Once dinner is served and the toasts are made, the real celebration begins at your post-dinner wedding reception! This is the time to relax, enjoy, and create unforgettable memories with your friends and family. 

Here’s how to plan a perfect post-dinner reception that keeps the energy and excitement going strong:

Set the Mood with Lighting

Lighting plays a crucial role in creating the right atmosphere for your reception. 

Consider:

• Ambient Lighting: Use string lights, lanterns, or uplighting to create a warm and inviting atmosphere.
• Dance Floor Lighting: Consider colorful or moving lights to energize the dance floor.
• Candlelight: Add elegance and a romantic glow with candles on tables and around the venue.

The bottom line is, whatever lighting you choose, you want it on the darker side. The darker it is, the safer your guests feel to let loose a little bit and enjoy themselves on the dance floor.

Curate an Engaging Music Playlist

Music is a key element that sustains the vibe of your reception. Work with your DJ or band to create a playlist that includes:

• Must-Play Songs: Include your favorite hits and songs that are meaningful to you as a couple.
• Guest Favorites: Add crowd-pleasers that get everyone on their feet.
• Slow Dances: Include a few slow songs to offer guests a chance to catch their breath and enjoy a romantic moment.

Remember, it is okay to trust your DJ/Band for this segment of the night. The goal here is to get your guests out of their seats and dancing on the dance floor (or at least mingling around). Let your emcee read the room to see what is working to keep the guest energy high throughout the night.

Plan for Entertainment

Beyond dancing, plan additional entertainment to keep your guests engaged:

Some ideas might include:

Photo Booth

Photo Booths just never seem to go out of style. Photo booths create fun memories with personalized props and backdrops – and if you opt to print your photos – your guests will have a nice keepsake from the evening to take home. If you decide to host a photo booth for your dinner reception, I suggest opening the booth after dinner (skip cocktail hour). I find this timing allows your guests to loosen up a little bit and they are more likely to interact with the photo booth later in the evening.

Live Performances

Consider a surprise performance, instrumentalist, dancers, cultural show, tarot card reading, live artists – just a few ideas to consider.

Games or Interactive Activities

Offer games like giant Jenga, Connect Four or Cornhole for some lighthearted fun. They are always crowd pleasers.

Organize Special Moments

Highlight key moments during the reception to enhance guest experience

Here are some ideas:

First Dance

My favorite time to host your first dance is actually right after you are introduced as a couple for the first time (right before dinner). However, if this feels out of place for you, your first dance can also be a good way to kick off the “open dancing” portion of your evening.

Bouquet & Garter Toss

This is a tradition that is still popular among many couples. If you want to add this tradition to your wedding reception, my two cents is to make sure you have enough ladies and gentlemen for both “tosses”. The last thing you want is to call out your recently divorced friend and your 15 year old cousin as the only “single ladies” in the room to catch your bouquet. Gulp. 

Parent Dances

This is such an important tradition in my opinion. Even if your relationship with your parents is a little strained, or you’re concerned this dance might feel awkward, I would encourage you to still consider hosting parent dances at your wedding reception. Remember, this is more for your parents than it is for you. 

Offer a Late Night Snack

This is always a fun way to surprise and delight your guests. Late night snacks are still not always expected at wedding receptions, so guests are always eager to see what delicious snack will be presented to them later in the evening. 

Here are some fun ideas to consider:

• Snack Stations: Consider mini sliders, tacos, or pizza slices.
• Sweet Treats: Offer a dessert bar with cookies, donuts, or cake pops.

Remember, this is a place to get creative. Is there a special snack that is your ultimate favorite that everyone will know is uniquely you? For example, are you a big buffalo chicken wing guy? This might be a great time to feature and share your favorite chicken wing recipe with your friends and family.

Arrange a Special Farewell

It is always a good idea to have a plan for how you want to end the evening. The goal is to leave your guests wanting more! 

Here are a few ideas to consider:

Grand Finale Song

Choose a favorite song you know your wedding guests love and will know the words to – the goal here is to have everyone shouting the lyrics at the top of their lungs and then come in for a big group hug after the song is over. This is my favorite way to end the evening.

Grand Exit

Another option is to choose a coordinated send off for yourselves. There are many ways to do this, but I suggest skipping trendy things like sparklers (which are often not allowed at many venues) and consider elements like bubbles (bubble guns are the best) and maybe lighted wands. Both of these items photograph well and are usually approved by the venue because they make minimal mess.

Getaway Car

Consider hiring a driver with a fancy car (sports car, vintage car, limo) to drive you off into the “evening” sunset at the end of the night. If you opt to go this route, make sure you have pre-planned for a “go bag” with all your essentials for the evening. This will allow for quick goodbyes and a fun way to end your wedding day. 

Have a Strike Plan

Ensure the end of your reception runs smoothly by creating a strike plan. The last thing you want to have to manage at the end of your wedding day is a bunch of questions regarding what to do at the end of the night. Get these details sorted out WELL in advance.

Make sure the following details are pre-arranged and planned for:

End of the Night Point Person

Whether it’s your Mom, best friend or favorite sober uncle, determine who is in charge of making sure all your decor, gifts, cards, leftover alcohol is accounted for and properly transferred at the end of the evening?

Decor & Event Strike Plan

Who is responsible for breaking down the event? In most cases, these details will be managed by your vendors. However, it is important to double check that you do not also have responsibilities for elements of the strike.

Guest Transportation

 It is always a nice gesture to arrange options for guest transportation if needed, such as shuttles or ride-sharing services. (Especially for guests who may have accidentally over indulged during the wedding.)

End Time

Be sure to confirm any venue restrictions regarding end times or noise limitations. Do everything in your power to make sure these guidelines are adhered to. 

Final Thoughts

The wedding reception is the heart and soul of your wedding. Take some time to consider the different aspects you want to include – and be sure to make them your own. 

With a little strategic planning you’ll create a celebration that is lively, engaging, and will leave your guests talking about your wedding for years to come!

I hope this guide helps you orchestrate a post-dinner reception that perfectly caps off your special day! If you’d like more free wedding planning tips and resources please subscribe to my blog to receive weekly updates to help you plan the wedding of your dreams. 🙂

Happy Planning!

Casey Green Weddings, LLC | 2501 S Village Drive, Cottonwood, AZ 86326