The Wedding Reception

After the formality of the wedding ceremony, the rest of the day is there for guests to mingle, have fun and celebrate the joyous occasion with the newlyweds. This may be the first opportunity that people have to meet the groom’s family and friends, and vice versa, so creating a relaxed atmosphere that encourages socializing and mingling is a good idea.

Wedding receptions are also seen as a thank you from the newlyweds to their guests for sharing their special day. Making it a memorable event for them to talk about for years to come will be greatly appreciated, especially for those that have travelled long distances.

The focus for this year is the cocktail hour. Traditionally this has been an event purely to keep the guests entertained whilst the newlyweds and their family are having their photographs taken. More recently, couples are using the cocktail hour to get the party started, making it a main contender in the evening’s festivities.

Depending on the theme for the evening, whether humor, adventure, classic or disco, the idea is for guests to be entertained during the cocktail hour with music to get everybody into the party mood. This could range from a sophisticated jazz trio to a more club-like atmosphere, with live music becoming more popular than recorded music. Adventurous couples are introducing entertainers to set the scene, with flamenco dancers and impersonators as examples.

Drinks and appetizers are being offered, with the trend of the season being to serve signature cocktails and hors d’oeuvres elegantly presented. The cocktail hour is the perfect opportunity for the couple to show their true personalities, making the occasion unique to their idea of celebration.

Carmen Electra and Dave Navarro followed their eclectic wedding, with a lively reception featuring pinball machines and waiters serving sushi.

Included in the festivities at Courteney Cox and David Arquette’s wedding were impersonators of 1950’s comedy duo Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, to reflect the couple’s love of laughter.

Following the cocktail hour, it is customary for the bridal party to greet their guests in a receiving line as they enter the dining area. However, some couples are now opting to forego the receiving line, and to see guests individually, thanking them personally and handing out the