Wedding Reception Seating - How to Make Everyone Happy or At Least Think They Are.
Don't kid yourself;
it can be a virtual nightmare! Plans for a wedding, can be thought out, perfectly thought out, the flowers, the cake, wedding cake and groom's cake, the music, the brides maids, the garter - well, you get the idea. But, there is one thing that often begins as a little whisper of a thought during the early moments, the dawn of all the wedding preparations. That "thing" then begins to grow, however, into a larger "thing" and eventually a downright Japanese horror flick monster thing as a wedding date grows closer. That whisper of a thought that turns into a monster eventually is - Where exactly will everyone be seated during the wedding reception? You, like many wedding couples, have planned a sit down meal during your wedding reception. You want to imagine harmony there. Harmony as in people eating and rejoicing in your special day and asking you just what darling bakery did the dark chocolate grooms cake come from. You want your wedding guest to get along and build wonderful memories of a very wonderful day, while you coo and rub noses and warm up to being newlyweds. Yet, as the wedding approaches suddenly that sword duel between Uncle Larry and Uncle Mutt last yea
r, pop into your head. You begin to really wonder just where to put those two dear Uncles that love you and want to see you get hitched during the wedding reception. And, you begin to have all sorts of horror flick questions like (long sigh) -
Horror Flick Worrisome Questions for Reception Seating:
Where do all the VIPs, ex-husbands, and ex- wives sit and where do you place the children, if there are any?
Do you risk grouping all the teenagers together?
Can you sit at the table with your favorite cousin to share your lifetime moment with and confide in her about how your knees where actually shaking during the vows?
Do you place your adored Great Aunt with a smacking her food problem at the same table as your sweet next door neighbor who is kind most often but can't stand bad table manners?
So, where does everyone put their, Um, posterior during one of the greatest food feast of your life? Yes, you want it to be a food feast not a food fight. Well, you came to the right place to
tame your growing Godzilla thoughts as we assist you with the wedding reception seating.
This blog will also offer helpful advice such as:
How to entertain your reception guests with creative recession or darn near depression era money saving ideas
How to give a remarkable wedding toast
How to decorate your reception in a manner that says everything about you and your new spouse
How to throw one of the best wedding receptions your guest have ever been to and not have to sacrifice the honeymoon to do so because it was all affordable
How to be the life of your own wedding reception as a bride and groom so that your boss who attends your wedding will give you a promotion on your exquisite social merit alone
This blog may not be able to cure all disasters such hair extensions flying off from under the groom's yarmulke (for all the unjewish that is the skullcap grooms wear during a Jewish wedding). But, it may be of some help for your reception no doubt and some solace away from old flames trying to call and win you back at the last moment.
Options for Bride and Groom Table
What should you do for Reception Seating? – First, there is no what you should do and anyway what you should do is so what you should do. Reception seating is all about what you wish to do and adding a little grace and style to that, not about what you
should do. Let’s throw those pesky “shoulds” out. I think we should or uh, we shall.
Ok, now let’s bring in some Reception Seating options and no matter what any wedding coordinator might tell you, you are not held to anyone one way of seating your guest. Here are your options and just enjoy looking them over and find one that suits you best.
Let’s begin with you two Mr. and Mrs., soon to be, Bride and Groom. After all, you two are why everyone is waking up before the crack of dawn on your wedding day looking for dresses that aren’t going to up stage the bride and socks without holes in them, for those that don’t wear dresses.
How to Seat the Bride and Groom during the Reception
Sweetheart Table – Arrange for a little table to be placed in the center of the reception room for the Bride and Groom to sit at. In this option, no one invited to your wedding will feel cheated that they did not sit with you the stars of the show. (Believe me if you’ve never had people asking for your autograph before well, they will want to on your wedding day.) You can kiss, whisper sweet nothings in each other’s ears and ask each other how many more minutes till the honeymoon at your own little special table.
Traditional Table – You, the Bride and Groom sit right in the middle of a long table, not round table mind you, a long elegant royal wedding type table. Then, as old tradition goes, the Bride’s maid is seated by the Groom and the Best Man is seated next to the bride. From then on you can have a boy, girl, boy, girl arrangement. The cute but sometimes squirmy flower girls and ring bearers can be seated with their parents, thank heavens for little girls and boys but.... If you’re the bride that loves to wear something borrowed, something blue, something old and something new and love sweet traditions, the traditional table might be for you.
Honoring Our Parents Table – The Bride and Groom can sit with their parents and provide other tables for the wedding party to sit at. Well, Mama and Daddy brought you up paying f
or dental work, prom dresses and dents in your first car, so maybe you’d like to say thanks somehow and this table is a wonderful way.
The Bridesmaids and Groomsmen Table – The Maid of Honor can sit by the bride with her Bridesmaids lined beside the Maid of Honor. While the Best man can sit by the Groom and his Groomsmen lined beside him. Yes, you can sit with that favorite cousin or BFF and tell her that your knees were really shaking during the wedding vows, not only this but show can share in all the splendor of your special day right there with you.
How to Decorate the Bride and Groom Tables
How to decorate the sweetheart table - Aside from the florist candles and flowers that would look lovely on your sweetheart table, you can include items that were endearing to your courtship on the table such as a heart locket, if you gave your sweetheart one, in a bed of flowers or on top of a decorated box. You can also place farmed photos of a special trip you took together. Setting out your wedding invitations on the table can put an “awe look at that” into your wedding guest eyes as they pass by. You could also do something extra valuable for each other; place a love note beside your sweetheart’s plate. Putting your guys favorite candy beside his plate sort of melts his heart too.
How to decorate the traditional table – Get lavish if you like, cascading flowers everywhere are eye popping and candles that float in water dishes will add ambiance to your distinguished table. And you can really do this up. For instance, you can place a favorite sonnet or a quote from the bride and groom by each plate in your wedding party. You can place photos in sweet little frames of you and your table mates during a party you were all perhaps attended when you and your new spouse were courting. You all will love looking over the memories. You could even place a little wedding game or a wedding day crossword puzzle close by your wedding party member’s plates to pass the “bride and groom are getting their 100th photo by the cake” time.
How to decorate the Honoring our Parents Table – Place a handwritten little thank you note or memento for all that they have done for you to both of your parents and place it on their plates. They’ll cry when they see the memento and you’ll cry when they cry but it might make at least one of the best wedding memories of your special occasion. Place the mother of the bride’s most favored colored candles beside her and do the same for his mother –in-law or have the florist bring the unity candle and have it placed near by your parents and his to help infuse the wedding with the reception. Of course, your candles and flowers should be the focal point on this table, center them as you should your own relationship, parents are special but you two come first, always. (Just a little wisdom for the journey ahead.)
How to decorate the Bridesmaids and Groomsmen Table - You could really get girly and float pink or white or some soft, feminine color down across the Bridesmaid side beginning from the Bride herself. You can then place the color blue or classic black down beginning from the Groom the Groomsmen side. Or you could also unify the table and blend colors such as pink and white with blue and black in your table ribbons, candles and flowers all the way across the table on both the bridesmaids and groomsmen side. Intertwine lace and dark wood candle holders, if you like, to set on this yen and yang table. You just know the girls are gonna be giggling and the boys are gonna be well, let’s not think about that. But, whatever happens, it will all work out for the fun.
Seating Divorced Parents
It’s true you can still love Mama and Daddy and they can still love you but there may some questions on where to seat them exactly at the wedding reception, if they are divorced.
Well, here are some happy options for you:
Still on Good Terms Seating – If your divorced parents are still on good terms, sort of like the soap operas when Jill divorces Edward and years down the road Edward and Jill are still attending their friend’s barbecues together, then your Divorced Mom and Divorced Dad can still sit together at the reception. To make everyone feel a little more comfortable perhaps however, you may want to place Divorced Dad at opposite end of the table from Divorced Mom.
Still on Good Terms but...Seating – Perhaps Divorced Mom and Dad are still on good terms but it just isn’t their style to be placed at the same table. Well OK, that’s fine just place Divorced Dad at a table with his own family or friends or his piers who you think that he might enjoy being with. And, place Divorced Mom at another table away from Divorced Dad where her family, friends or piers are seated. Just remember to visit both Divorced Dad and Divorced Mom during the reception. Even if they weren't always there for you be there for them this day. A wedding day isn’t the time to rehash or painfully abort the past. Just say hello and move on to your other guests.
Seating Friends and Family at Odds, what to do if there’s Trouble at your Reception, and most importantly how to prevent it!
Where Should Friends and Realities at Conflict sit During the Reception? - Dueling Uncle Mutt and Uncle Larry would probably be best seated at opposite ends of the room. And, it might be good to think ahead by posting a trusted friend or relative (the large the better) as an informal bouncer to keep an eye on Uncle Larry and Uncle Mutt during the wedding. Suggest to your “bouncer” that if the dueling relatives start to get into some words, ask them kindly to tone it down for the bride and groom and their guests to be comfortable. If the dueling Uncles continue to be rowdy then you should ask your bouncer friend to say - “Unfortunately I am going to ask you two to leave and let things cool off between you.” If you can’t find a friend or relative to assist you with keeping an eye on your uncles, then you can by all means hire a security guard or actual bouncer.
Preventing Wedding Reception Conflicts and Embarrassments – First, look over your wedding guest. If you think that they all will basically be kind, considerate and well, just all around cool guests, then feel free to serve wine at your wedding. Wine can add a beautiful element to your special occasion and some folks actually relax more with a glass of wine and thus make nicer guests. Wine can also aid in the digestion and blood flow of all that rich wedding feast food. However, if you have guests that you worry will get into an embarrassing fist fight with alcohol then you might want to consider having a dry wedding by not serving alcohol. Even if you have wine served at your wedding, it’s never a good idea to drink too much. As bride and groom, you are the ambassadors of your wedding; you don’t want to be hiding out in the bathroom getting sick or singing old sea sailor tunes three octaves too low.
And keep in mind, you don't have to have a potential fist fight looming to have an excuse for a dry wedding. If not serving alcohol is your choice for any reason, do so without feeling pressured by other guests who may want otherwise. After all, this is your wedding!
Becoming a Bride and Groom Social Butterfly at you’re Reception, It’s as easy as one, two, three and well, maybe four.
Step One: Don’t let them snatch your brain! –
It isn’t impossible to emerge as a beautiful or handsome butterfly, when you prefer the cocoon, during your wedding ceremony that is. It often happens - the timid bride and nervous groom just moments before the wedding and then somewhere between the moment the organist pulls out her sheet music for Here Comes the Bride and the Groomsmen take their rightful place not far off from the weeping mothers, it happens – confidence. The groom looks suddenly like Sir Lancelot standing there with the chapel lights gleaming in his bright eyes. And, the bride after she has made that long walk down the isle, suddenly feels all woman and lovely. She could break out into one of those old 70s tunes about feeling all natural and warped speeded at the same time. Once the vows are said the newlyweds almost gleefully skip down the isle. But then, something happens en route to the reception.
I dare not say what elapses between the time the newly weds leave their ceremony to the wedding reception. Personally, it is speculated that movie about space invaders snatching folk’s brains is true because suddenly the groom and his new bride leave their confidence at the door when looking over the reception room. Their wedding ceremony brains are no longer with them. They develop sweaty palms, they huddle together and spend the enter reception at the sweetheart table hiding behind the decorative ferns. Even if they may never see all their guests, family and friends that drove from Cape Horn to see their wedding all together in this one place again, newlyweds sometimes sort of chicken out of their social graces.
Well, no one can really judge a Bride and Groom if they don’t win the congeniality award at their reception. After all, a year or two or three years of wedding planning can make anyone feel like taking a nap from the world once the wedding ceremony is over. But, here are a few options you might think about trying to get you out and about visiting those reception tables and most likely even enjoying it.
Step Two – Win an Oscar
Well, you might not be exactly outgoing but you can pretend to be. It’s called role play and shy people practice this all the time. For example, during your wedding reception just pretend that you’re someone with an effervescent personality, all smiles and polite. Something that may help - think of your favorite Television personality or someone that you admire at work even. In the case of the Celeb - just think of what they do to get photographers following them (provided it’s decent) or outgoing employer think of what they do to get other employees to hop up on their desk for conversation. As long as you know you’re really not Jennifer Aniston or Sal the reception gal at work, no one will recommend you seek help. But there is a strong possibility that as you continues to role play, you might begin to feel more comfortable with the role of being outgoing in general.
Step Three - Relaxation Exercises for a Happier Wedding Event
You don't have to wait for the wedding day to begin relaxation exercises. You can begin now. And, the sooner you begin the more time you will have to adjust to learning relaxation techniques. One calming technique is imagery. For instance, you can imagine that your on a beach or in a quiet and beautiful park setting hearing the summer Katie Dids, ect. Imagine a place that you would totaally feel comfortable in for a few moments everyday while doing some deep breathing. Deep breathing entails taking one slow breath in, then holding it for a second and then gradulally releasing that slow breath out. You only need to do this once or twice to feel refreased and ready for the day. Taking a Yoga class during wedding planning would be wonderful. Yoga teaches you how to relax completly and folks often compare a yoga class's effects to feeling like they have gone a real nice swim (without getting wet). It may help you to eventually also look even better in that wedding gown or tux! On the morning of your wedding, try and take just a few moments to stretch out on the floor in calm surroundings (yes, you can find calm surroudings if you look for them). Then, do your deep breathing and imagery. This will help you to have an even more bright and happy day ahead. Keep in mind also, humans and life arn't perfect and often times neither are wedding days. So laugh when things don't go quite right on your wedding day. Laughter chases the bridezellas as well as Groomzellas away.
Step Four – What to say at the reception tables (other than perhaps how you polished your shoes that morning.)
Don't kid yourself;it can be a virtual nightmare! Plans for a wedding, can be thought out, perfectly thought out, the flowers, the cake, wedding cake and groom's cake, the music, the brides maids, the garter - well, you get the idea. But, there is one thing that often begins as a little whisper of a thought during the early moments, the dawn of all the wedding preparations. That "thing" then begins to grow, however, into a larger "thing" and eventually a downright Japanese horror flick monster thing as a wedding date grows closer. That whisper of a thought that turns into a monster eventually is - Where exactly will everyone be seated during the wedding reception? You, like many wedding couples, have planned a sit down meal during your wedding reception. You want to imagine harmony there. Harmony as in people eating and rejoicing in your special day and asking you just what darling bakery did the dark chocolate grooms cake come from. You want your wedding guest to get along and build wonderful memories of a very wonderful day, while you coo and rub noses and warm up to being newlyweds. Yet, as the wedding approaches suddenly that sword duel between Uncle Larry and Uncle Mutt last yea
r, pop into your head. You begin to really wonder just where to put those two dear Uncles that love you and want to see you get hitched during the wedding reception. And, you begin to have all sorts of horror flick questions like (long sigh) -Horror Flick Worrisome Questions for Reception Seating:
Where do all the VIPs, ex-husbands, and ex- wives sit and where do you place the children, if there are any?
Do you risk grouping all the teenagers together?Can you sit at the table with your favorite cousin to share your lifetime moment with and confide in her about how your knees where actually shaking during the vows?
Do you place your adored Great Aunt with a smacking her food problem at the same table as your sweet next door neighbor who is kind most often but can't stand bad table manners?
So, where does everyone put their, Um, posterior during one of the greatest food feast of your life? Yes, you want it to be a food feast not a food fight. Well, you came to the right place to
tame your growing Godzilla thoughts as we assist you with the wedding reception seating.This blog will also offer helpful advice such as:
How to entertain your reception guests with creative recession or darn near depression era money saving ideas
How to give a remarkable wedding toast
How to decorate your reception in a manner that says everything about you and your new spouse
How to throw one of the best wedding receptions your guest have ever been to and not have to sacrifice the honeymoon to do so because it was all affordable
How to be the life of your own wedding reception as a bride and groom so that your boss who attends your wedding will give you a promotion on your exquisite social merit alone
This blog may not be able to cure all disasters such hair extensions flying off from under the groom's yarmulke (for all the unjewish that is the skullcap grooms wear during a Jewish wedding). But, it may be of some help for your reception no doubt and some solace away from old flames trying to call and win you back at the last moment.
Options for Bride and Groom Table
What should you do for Reception Seating? – First, there is no what you should do and anyway what you should do is so what you should do. Reception seating is all about what you wish to do and adding a little grace and style to that, not about what you
should do. Let’s throw those pesky “shoulds” out. I think we should or uh, we shall.Ok, now let’s bring in some Reception Seating options and no matter what any wedding coordinator might tell you, you are not held to anyone one way of seating your guest. Here are your options and just enjoy looking them over and find one that suits you best.
Let’s begin with you two Mr. and Mrs., soon to be, Bride and Groom. After all, you two are why everyone is waking up before the crack of dawn on your wedding day looking for dresses that aren’t going to up stage the bride and socks without holes in them, for those that don’t wear dresses.
How to Seat the Bride and Groom during the Reception
Sweetheart Table – Arrange for a little table to be placed in the center of the reception room for the Bride and Groom to sit at. In this option, no one invited to your wedding will feel cheated that they did not sit with you the stars of the show. (Believe me if you’ve never had people asking for your autograph before well, they will want to on your wedding day.) You can kiss, whisper sweet nothings in each other’s ears and ask each other how many more minutes till the honeymoon at your own little special table.
Traditional Table – You, the Bride and Groom sit right in the middle of a long table, not round table mind you, a long elegant royal wedding type table. Then, as old tradition goes, the Bride’s maid is seated by the Groom and the Best Man is seated next to the bride. From then on you can have a boy, girl, boy, girl arrangement. The cute but sometimes squirmy flower girls and ring bearers can be seated with their parents, thank heavens for little girls and boys but.... If you’re the bride that loves to wear something borrowed, something blue, something old and something new and love sweet traditions, the traditional table might be for you.
Honoring Our Parents Table – The Bride and Groom can sit with their parents and provide other tables for the wedding party to sit at. Well, Mama and Daddy brought you up paying f
or dental work, prom dresses and dents in your first car, so maybe you’d like to say thanks somehow and this table is a wonderful way.The Bridesmaids and Groomsmen Table – The Maid of Honor can sit by the bride with her Bridesmaids lined beside the Maid of Honor. While the Best man can sit by the Groom and his Groomsmen lined beside him. Yes, you can sit with that favorite cousin or BFF and tell her that your knees were really shaking during the wedding vows, not only this but show can share in all the splendor of your special day right there with you.
How to Decorate the Bride and Groom Tables
How to decorate the sweetheart table - Aside from the florist candles and flowers that would look lovely on your sweetheart table, you can include items that were endearing to your courtship on the table such as a heart locket, if you gave your sweetheart one, in a bed of flowers or on top of a decorated box. You can also place farmed photos of a special trip you took together. Setting out your wedding invitations on the table can put an “awe look at that” into your wedding guest eyes as they pass by. You could also do something extra valuable for each other; place a love note beside your sweetheart’s plate. Putting your guys favorite candy beside his plate sort of melts his heart too.
How to decorate the traditional table – Get lavish if you like, cascading flowers everywhere are eye popping and candles that float in water dishes will add ambiance to your distinguished table. And you can really do this up. For instance, you can place a favorite sonnet or a quote from the bride and groom by each plate in your wedding party. You can place photos in sweet little frames of you and your table mates during a party you were all perhaps attended when you and your new spouse were courting. You all will love looking over the memories. You could even place a little wedding game or a wedding day crossword puzzle close by your wedding party member’s plates to pass the “bride and groom are getting their 100th photo by the cake” time.
How to decorate the Honoring our Parents Table – Place a handwritten little thank you note or memento for all that they have done for you to both of your parents and place it on their plates. They’ll cry when they see the memento and you’ll cry when they cry but it might make at least one of the best wedding memories of your special occasion. Place the mother of the bride’s most favored colored candles beside her and do the same for his mother –in-law or have the florist bring the unity candle and have it placed near by your parents and his to help infuse the wedding with the reception. Of course, your candles and flowers should be the focal point on this table, center them as you should your own relationship, parents are special but you two come first, always. (Just a little wisdom for the journey ahead.)
How to decorate the Bridesmaids and Groomsmen Table - You could really get girly and float pink or white or some soft, feminine color down across the Bridesmaid side beginning from the Bride herself. You can then place the color blue or classic black down beginning from the Groom the Groomsmen side. Or you could also unify the table and blend colors such as pink and white with blue and black in your table ribbons, candles and flowers all the way across the table on both the bridesmaids and groomsmen side. Intertwine lace and dark wood candle holders, if you like, to set on this yen and yang table. You just know the girls are gonna be giggling and the boys are gonna be well, let’s not think about that. But, whatever happens, it will all work out for the fun.
Seating Divorced Parents
It’s true you can still love Mama and Daddy and they can still love you but there may some questions on where to seat them exactly at the wedding reception, if they are divorced.
Well, here are some happy options for you:Still on Good Terms Seating – If your divorced parents are still on good terms, sort of like the soap operas when Jill divorces Edward and years down the road Edward and Jill are still attending their friend’s barbecues together, then your Divorced Mom and Divorced Dad can still sit together at the reception. To make everyone feel a little more comfortable perhaps however, you may want to place Divorced Dad at opposite end of the table from Divorced Mom.
Still on Good Terms but...Seating – Perhaps Divorced Mom and Dad are still on good terms but it just isn’t their style to be placed at the same table. Well OK, that’s fine just place Divorced Dad at a table with his own family or friends or his piers who you think that he might enjoy being with. And, place Divorced Mom at another table away from Divorced Dad where her family, friends or piers are seated. Just remember to visit both Divorced Dad and Divorced Mom during the reception. Even if they weren't always there for you be there for them this day. A wedding day isn’t the time to rehash or painfully abort the past. Just say hello and move on to your other guests.
Seating Friends and Family at Odds, what to do if there’s Trouble at your Reception, and most importantly how to prevent it!
Where Should Friends and Realities at Conflict sit During the Reception? - Dueling Uncle Mutt and Uncle Larry would probably be best seated at opposite ends of the room. And, it might be good to think ahead by posting a trusted friend or relative (the large the better) as an informal bouncer to keep an eye on Uncle Larry and Uncle Mutt during the wedding. Suggest to your “bouncer” that if the dueling relatives start to get into some words, ask them kindly to tone it down for the bride and groom and their guests to be comfortable. If the dueling Uncles continue to be rowdy then you should ask your bouncer friend to say - “Unfortunately I am going to ask you two to leave and let things cool off between you.” If you can’t find a friend or relative to assist you with keeping an eye on your uncles, then you can by all means hire a security guard or actual bouncer.
Preventing Wedding Reception Conflicts and Embarrassments – First, look over your wedding guest. If you think that they all will basically be kind, considerate and well, just all around cool guests, then feel free to serve wine at your wedding. Wine can add a beautiful element to your special occasion and some folks actually relax more with a glass of wine and thus make nicer guests. Wine can also aid in the digestion and blood flow of all that rich wedding feast food. However, if you have guests that you worry will get into an embarrassing fist fight with alcohol then you might want to consider having a dry wedding by not serving alcohol. Even if you have wine served at your wedding, it’s never a good idea to drink too much. As bride and groom, you are the ambassadors of your wedding; you don’t want to be hiding out in the bathroom getting sick or singing old sea sailor tunes three octaves too low.
And keep in mind, you don't have to have a potential fist fight looming to have an excuse for a dry wedding. If not serving alcohol is your choice for any reason, do so without feeling pressured by other guests who may want otherwise. After all, this is your wedding!
Becoming a Bride and Groom Social Butterfly at you’re Reception, It’s as easy as one, two, three and well, maybe four.
Step One: Don’t let them snatch your brain! –
It isn’t impossible to emerge as a beautiful or handsome butterfly, when you prefer the cocoon, during your wedding ceremony that is. It often happens - the timid bride and nervous groom just moments before the wedding and then somewhere between the moment the organist pulls out her sheet music for Here Comes the Bride and the Groomsmen take their rightful place not far off from the weeping mothers, it happens – confidence. The groom looks suddenly like Sir Lancelot standing there with the chapel lights gleaming in his bright eyes. And, the bride after she has made that long walk down the isle, suddenly feels all woman and lovely. She could break out into one of those old 70s tunes about feeling all natural and warped speeded at the same time. Once the vows are said the newlyweds almost gleefully skip down the isle. But then, something happens en route to the reception.
I dare not say what elapses between the time the newly weds leave their ceremony to the wedding reception. Personally, it is speculated that movie about space invaders snatching folk’s brains is true because suddenly the groom and his new bride leave their confidence at the door when looking over the reception room. Their wedding ceremony brains are no longer with them. They develop sweaty palms, they huddle together and spend the enter reception at the sweetheart table hiding behind the decorative ferns. Even if they may never see all their guests, family and friends that drove from Cape Horn to see their wedding all together in this one place again, newlyweds sometimes sort of chicken out of their social graces.
Well, no one can really judge a Bride and Groom if they don’t win the congeniality award at their reception. After all, a year or two or three years of wedding planning can make anyone feel like taking a nap from the world once the wedding ceremony is over. But, here are a few options you might think about trying to get you out and about visiting those reception tables and most likely even enjoying it.
Step Two – Win an Oscar
Well, you might not be exactly outgoing but you can pretend to be. It’s called role play and shy people practice this all the time. For example, during your wedding reception just pretend that you’re someone with an effervescent personality, all smiles and polite. Something that may help - think of your favorite Television personality or someone that you admire at work even. In the case of the Celeb - just think of what they do to get photographers following them (provided it’s decent) or outgoing employer think of what they do to get other employees to hop up on their desk for conversation. As long as you know you’re really not Jennifer Aniston or Sal the reception gal at work, no one will recommend you seek help. But there is a strong possibility that as you continues to role play, you might begin to feel more comfortable with the role of being outgoing in general.
Step Three - Relaxation Exercises for a Happier Wedding Event
You don't have to wait for the wedding day to begin relaxation exercises. You can begin now. And, the sooner you begin the more time you will have to adjust to learning relaxation techniques. One calming technique is imagery. For instance, you can imagine that your on a beach or in a quiet and beautiful park setting hearing the summer Katie Dids, ect. Imagine a place that you would totaally feel comfortable in for a few moments everyday while doing some deep breathing. Deep breathing entails taking one slow breath in, then holding it for a second and then gradulally releasing that slow breath out. You only need to do this once or twice to feel refreased and ready for the day. Taking a Yoga class during wedding planning would be wonderful. Yoga teaches you how to relax completly and folks often compare a yoga class's effects to feeling like they have gone a real nice swim (without getting wet). It may help you to eventually also look even better in that wedding gown or tux! On the morning of your wedding, try and take just a few moments to stretch out on the floor in calm surroundings (yes, you can find calm surroudings if you look for them). Then, do your deep breathing and imagery. This will help you to have an even more bright and happy day ahead. Keep in mind also, humans and life arn't perfect and often times neither are wedding days. So laugh when things don't go quite right on your wedding day. Laughter chases the bridezellas as well as Groomzellas away.
Step Four – What to say at the reception tables (other than perhaps how you polished your shoes that morning.)
People often like the human touch, appropiatly of course. Here’s how: Just come up to your guest and gently put a hand on the back of their chair or shoulder if you think your guest will feel comfortable with that. Smile often. Flicker warm, sunny eyes if you are able and tell your guests, most importantly of all, that you are glad that they were able to make it. You could tell them how nice they look and most of your guests probably do since they knew they were going to be seeing folks that they haven’t seen in over 30 years. (They don’t want everyone thinking they grew old ungracefully like some of those disco stars on the senior herb remedies commercials.) Staying pretty well focused on the good things about your wedding day is a plus in conversation. For example: the weather turned out nice and what a relief that was, you found the bakery that made your cake looking in a Happy Bride magazine one afternoon or you can’t believe this happening – Wow! “I can’t believe this is happening” is always a good one, no one else can either. Weddings are like dreams and everyone is certain they will wake up and you’ll be 5 years old again with peanut butter on your face.
Where to place the smaller children?
Where to place the smaller children?
Typically children 7 and under should be seated with their parents at the reception tables. If you have a large number of children attending your reception to keep tham entertained and happy, you can designate a children's table, in the quietest corner of your reception room. The children's table can be visited after dinner and it may include items, such as cryaons and color pages, (Messy things like glue or sparkle dust are not reccomended unless your guests would like some party glitter).
Children are really not always such a bother at wedding recpeptions. Sometimes they actually warm up a reception while the bride dances with a circle of sweet and taffeta adorned little girls and takes endearing photos along side little boys in bow ties. However, if you don't feel comfortable with taking a chance that everything will go well with children at your reception then simply state kindly in your weding invitation "Adult Reception."
Where to place the older children?
You can designate a table for children 8 and up away from their parents. But, even older children don't always behave so well away from their parents and you do risk having spit balls being flung at just the cantankerous guest you'd rather not see pilted with spit balls. Placing teenagers, particularly teenagers with babysitting experience, at a table with the younger children, is a good idea. The teens can sort of watch over the younger children and just their older presence alone often keeps the younger children in line.
Where to place the teenagers?
As suggested above, it can be a good idea to place teenagers with children younger than them. Or, you can simply place all the teens together at a table in an area where they may have their own space. Weddings a great way to introduce teens to the world of special occasion. Teens may get giggly or well, teenage like sometimes during the reception. But, this may prove to actually enliven your reception.
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