4 Essential Tips For Executing A Flawless Wedding Reception [ft. Boston Wedding Planners]

Your wedding day is all about celebrating the love between you and your special someone....but your goal may also be to throw the most incredible wedding reception ever! After all, it can be one of the most memorable parts of the whole wedding if it's done just right. You want it to stand out from others and have it be something that your family and friends continue to talk about for years to come.

But how do you make your big day stand out from the crowd? To help you plan the perfect wedding reception,we teamed up with a couple of Boston's top wedding planners to give you the best advice on how to create a completely memorable reception experience.

Take a look at the top wedding reception advice from Boston's finest wedding planners:

1. Create A Detailed Timeline & Keep Things Moving

Bree from Events By Bree Oates says, most couples overlook the importance of scheduling out their big day. Creating a timeline from the minute you wake up until the lights go out in the venue is the key to a successful wedding reception. Not only does your wedding party, guests and vendors appreciate this, but so will you! Be sure to include everything on your timeline from hair/makeup to cutting the cake, vendor deliveries to first dances and everything in between. The most important thing to remember is to make sure you have someone to execute the timeline. Be sure the person is NOT you or anyone in your wedding party (that includes your mother). It's best to hire a wedding planner to assist with this. If you are a DIY kind of girl, that's OK. Most wedding planners have a "day-of coordinating" package, which is perfect to help create and execute your timeline.

Paula from Marrero Events says, the single most important element in ensuring a flawless wedding reception is to dedicate sufficient time to creating a workable timeline/ flow of event with a professional coordinator whose main focus is solely managing all moving parts from hair and makeup until the last dance. While most venues may provide a site coordinator for the day, there is no one that can compare to having your own personal "advocate" on the wedding weekend, a team who knows exactly what you want (and don't want), how to tend to your family, special guests needs and ensure that everything you worked so hard to achieve is brought to life.

2. Find A New Twist On The Classics

Photo via Events By Bree Oates (Bree & Brian's Wedding)

There are plenty of classics you can change up. It is getting more common for couples to push away from traditional and go their own route. This not only makes your reception unique, but your guests will appreciate experiencing something different. When you put a twist on the classics, it gives you more time to have fun with your family and friends.

Bree from Events By Bree Oates says,A good amount of time during your reception is taken up by a meal. Be sure to treat your guests to something special and personal. Everyone knows you need to have a beef, chicken/fish and vegetarian option, but they don't have to be the same old wedding food. Talk to your venue or caterer about creating something new and different. Even if you aren't a big foodie, your caterer can whip something up that is special and will delight your guests. Sometimes it's as simple as using local and seasonal ingredients. Think outside the box, and give your guests something that will keep them full and happy throughout your reception.

Mindy from AE Events says, it has been a tradition for years and years for the couple to cut the cake together and feed it to each other, but not having a cake is becoming more and more popular. It ends up being one of those things that people don't eat because they are too full from dinner. The new way to go is still having a dessert but trading the cake in for assorted cupcakes or a variety of pies or doughnuts. This still gives your guest an option for something sweet, but in a smaller form ( and cheaper on your end)!

Speeches from parents and members of the wedding party are great and something the bride and groom cherish, but sometimes they can take up more time than they should. The best ways to change this up is to have the speeches at a different time, like at the rehearsal dinner. You'll still get the special moment of hearing the kind words, but not have it take up a chunk of your big day.

Lastly, formal dances, depending on the importance it holds to you. If it's not something you have ever been a fan of you can skip it and have the whole night on the dance floor with all your guests.

3. Choose Your Music Carefully

Bree from Events By Bree Oates says, music sets the tone for any party, and it's especially important at a wedding. Whether you decided to go with a DJ or live band, be sure your music is appropriate for your audience. Guests want something they can dance to all night - a great mix of slow and fast,old and new is typically the best to satisfy your entire guest list. They also want to see you dance! If the couple is dancing, the guests are dancing. Remember you as the guests of honor set the tone for the wedding, so put your dancing shoes on and have fun. The best weddings are the one were the dance floor is packed all night.

4. Incorporate Personal Touches

Photo via AE Events (Stephanie & Jamie's Wedding, Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston)

Mindy from AE Events says, when planning your wedding reception, remember that this is a symbol of you, so why not throw some personal touches in there. Make the event personal to you and your S.O with smaller details that are unique. For example, if the two of you enjoy traveling, name every table after a country or place the two of you have been together. If there is extra room in your budget, upgrade the house linens by mixing and matching or personalizing them with initials. There is an endless amount of ways to make your reception personal. Try not to copy what you see online, use those as your tools and inspiration, but always make your reception one-of-a-kind!

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