Wedding receptions cannot be complete without a program that will entertain your guests and celebrate you as newlyweds. But there can be difficulties you can't anticipate, so to give you a heads up, Mavreen Macalindong of Mavie Events Management offers a few tips to help you plan a smooth sailing program flow from your grand entrance to your big send-off.
Allot enough time for the program.
Mavreen shares that two hours should be enough to cover the essentials. She explains, "Remember that wedding programs that are too long can be dragging to your guests--but make sure that it's not too short as well. If you have guests from out of town, you might also want to consider arranging your program in such a way that they won't miss the important parts if they decide to leave early."
Provide guests with something to nibble on.
Mavreen says, "Couples should consider serving cocktail food so guests won't feel starved before the reception program starts, especially since weddings can have long waiting time between the ceremony and the reception." Serving appetizers can help foster a pleasant mood at the party.
Think of the type of guests you have.
Preparing icebreakers is a good way to encourage guests to let their hair down. "Keep in mind that the games you include in your program should be based on the type of guests you have. Personalize your reception program and make sure to incorporate your style into it. And minimize well-wishers [to keep the program from becoming dragging]," shares Mavreen.
Don't hesitate to modify some parts of the traditional reception.
"The most common problem I've encountered is getting the guests to participate in the bouqet and garter toss game. Guests usually resist joining because of the hearsay that the winner will be next-in-line in getting married. We usually alter the traditional games to ensure that all guests will enjoy them," says Mavreen. She adds, "You can opt to recreate the bouquet and garter toss if you think your guests are not up to it. If you have guests that are more conservative, you can skip the part of wearing the garter after the toss to avoid the awkwardness. Feel free to recreate games that will reflect your personality as a couple."
Let your DJ and host set the tone of the program.
Mavreen shares, "Ensure that the music is always in tune with the program style. You can prepare a list of songs designated for each part the program (i.e. cocktail, entrance, first dance). Make sure to give a copy to your DJ or sound booth, and discuss it with your host. A host is also key to keep guests [energetic]--choose one who can entertain your type of guests, be it young or old. He should be able to think on his feet [to avoid] dull moments in case there are changes in the program.
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