8 Add Ons for Your Wedding Reception

There are a whole lot of things to take into account when planning a wedding. We have covered plenty of topics already, from the invitations through to the honeymoon, but there is just one more thing we need to cover before you can say that you know everything about planning a wedding: what happens after the ceremony?

No, we’re not talking about the romantic interlude in a nondescript hotel room (unless you count the elevator), though if that is what you want then by all means go right ahead and knock yourself out. We’re talking about the actual reception: the party itself.

There are plenty of little things you can do to add a personal touch to your special day, and giving some thought to how you handle your wedding reception will only add to the feeling that this day is all about you, making it feel even more like “the best day ever” than any other event on your calendar. With that in mind let’s take a look at eight ideas for adding extra value onto your wedding reception package.

Remember Though…

Planning early will also allow plenty of time for revisions or alterations if you find that something does not turn out quite like you wanted it, which means that by the time your big day comes around you’ll feel completely confident with all aspects of how it will play out.

So if you’re ready, let’s get to it!

1. Table Decorations 

Nothing shouts “wedding reception” more loudly than table decorations, so make sure to allocate some time during your schedule to get out the glue gun and start sticking sparkly things on everything in sight. You’ll need a theme of course (the traditional white isn’t going to cut it these days) but beyond that there’s no limit on what material works best – from fabric swatches to candies to shells all will add extra color and personality to your reception area.

2. Favors For Your Guests

Your wedding day is all about making your guests feel special, and a fine way to do that is by giving them a gift to take home. While there are plenty of places you could go for favors, from your local party store through to big online retailers, you can save some money by creating your own little tokens of appreciation – just be sure not to give anybody anything too personal (like the dress or tuxedo) as it’s liable to end up on Ebay!

3. A Photobooth

These days a photobooth is a must have at any wedding reception, and there are plenty of companies out there who can provide you with a turnkey booth rental service. If it’s not in the budget however then why not get creative? You don’t need to rent an actual booth – just get some fun props and let your guests know that they’re welcome to grab their camera phones and snap away while they party.

4. A Cocktail Bar

Don’t want to break the bank with your food and drink bill? Why not let guests help themselves for free by setting up your own cocktail bar. There are plenty of bartenders out there who can provide you with someone to man the draft beer taps, explaining what each beverage tastes like as they go, while you supply the glasses (and possibly some supplies for mixing drinks) and watch the money roll in!

5. Photo Albums

Guests love nothing more than reminiscing over pictures after a wedding reception – it helps them feel included in all of the celebrations without in any way infringing on their personal space. Provide an album or two (or three!) at different locations around your reception area so guests can grab a copy of photos that they like and write a few words or memories down in the book.

6. Miniature Wedding Cakes

One of the most intriguing aspects of wedding receptions is the cake, so why not add some extra fun to proceedings by setting up a small replica of your wedding cake for guests to enjoy? You’ll need plenty of time to practice such skills as frosting and pastry, but once you’ve done that all you need to do is personalize it with edible decoration – and voila!

7. Your Favorite Band

There really is no greater thrill for a bride and groom than seeing their favorite band perform live, but this can be a costly way to keep your guests entertained with the minimum of fuss. You may, however, be able to negotiate a special deal if you guarantee the band a big enough crowd as many bands love nothing more than performing in front of large numbers of people.

8. A Live Webcast

In these days of Skype and Facebook it’s good to know that you’ll never have to miss out on any aspect of your own wedding day – even if you’re thousands of miles away from home! Well known companies such as www.weddingwire.com offer live video streaming so anybody who wants to tune in from anywhere in the world can do so, catching all of the speeches and live footage as it unfolds.

Well there you go – Here are eight add ons for your wedding reception. They’ll definitely add some extra fun and excitement into your special day without breaking the bank in the process. Of course spending more doesn’t always equal having more fun, so try some of these tips for yourself and see which ones work best with your own jigsaw puzzle!

A Candy Buffet

Don’t forget the finale – that’s right, it’s time to serve up some sweet treats on your special day! You can buy candy by the kilo or you can try making your own (cake pops are all the rage right now). Either way, this is one detail that will be unforgettable (and oh-so-sweet)!

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