There may be some downtime between your ceremony and reception (unless both take place at the same venue), which should be filled by a cocktail hour consisting of drinks, hors d’oeuvres and entertainment.
Make sure your musicians have access to a copy of the music you plan to use during the ceremony, to avoid them beginning too early and running out of time.
1. Create a timeline
Planning your wedding requires creating a timeline to ensure everything runs smoothly on the big day and don’t miss any key moments. This can reduce stress on the day while guaranteeing no missed memories!
To create your wedding day timeline, begin by noting down any non-negotiable aspects such as ceremony time or when you need to leave for reception. Once these details have been written down, begin estimating how long other activities on your list might take; this will give an indication of the amount of time each one deserves.
If you don’t consider yourself to be particularly organized, seeking professional assistance when creating your wedding timeline could be invaluable. A wedding planner will keep track of all the key events and activities happening on your big day while helping identify any gaps that need filling in your timeline.
Before heading over to your reception venue, it’s ideal to start planning your timeline immediately following your ceremony. This gives guests an opportunity to mingle and reminisce about what was sure to be an unforgettable ceremony experience. Furthermore, this would also be the ideal moment for the emcee to introduce you and your partner, so everyone can welcome you all with applause when entering your reception space.
Allow at least 30 minutes for your receiving line. This time allows you and your partner to welcome guests arriving from cocktail hour or already inside the venue, before assigning their seats if applicable or enjoying drinks and appetizers.
2. Create a seating chart
Created via spreadsheet or third-party service, creating a seating chart is the best way to avoid those embarrassing moments of guests wandering aimlessly and creating unnecessary stress during your big event. A seating chart also ensures your family and friends get together comfortably at one table.
Arranging tables based on relationships is often recommended, such as high school, college, work and other connections. This makes it easier for everyone to locate people they know quickly and start conversations quickly. If your wedding features multiple friendship groups that might clash on wedding day, creating separate tables may help avoid awkward interactions among attendees.
If your wedding includes children, it is often beneficial to create a separate table where they can sit with their parents and siblings – this way they can chat freely while having fun while you can rest easy knowing they’re being cared for by those closest to them.
At your wedding, there will undoubtedly be couples with some contentious history – whether ex-spouses, old foes or otherwise. Be mindful when arranging the seating chart to avoid awkward conversations between these pairs if possible; otherwise be sure to notify both beforehand so they are prepared for what could potentially be an uncomfortable night. Also keep in mind that older guests may need assistance finding their table arrangements without clearly marked names and table numbers; providing them with maps of your venue as well as alphabetized lists (alphabetized by last name) will help them easily locate it quickly.
3. Create a sign-in sheet
Sign-in sheets might not be glamorous elements on your wedding to-do list, but they can be vitally important. A sign-in sheet allows you to track who will attend and helps with guest logistics if you’re hosting guests from out-of-town.
As you add guests, the template will automatically update your headcount in the right column of the spreadsheet. When adding guests, the template also lets you toggle whether or not they have received an invitation and keep track of how many RSVP cards have yet to be sent out.
Utilizing this worksheet to plan out a seating chart is one of its key advantages. You can easily see how many tables are available and which will fit the most guests based on your confirmed guest list, helping you choose a venue size suitable for you.
You can use this sheet to plan out favors as well. Simply set a time slot for each favor so no one gets served at once and have an easier time keeping tabs on who has and has not returned theirs yet.
As your reception draws to a close, make sure someone is assigned to assist guests with leaving and heading towards their vehicles (cars, buses or trains!). Also having someone available to guard gifts could prove useful; people often forget them or lose them!
4. Create a drink menu
An abundance of drinks at any wedding reception is an absolute necessity, providing guests with excitement during toasts while simultaneously keeping them hydrated and energized throughout the night. To ensure that guests can easily locate what they desire, create eye-catching menu signage. Choose between various materials and styles like Lucite acrylic wood or marquee signs; for an added pop of color try uplighting!
Create a more memorable drink menu by designing a signature cocktail that speaks to both you and your partner, such as a mojito inspired by your beach trip or spiked apple cider with cinnamon, ginger and dark rum for fall or winter weddings. If your wedding takes place at a vineyard or winery, why not design a custom wine label and include that on your drink menu as well?
Make sure your guests, including designated drivers and those who prefer not to drink alcohol, have plenty of non-alcoholic options at your event, from DIY drink stations filled with juices, syrups and fruits so they can create their own beverage to refreshing mocktails or lemonades while enjoying their game of online slots on per the sites reviewed on the Yoakim Bridge.
Planning a drink menu that matches the overall theme of your wedding should be top priority when setting one up. For instance, rustic weddings could benefit from displaying their menu on wooden plaques while for more modern affairs, clear acrylic signs would do just fine – or have one printed with text like Alannah Rae Calligraphy’s sign that reads “cheers”. Furthermore, don’t forget all of the essential glassware necessary for hosting such as shot glasses, wine glasses, pint glasses for beer consumption, flutes/cassettes to hold champagne/cascades!
5. Create a photo booth
Photo booths provide guests with endless entertainment throughout your wedding night and allow them to create lasting memories they will cherish for years. You can rent a professional booth that prints color or black and white photos directly on paper, or use an app on smartphones that delivers digital images for social media sharing – either way, offering guests fun backgrounds and quirky props will encourage even the most formal guests to unleash their silly side and join the fun.
Your photo booth can be as simple or elaborate as desired, but it must be easy for guests to find. If renting one with attendant, make sure directional signs point people in the right direction; otherwise consider setting it in an out of the way corner that doesn’t interfere with traffic flow or block access to your dance floor.
Backdrops for weddings come in all forms – paper, cloth, cardboard and foam board are just some of the materials that can be used – from paper to cloth to cardboard to foam board and even inflatable photo booths! When it comes to choosing the ideal backdrop, choose something that complements both your theme and venue aesthetic, such as this chalkboard background from Luckandluck that features customized text with each couple’s names added directly onto it!
Get creative when selecting props for your booth. Gather fun hats, feather boas, glasses and sign props (such as this wedding-themed sign from Etsy) as well as sign props (we particularly liked this wedding-themed one on Etsy). Get artistic with the backdrop by using chalkboard paint to transform any surface into an instant canvas or hanging paper cutouts to give the photo booth its own distinct character. Perhaps adding a changeable letter board or dry erase chalkboard so guests can add personalized messages containing names or dates on their photos can enhance any experience