Wedding reception etiquette--when to follow it, when to forget it in your wedding planning
There are several good reasons to learn about wedding reception etiquette, even though you are more free than ever to do things as you like these days in your wedding planning. First, in an unfamiliar situation, etiquette gives you a place to start and helps you understand others' assumptions. Second, there are already so many decisions to make, you can go ahead and allow traditional wedding reception etiquette to guide you where you don't have a strong preference.
In our opinion, wedding reception etiquette isn't about "doing everything right," it's about making everyone as comfortable as possible, honoring those you want to honor, and making your reception a very special experience. Sometimes when doing your wedding planning, you might actually go against traditional etiquette to accomplish those things. For example, one couple on our editorial staff decided (*gasp*) to take formal pictures before the wedding ceremony so there would be no delay between the ceremony and the reception. And just as well, since the bride started crying immediately after walking out of sanctuary and would never look the same after that.
Where wedding reception etiquette can help you
- Receiving line (where to have it, who stands in it, in what order, what you do and say)
- Seating plan (when you should have one, how to make it work smoothly)
- Head table (will you have one, who sits there in what order, how food is handled)
- Toasts and speeches (how many, in what order, will there be a master of ceremonies)
- Dancing (will you have traditional dances, which ones, and in what order)
Just remember that these days, wedding reception etiquette is only there to help you. You don't have to be pushed around by phrases like, "Wedding etiquette dictates..."