When we think of a wedding, we often think of two parts! The ceremony, where tears are shed as the couple is pronounced legally married! And the reception, where we clink our glasses and celebrate the newlyweds! Though ceremonies are typically pretty quick, receptions usually go on for hours, and with all of that time comes with so much that can be done. The following are a few ideas for things that you can do during your wedding reception!

Grand Entrance

“Ladies and gentlemen, please make some noise for the newlyweds!!” The first thing that you can do at your wedding reception is make a grand entrance! This is a fun way to start the party off and get to see the smiling faces of your guests as you enter the ballroom. 

Toasts/Speeches

Often done at the beginning of the reception program prior to dinner AND/OR after dinner and before dancing, we often see toasts and speeches done by the couple, their relatives, and the wedding party! One of the most popular toasts, often seen at local Japanese weddings is the Banzai Toast! If you want to learn all about the Banzai toast, what it is and how it is done, check out our blog & video HERE.

Traditions 

Often seen at weddings are your typical wedding traditions, however pretty unique to Hawai’i weddings are the many different cultural traditions done during the receptions. 

The Bouquet and Garter Toss

• One of your classic wedding traditions. This activity is a fun way to share some of the good luck the couple has, with any of their guests who are looking to find their own significant other. 

The Cake Cutting Ceremony

• Another classic wedding tradition, typically done after dinner as it's also a delicious dessert for all of your guests! 

cultural traditions

• As we mentioned earlier, we often see the display of so many different Cultural Traditions at Hawai’i Wedding receptions. Some of these popular traditions are the Chinese Lion Dance, and a Hula performance. As there are also cultural traditions that can happen all throughout your wedding day, check out our blog sharing more of these wonderful traditions HERE!

Photography: Mike Pham Photography

Activities 

The following activities can be done throughout various moments of your reception, and are ones that involve your guests a bit more!

Table Photos

• Want a photo with every single one of your guests? If you’re having a buffet served meal, as the tables get called up to go to the buffet, the guests can make a stop at the dance floor to take a photo with you and your new spouse! 

Games 

• There are SOOO many different games out there that can be played at your wedding reception! For details of specific games and when to play them during your reception, check out our blog HERE sharing some of the most Popular Wedding Games to Play at Your Reception. 

Same-Day Edit/Slideshow

• A popular option many videographers offer is a same day edit, where they quickly edit together all of the footage they took from your wedding day so far and create a short video for you and all of your guests to watch. Another option we often see is couples creating a slideshow filled with photos of their childhood to adulthood and of their relationship, showing a truly beautiful story of how their two separate lives led them to come together to be one! 

Photo Booth 

• With a photo booth your guests will be able to take one or multiple photos that they can keep as a memory of your wedding! Some photo booth packages even offer a photobook so that you can have a copy of every photo that was taken and can look back at a gallery of silly pictures of your family and friends! 

Dancing 

Last but not least, we have dancing of course!! There are many different types of dances that you can do during your reception, below are four of the most popular ones! 

First Dance

• Your first dance as a married couple! Typically done at the beginning of the reception program right after the grand entrance OR done at the end of the reception program right before opening the dance floor to everyone! 

Parent Dances 

• These very sweet and eye watering dances are done with the Father/Daughter and Mother/Son of the married couple. They’re often done separately with two different songs, or together with the same song. 

Open Dancing

• The time for everyone to follow the directions of the Cupid Shuffle! Most couples choose to have open dancing in the last 1-2 hours of the night after they’ve done all that they wanted to do in their reception program. 

Last Dance

• As the name goes, this is the last dance of the night! Couples typically choose an upbeat song to close the night off dancing with all of their guests, or lately have seen to be selecting a sweet love song ballad to dance to in the empty ballroom as their guests wait outside for their grand exit! 

Though receptions are typically a few hours, depending on how much you want to do and the specific time that each activity takes, you may not be able to do it all. However, we highly recommend creating a list of the activities that you want to do in order of priority. Then you can discuss them with your coordinator as soon as possible so that they can help you create your dream reception program that’s also realistic and doable!

XOXOXO

Happy Planning!

(A Perfect Day)