple may either stay at the reception until it ends, or make a getaway. Leaving early is common among couple's that are heading out on their honeymoon that same day. However, nowadays many couples don't go on their honeymoon the same day as the wedding, so if you don't have to jet off right there and then why not stick around and spend some more time with the people closest to you?

Overall, the wedding reception is a great time. Following an order and staying organized will help to ensure that everything is a success.

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