What are you doing thats a little different?

[bholthof]

Hi ladies,

 

I'm currently debating what I want to do about a reception after the ceremony.

 

Since its not a traditional wedding, I'm wondering what you may have done for a reception that was/will a little different. Since we're only probably going to have about 20 people there, I don't really see the point in having a dance - there just aren't enough people who aren't family, and my family isn't really big on dancing anyway. But at the same time, I don't want to just have a ceremony and thats it for the wedding day - everybody goes off and enjoys thier vacation.

 

Our ceremony is at 3, so I'm thinking that after the ceremony we have a short cake and champagne reception, then go and take pictures while there is still good light, then have a sit down dinner with our guests in the restaurant. There is a disco at the resort, so I'm thinking that after dinner, if people want (and they aren't too tired from the day) we could just go there and party. Or not. I don't know.

 

So my question is: What are you doing (if anything) that is different from the traditional wedding reception? Aside from having it at a destination, that is.

 

Or, if you are doing the whole dinner and dance shindig, where/how are you doing that? What made you decide to do it that way?

 

Thanks ladies!

[GracieBebe]

I would definitely have some music there, even if it's just in the background like an ipod because music really sets the mood of a party/reception. We only had 25 people, plus us, and we had a dj. However, we are very particular about the music that we liked and so my hubby put together his own compilation of songs that he personally edited to fill about 2.5 hours of time as well as our 1st dance (the dj played for 1.5 hours after the first dance and before our compilation and then all the dj had to do was play our music). We knew less than half (if even that) would probably be dancing as most of our friends and family are not dancers, but it was still a very good time. Luckily, our venue also had a billiards room and a foozball table for people to play with.

 

We also borrowed this idea from another BDW'er. We had all the women participate in the bouquet toss and all the men participate in the garter toss and the winners of each got a prize. That way, because our group was so small, it felt more like a real bouquet and garter toss with that many people participating. Also, we wouldn't have to single out anybody who was actually single since there were only 4 single women and 1 single man.

[aimee!]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GracieBebe We also borrowed this idea from another BDW'er. We had all the women participate in the bouquet toss and all the men participate in the garter toss and the winners of each got a prize.

What a great idea! Thanks for sharing-- I hadn't even thought about that.

[caribbeanLover]

I thought about doing the whole disco thing. But it being my wedding (even tho i'm having AHR) I wanted this day to be special, with the bouquet toss, garter toss the whole nine yards. So I came up with the idea to get a few big paper lanterns and stick lcd ligthts in them. Get a BM to leave dinner a little early to set it up in one of the gazebo's. I have an Ipod, I will be buying a docking system with speakers for our source of music. SO it'll be private without paying for private reception.

[SusieQ]

We are getting married at 3pm and doing the toast and pictures before dinner. Then we will have a sit down dinner at the steakhouse. Our plan is then to have a pool side reception. There we can do speeches and first dance ect.... My stepdaughter is a dancer and she has planned to do a special dance for us, she has also planned to get other people involved with a couple other songs. I think the songs are "If you like then you should have put a ring on it" and Who let the dogs out... She is also a dance instructor so she'll get them going. Otherwise just background music and chit chat for 2 hours.

[IMPPEARL]

Once again my photographer helped me out here. We are also doing a 3pm ceremony, then photos, dinner at 7, dancing at 9. Will will be done by 11pm, and that gives people a choice of what they want to do from there. I am assuming the younger crowed will come with us to the Disco and party the night away (after all I plan on getting my wear of my dress lol) and the older group will go far a walk/bed something...

[TeNeil]

After dinner we are planning on going to the disco with our family and friends. There will only be about 15 of us, so we didn't see the point in renting a dj or poolside reception. I'm sure we will meet some new people and party the night away!!

[spazycat6454]

We will be getting married at Astwood park in Bermuda at 3:30 and will be having some light refreshments there while we take pictures. Then we will heading back to the cruise ship for dinner with our group in the specialty restaurant. After dinner my new husband and I will be heading to the disco with any guests who want to join us.

[isaidyes]

Our wedding is at 1pm. We are planning on doing photos right after. Dinner will be held at 6. We still can't decide if we should have a private reception at the beach or the pool or have a semi-private reception at the steakhouse...

[caribbeanLover]

Quote:

Originally Posted by isaidyes Our wedding is at 1pm. We are planning on doing photos right after. Dinner will be held at 6. We still can't decide if we should have a private reception at the beach or the pool or have a semi-private reception at the steakhouse...

which resort did you pick in ocho rios?