Reception Ideas

emplatacis

Hi, my fiance and I are going to be having our wedding in November and our reception will most likely be outdoors, starting in the late afternoon/early evening. We'd like to avoid dancing and drinking at our wedding, and so I was wondering if anyone has any unique ideas to keep the festivities lively. So far we've come up with the ideas of lawn games and a photo booth.

SCogs18

Will you at least be having music, even if it's just an iPod?

I ask because this October I was in a wedding that had no drinking, dancing, or music and the reception barely lasted 90 minutes (granted, it was also chilly).

I think lawn games (bocce ball, corn hole, croquet, badminton) and a photobooth in addition to some music are great idea to keep people entertained and actually at your reception.

Osterizer

Why have you decided to skip the drinking and dancing? Since you want to have lawn games, I'm guessing this is a casual wedding?

jessicabessica

Even if you're not having alcohol, you can still have fun drinks, like an Italian soda station or a smoothie station.  

I'm guessing that a no dancing, no drinking, all outdoors wedding probably won't last as long as a dancing/drinking wedding.  

thejucheidea

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_reception-ideas-19?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:5Discussion:28c25730-9daf-4d36-a669-fde1f34fdc5cPost:3b762b01-3ffc-4042-9e39-1b3b0dfcdfcb">Re: Reception Ideas</a>:
[QUOTE]Even if you're not having alcohol...
Posted by jessicabessica[/QUOTE]

lol she's definitely not having alcohol, as the OP is all of 15 years old: <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_students_engaged-sophmore">http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_students_engaged-sophmore</a>

jessicabessica

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_reception-ideas-19?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:5Discussion:28c25730-9daf-4d36-a669-fde1f34fdc5cPost:99d8e9f8-fbee-4684-b86d-ecbf661caebb">Re: Reception Ideas</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Reception Ideas : lol she's definitely not having alcohol, as the OP is all of 15 years old: <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_students_engaged-sophmore" rel='nofollow'>http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_students_engaged-sophmore</a>
Posted by ahstillwell[/QUOTE]

And your point?  We served alcohol at my bat mitzvah when I was 13...I didn't drink it, but I had adult guests in attendance that did. 

Besides, from skimming some of the posts in that thread, it sounds like the OP doesn't want drinking and dancing for religious reasons.  That wouldn't be my decision, but it's not one I judge.  Her wedding isn't tomorrow, it's in three years.  While I neither planned my wedding that far in advance nor got married at 18, it's again not something I really judge. 

1020Bride

we are thinking of doing a dinner cruise.  I have been really adament that I want my wedding day to be about our marriage and love for each other not about the "show".  Of course since we are paying for this we are only inviting our closest friends and family (thinking about 20 or so).  The cruise line is renting the entire top deck fo the ship for us, which will have a full sit down meal, and then guests can mingle on the other decks where there will be a "house" band or on the patio where we will have a coffee bar since it is still kinda chilly at night on the Atlantic Ocean.  I would definetly say go with your gut on alcohol, it is your day, but the music I am not so sure of.  Have a great time planning and best of luck on your marriage!

kevinth

I have hired two women from my hometown to decorate the reception hall on the morning of the wedding so my family and I don't have to bother with it.My friend suggested me the idea.I like the idea of a screen for behind the head table. My sisters both recently got married so there are a lot of mini lights and bunches of Tulle leftover and I wanted to do something different with them so that my wedding is unique to theirs.

bethanyj6811

I'm 18 and I'm getting married next year... there is nothing wrong with marrying young if you truly love the person. Many people think it's all about wisdom and age. I believe that if you love a person, then it's a great idea. I have been with my fiance for almost three years now. We got engaged this past summer. We are happy. And as far as what people say about music and alcohol it may be for religious purposes. Who knows. There is no need to go into detail people. All she asked was for ideas.

emplatacis

Thanks bethany.

Lawn games and photo booth out of the picture, does anyone have any ideas for a more formal and romantic style? I'd really like to have a more formal reception, the matter of actually delivering that is a bit of a different story though. Do you think that music will actually be enough for entertainment? And yes, my fiance and I do intend to have plenty of music. haha

Ashleybrooke311

I think the idea of having a signature 'mocktail'/s' would be great. You could serve sparkling cider in place of champagne for your toasts.

I feel as though a band is more formal than just having a DJ or playing music from an iPod. I'm not sure what your theme is outside of a fall, formal, late afternoon wedding. Since a photobooth is out of the question you could do cameras on the tables and have 'I spy' cards for the quests to occupy time by taking pictures. I'm not sure if that may be too informal for your style... Not sure how expensive fireworks would be, but that would be pretty fabulous to do a little show after cake while the band played.

jessicabessica

So you are still on no dancing, right?  What about having a string quartet?  Live music can really set a nice mood, and I think of a string quartet as a bit more elegant than a DJ or putting on an iPod.  

emplatacis

I could dig having a live band. I'd definitely want something more classic like a string quartet. I really want a romantic, classic, elegant ambiance.