I go to a handful of wedding receptions each month, so I’ve seen it all! I have plenty of ideas of things I’d like to try if I were to have my own wedding reception again, but since I’m happy with the marriage I’ve got, instead I’d love to share all my ideas with future brides who might still be in the planning stages! Take a look at the ideas below and comment your favorite or your thoughts if you’d tried it!

Don’t host a receiving line.

Many guests, especially those of the older generation, will expect there to be a receiving line. This is where many met members of the family or wedding party for the first time, however, it’s a big burden on an already tired bride and groom who would probably appreciate some time off their feet and mingling with their other guests. Instead, include a full sit-down dinner as part of your reception with speeches by the crucial members of the wedding party and then spend the rest of the evening actually mingling. Remember that these guests may have traveled a long way (and brought you gifts!) so the least you could do is introduce yourself and your new spouse, and then spend the rest of the evening dancing and partying.

Make your reception unique to you.

Another great way guests can get to know you or your new spouse if they didn’t already before is through your talents. Choreograph a special dance, sing a song, or recite a poem dedicated to your spouse. Display your talents around the reception, like artwork or photography or a collection that is important to you and your fiancé. You could even work out a special entrance or flash mob dance with your wedding party to show off your character!

Display the schedule of events.

Not many brides planning their own wedding think to have a schedule or even a menu displayed, but when you have a big reception with lots of guests and activities, this is super helpful for everyone involved from the members of the wedding party to your hard-of-hearing grandma who doesn’t really know what’s going on and is just happy to be celebrating there with you. You don’t even need to include the times -- keep it more flexible by just listing the order of events. This gives everyone peace of mind to know what’s coming up and to make sure they don’t miss something.

Provide a welcome speech to start things off.

Ask one of your fathers or the best man to start off the reception with a welcome speech or toast as guests gather in the main hall entering the reception. The bride and groom may also choose to say a few words to those who have come which is a wonderful way to express your gratitude for the sacrifices made to be there with you to celebrate your big day. Make sure you ask all speakers or toasters to prepare things in advance so it’s a smooth welcome, and not unexpected.

Organize your schedule for efficiency.

I love a good schedule! I’ve seen couples use various reception activities as a “distraction” for getting other activities ready. For example, have your guests gather around and watch you cut your cake together while helpers prepare the rest of the desserts and lay them out on the dessert table to avoid chaos as guests swarm the newly-placed treats. You could also use a slideshow or prepared song/story from someone in the wedding party as a chance for the bride and groom to get ready for dancing or get changed for their departure.

Cater the dance structure to suit you.

If you’re not a dancer, you absolutely don’t need to step foot on a dance floor. You can play music and let guests dance themselves while you mingle or skip the dancing and just play music while you enjoy a nice dinner reception. If you are interested in dancing the special father/daughter, first dance, and mother/son dances without the focus being all on you, consider choosing just one song to dance the first part with your parents and switch into dancing together for the last part. It’s your reception -- you get to set the pace and the schedule for the day!

Share a slideshow.

Among all the possible activities or displays housed at a reception, having a slideshow of baby/childhood images or pictures of your time together as a couple is one of the coolest and most memorable ways to guests to get to know you and see your relationship as it has grown. You can share a slideshow set to music as a formal part of the reception, as a scheduled activity, or you can opt to display the pictures on TVs set around the reception hall for people to watch as they pass by.

I hope these tips help you prepare and plan for your upcoming wedding reception with ease! Leave any other ideas below in the comments.