Wedding Reception Ideas
10 Tips On How To Give A Good Wedding Speech
It is completely natural to be a bit nervous about delivering a speech, especially at a wedding. There isn’t much to it when you think about the simplicity of it all. Most people are too busy critiquing other areas of the wedding to notice flaws in the speech. However, we’ve put together a few tips to help you with your wedding speech.
1. Learn Your Speech
This simply means that you should try to remember the majority of the speech as best you can. Memorizing your speech will help prevent chaos in the event you don’t have the written speech with you or if it has been misplaced. You could also consider memorizing the major points and free flow from those points without sounding confused.
2. Rehearse Your Speech
It’s a good idea to rehearse your speech in order to become familiar with what you want to say. This will help you adapt a flow for your speech that delivers well.
3. Limit the Drinks
Don’t make the mistake of thinking that a few drinks will relax your nerve because it could cause you to forget every line.
4. Display Confidence
Make sure you appear confident and it will help you to feel confident.
5. Slow Down
There is no need to try and rush to the end of the speech. This takes away from the delivery and draws more attention to you. Take your time, speak clearly and people will cling to your every word.
6. Don’t Be Offensive
Take caution not to offend any of the guest or bridal party when speaking. You don’t want to be remembered for bringing tears to someone’s eyes.
7. Bask in The Laughter
If you share a joke that draws great laughter, enjoy the moment. There is no need to rush to your next point while the room is filled with laughter. People will always remember a good joke and it helps to enhance the quality of your speech.
8. Make Eye Contact
Don’t stare at your paper or notes while speaking. Be sure to engage the audience to get them involved in the context of your speech. People can sense nervousness or lack of sincerity when you’re buried in your notes.
9. The Audience is ON YOUR SIDE
Keep in mind that the audience wants you to deliver a good wedding speech. They are on your side every step of the way and hope to enjoy the moment with you. These are friends and family who have all come together for a celebration and your speech adds the perfect touch to the moment.
10. Have Fun!
Remember the occasion is a happy one and should be treated as such. Smile, laugh and enjoy yourself during the speech. Happiness is in the air and it’s contagious.
Tips To Help Guests Mingle
Just because you know everyone at your wedding, doesn’t mean they all know one another. It can be tough for wedding guests to begin mingling at the reception, so it’s a good idea to help guests begin to break the ice with some neat reception ideas. Here are some great tips for helping your guests mingle at your reception.
1. Party Place Cards
To help guests get over their initial shyness, some great place cards at every table can be the perfect way to get the ball rolling. At each place setting, there should be a place card that gives a specific instruction for getting to know someone that you don’t already know. They can be as simple as “Ask someone new to dance,” or “Introduce yourself to someone new.” This may sound like a huge undertaking, but it really isn’t. If there are ten guests per table, then you only need sets of ten instruction cards.
2. Guest Photography
Set up each table with a number of instruction cards and disposable cameras. Have guests work in teams (bonus points for numbering chairs and matching each number with the same number from another table) to get some great shots of your wedding. Before they’re done getting “a funny shot of the groom, "they'll be laughing and conspiring like old mates.
3. Pairing Guests
Seating is important at your reception, especially when you’re considering where to seat dateless guests and single relatives.Even a social butterfly will have a tough time when forced to sit at a table completely full of strangers. Instead, assign seating so that you can help guests get past awkwardness and start conversing with one another.
When assigning seating, it can seem impersonal to have numbered tables, so try to spice things up with fun names. If you’re having a themed wedding, use words relating to your theme; otherwise, try the word “love” in different languages. Synonyms are a sure bet, too. Affection, adoration, passion and devotion are all excellent choices.
4. Fun Reception Games
Create areas where guests will naturally congregate to help guests start talking to one another. Fun reception games include making a guessing game out of baby pictures of the bride and groom, as well as the bridal party and have your guests identify which baby pictures match the grownups in the wedding party. Another great idea involves having the guests go on a wedding-themed scavenger hunt that will naturally spawn conversations. For instance, you could have one piece of the scavenger hunt be “Introduce yourself to someone new and find out how they know the bride and groom.” Another might be “Find a guest from out of state.”
These kinds of games are great icebreakers, and help guests become acquainted with others by giving them a reason to interact. Your reception will be much more enjoyable for everyone if you can help guests feel less self-conscious and open up a little.
Wedding Reception Games, Ideas and Activities
Once you’re through with the vows and you’re at the reception, there’s going to be a lot going on. You’re going to be very busy, just being newly married, plus there will be pictures to pose for, family to chat with and a million other things to claim your attention. You’re not going to have a lot of time to be worried with whether your guests are having a good time at your reception, so when you’re planning your wedding, reception games should be part of that process. Not only will great wedding reception games keep your guests entertained, they’ll also serve to alleviate some of your wedding stress and make your wedding unforgettable.
1. Planning the Reception
There are several things you can do to make your wedding reception a bright and vibrant experience for your guests. More than wedding reception games, your guests will get a kick out of creative décor and other fun touches such as live music or a DJ. Your guests will enjoy themselves more in a relaxed and fun atmosphere with good décor and fun games, than in one where everyone is sitting quietly and chatting with those at their tables.
2. Photo Booths – Alternatives & Options
The whole point of a photo booth at your reception is to capture your guests having a good time. Getting them to interact instead of just taking solitary pictures can be a challenge, though. One of the best options is to provide small white boards or chalk boards and have your guests write down their most sage advice on married life to have in the picture with them. While they’re waiting for the booth and writing out their advice, conversations will surely spring up about various experiences and other tales. Not only will your guests have an outstanding time, you’ll have a lot of great advice for keeping your marriage happy.
3. Options for Games
Wedding receptions tend to be a great place for interactive and cooperative games because guests are typically in a jovial mood and not afraid of meeting a few new people. Some of the most popular wedding reception games include classics like I-Spy and Mad Libs, as well as wedding-themed scavenger hunts. Other choices might include games like Jenna. Game booklets are also an option; making a booklet with a query for each table gives your guests the opportunity to impart some wisdom about subjects like date nights and anniversary celebrations. Just make sure each table has a different question and that there are enough pens to go around.
4. No Worries
No matter how you style your reception, keeping your guests happy and entertained is of utmost importance to relieve some of your stress and give you fewer things to worry about. From creative wedding reception games to helpful activities, giving your guests a good time to remember will make your wedding a hit.