It has been an amazing run providing you with the ultimate tips for your wedding!
To wrap up the tips & tricks series, we’ve compiled all of our key advice for the cocktail hour and reception segments of the day. After saying ‘I do’, that’s when all of the excitement of the celebration starts to reach its apex!
So, organization is a must to keep things running seamlessly.
While PART ONE captured the beginning of your wedding day and PART TWO covered the middle portion, let’s get into the excitement that is the cocktail hour and reception!
TIPS FOR YOUR WEDDING:
ENDING YOUR DAY
Cocktail Hour
Our first major point about this time is that if you choose not to do a first look, there is a lot to fit in this window. This is when we’ll capture the bulk of your couple’s photos and your family’s photos
Our couples, who do opt for a first look, always have more time to mingle with guests during their cocktail hour. Just something to keep in mind when making your decisions.
- Cocktail hour is to make sure everyone is informed about when and where they’ll be taking photos and knows what to expect. One great trick to help achieve this is to have the officiant announce for the family to stay behind for photos at the end of the ceremony.
- Ensure a complete list was prepared, either by you or in collaboration with your photographer, including every family photo you want to capture. At Sun and Peak, we compile this with our couples far before the big day and use it as a reference for every family photo–and it is a breeze! We make sure those photos are captured on your big day
Couples Photos
As we mentioned previously, opting in for a first look means we will capture your couple’s photos then. No worries if you opt out of a first look, we will capture these during the beginning part of your cocktail hour!
- If possible, have your hair and makeup artists on site until the time scheduled for couples’ photos. This is the perfect time in the day for a refresh!
- Bear in mind that couples’ photos will wind up being right at sunset if your ceremony is scheduled for one and a half to two hours prior to sunset, and it makes for a stunning backdrop!
Reception
In order to wrap up the ending of your wedding day and our ultimate tips series, we want you to consider these final tips.
ONE |
Have the whole wedding party come in at once for the grand entrance! We love this entrance option because it’s always so high-energy and helps keep your already-seated guests alert, energetic, and cheerful for what’s to come next.
After the party enters, have them stay on the floor for the couples’ entrance. This way, they’ll lead the crowd in cheering them on. The ultimate standing ovation! As they sit down, the newlyweds can easily transition to their first dance.
TWO |
Have a little something up your sleeve for the first dance. A choreographed dance is always precious to witness in person, in photo, and in film. However, even if you don’t plan a whole routine, a few premeditated moves can easily spice up your sweet sway on the dance floor.
THREE |
Plan to start speeches about 30 minutes after food is served. This gives your guests a chance to eat and mingle while still being time effective.
With this being said, it is best for the newlyweds to be done eating before speeches start for the best photos.
Add a little structure to the speech portion of the night for the most optimal experience. Our favorite ways to do this are by encouraging planned speeches rather than improvised ones, by being selective about your speakers, and by asking speakers to keep speeches about 3-5 minutes long.
FOUR |
Keep photos in mind when it comes to cake-cutting. Decorating the table is a great first step to accentuate this cute moment. Also, remember to have fun!
This is one of those moments in your day that doesn’t have to be too formal, and looks the best when you two are just enjoying sharing the moment with each other.
PROFESSIONAL TIP: Have your signature cocktails at the table, ready for a cute cheering moment right after the cake cutting.
FIVE |
Stick together a bit as you both make your rounds during the dancing–it can be easy to split up as you mingle. You’ll definitely want those fun moments with your partner to reminisce on, so stick together.
Carefully select your DJ!
Here are a few of our recommendations:
https://www.djtimhampton.com/?fbclid=PAAaanecbKweaMzo_FSMFw4MbNgZYy4uE5EtvfepV97-9tnzZFzbFR0EGAxqU
SIX |
Last but not least, we recommend checking with your venue about what kinds of things they allow for your grand exit. Then from there opt for something elegant, timeless, and neutral.
Our favorites are white ribbon wands, sparklers, and pop-out streamers!
Whites, silvers, and golds look best on camera for this part of the night!
As this series comes to an end, we hope that it is an invaluable resource for you and your loved ones, now and well into the future. We encourage you to pass this knowledge on!
Let us know how these ultimate tips for your wedding helped elevate your perfect day!
xo, Vic
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