Below follows some good advice, to consider before and during the wedding dinner:
- It is the Big Day for the bridal couple and they only should decide the shape of the dinner.
- Serve a meal that meets the needs of all quests. Perhaps chicken and one meat-free dish. Soup is not a good alternative neither is unpeeled shrimps or corncobs.
- Do not serve plain food. The wedding dinner is supposed to be a grand party.
- Serve all guests at the same time.
- Check in advance if somebody is diabetic, vegetarian etc.
- Married couple (except the newly wedded of course!) should not be seated together.
- Ex-married couples should not be seated together.
- Persons, who are not particularly fond of each other, should not be seated together.
- Try to make the seating as good as possible for everybody.
- Everybody arise at the bridal couple’s toast.
- You must not decline a toast.
- It is bad manners to say no if you are asked for a dance. The only reason to say no is if you have a broken leg.
- Do not comb, powder or put on make up at the dinner table.
- The napkin should not be used as a bib, but put it in your knee.
You have been invited to the most important day in the bridal couple’s life. Honour them by bringing your best mood to the wedding.
Choosing music to the reception is a tough nut to crack, as there is a sea of music.
It is your reception and your happiest day, so make sure that it turns out entirely according to your wishes. Begin your planning with following hints.
How do you find the perfect band or DJ for your reception? Why not ask recently married couples for advice. Word of mouth is still the best way to get the best musicians.
Consider your reception room’s size and your crowd.
Live music makes a grand reception. Try to engage a band that keep the guests grooving from the first drink to the last dance. The music should span several decades, so it fits all ages. If you have invited children to your reception, ask the band to play music especially chosen for them.
The background music before and after the dinner can consist of a mixture of new and old tunes, and different musical forms. Classical music is also a very good choice.
Dance music
Ay papacito - Eliades Ochoa
Against all odds - Phil Collins
Baby I love you - Aretha Franklin
Beast of burden - Bette Midler
Chan chan - Compay Sequndo
Cry me a river - Joe Cocker
Dancing in the dark - Bruce Springsteen
Dancing Queen - Abba
Every breath you take - The Police
Get rhythm - Ry Cooder
In the mood - Glenn Miller
In never gonna dance again - George Michael
Isn’t she lovely - Stevie Wonder
I will survive - Gloria Gaynor
Killing me softly - Roberta Flack
Macarena - Los's Fernando's
Morning has broken - Cat Stevens
My baby just cares for me - Nina Simon
Natural woman - Aretha Franklin
Patricia - Orquesta Aragon
Proud Mary - Ike and Tina Turner
Sailing - Rod Stewart
She’s like the wind - Patrick Swayze
Streets of Philadelphia - Bruce Springsteen
Wake me up before you go go - Wham
Waterloo - Abba
Why do fools fall in love - Diana Ross
You lost that loving feeling - Righteous Brothers
If it is done right, music will energize your celebration, heighten romance, and inspire guests to get down on the dance floor.
Where shall the bridal couple’s parents, relatives and other weddings guests sit?
According to tradition the bridal couple sits in the middle of the head table, where everyone can see them. The bride sits next to bridegroom. The bride’s farther sits next to the bride to the right and next to him the bridegroom’s mother. To the left next to the bridegroom sits the bride’s mother and outside her sits the bridegroom’s father.
To make it easy, the closer related, the nearer seated to the bridal couple. There may be situations that family members just do not get along. If so, it is best to keep them as far apart as possible.
A rule is that married couples (besides the newlywed) shall not sit next to each other. During the dinner, the man has his lady dinner partner on the right.
Good table manners means to show consideration for everybody at the dinner table.
Arrive in time for the wedding dinner. Too early or too late is almost equally bad. If you are late, try to sneak in as quite as possible. Later contact the host and apologize for your late arrival.
According to old manners, an attentive partner at table is expected to draw up the chair for his lady partner, both when she sits down or rises.
Put the napkin in your knee. Your napkin can lie to the left of your small plate, on your small plate, on your plate or folded in your glass. If you must rise during the dinner, put your napkin on the right side of your plate.
You must not put your handbag on the table, but hang it on the chair or put it in your knee. Remember to turn off the mobile phones and never put it on the table.
Visit the lady room if you must put on make up.
Always start from the right regarding the pieces of cutlery and glasses. Use both knives and forks (the fork in your left hand and the knife in your right hand). It is bad manners to refuse a bowl.
Do not speak with food in your mouth, chew with closed mouth and do not drink with food in your mouth. Never drink directly from the bottle and never put the knives in your mouth.
When the dinner has come to the end, submit your dishes in a good-looking way and your pieces of cutlery to the right. If you leave the pieces of cutlery crossed, it means that you have not finished your meal. The table napkin lies in the knee during the whole dinner and is put away folded to the left of the plate, when you have finished your meal.
Smoking is only allowed if ashtrays are put on the table. Smoking is permitted at the earliest when the guests await the dessert. Before you light the cigarette, you ask your dinner partner for permission. Do not light the cigarette by a candle. Always use the ashtray, never your plate!
According to old manner, the bridal couple leaves the party first! Nowadays, we do not follow old traditions strictly. Especially when families with children are attending the wedding party.
When it is time to leave the party, you thank the host and the bridal couple’s parents. Remember not to enter the party site with outdoor clothes.
There is no place like home! Instead of trying to give a hotel ballroom a personal touch, why not use your home for the wedding reception. This arrangement will also cut down your expenses a lot.
Simple reception at your home
If you are planning a wedding in the morning, perhaps a simple reception is more suitable. Instead of a dinner you can offer your guests delicate sandwiches together with champagne or a sparkling wine. The ingredients can be salmon, whitefish roe, shrimps, brie cheese or roast beef. Also offer your guests lots of fruits such as grapes, melons, papayas, mangos, passion fruits, strawberries and pineapples. And of course – the wedding cake!
Either you or a caterer who specializes in offsite events will be responsible for the feast. You can also get some help from your family or friends. Most people love to help on a wedding.
The wedding reception at home
To arrange the reception at home or at some acquaintance is an excellent idea. All you can do in a reception site functions of course just as well at your home.
However, remember to plan “the personnel question” thoroughly. Perhaps your neighbours will gladly help you with setting the table, decorating with flowers, serving, taking care of the dishes, cleaning etc.
What is suitable to serve at a home reception? Perhaps a buffet? If you have a wedding theme you can retrieve the inspiration from that. Or you are going to Tuscany in Italy on your honeymoon. A buffet with Italian dishes will of course suit excellent.
Below a check-list if you are planning your reception at home:
- will there be enough room for a dining space, a bar, and a dance floor
- what do you need to rent? Coat hangers, chairs, tables, china, napkins, table linens, a dance floor, tent (in case of bad weather)
- who is in charge
- who will serve
- parking lot
- will there be enough of bathrooms
Here's some tips for party supplies:
Balloons
Balloons are one of the easiest party decorations you can use to make your wedding party extra charming. Balloons come in all shapes, colours and sizes, like hearts, stars, champagne bottles, animals, flowers, etc. Which theme have you chosen for your wedding? Most likely you will find balloons that fit. You can also print a text on the balloons, such as your names and dates.
Candles with joined sculpted hearts that glow softly when the candle is lit or candles printed with your names and wedding date.
Wedding napkins designed according to your wish, perhaps a bridal couple with your names and date printed, or a wedding cake, a bridal bouquet, two hearts, two champagne glasses, wedding bells etc.
Paper confetti is ideal for a wedding. Sprinkle party confetti on your party tables as a sparkling decoration. Paper confetti comes in all different shapes and colours. Instead of tossing rice on the newly wed, you can use pink heart-shaped confetti.
Bouquet table holder
Your beautiful bouquet and those of your bridesmaids will do double-duty as decorations when you display them at your head table in handy bouquet clamps.
Fireworks - indoor and outdoors
Fireworks have become synonymous with weddings, adding an extra dimension to the bridal couple’s special day. Ignite your dreams and lighten up the sky to ensure that your wedding day is remembered for years to come.
Health and safety is of paramount importance when planning an event with fireworks. To celebrate safely, remember following:
- Always read and follow label directions
- Have an adult present
- Buy from reliable fireworks sellers
- Have water handy
- Never re-ignite malfunctioning fireworks
- Never give fireworks to small children
- Never throw fireworks at another person
- Never carry fireworks in your pocket
It is not unusual that the newlywed is a little bit nervous for the first dance. Perhaps you are not such a good dancer. If so, sign up for a dancing lesson or ask a relative or friend for help
Practice a lot on the first dance and it will runs like a bed of roses. If the bride wears a long dress, it is important that the bridegroom knows where to put his feet, so he does not step on the dress.
While you are at it, why not practice on many different dances, like foxtrot, salsa, cha-cha, tango or samba.
Why not surprise your wedding guests with a dancing show.
When the bridal couple has danced the first dance, the dancing floor is open for all wedding guests.
The first dance id dedicated to the lady dinner partner and her gentleman.
Is the room large enough to accommodate the number of people on your guest list? Is there space enough to dance?
There are many things to remember when you are planning the reception site. Such as:- Is the site big enough for your number of guests?
- Are there tables and chairs enough?
- Are there porcelain and cutlery enough?
- Are there room enough for dancing and an orchestra?
- Are there cooler and freezer for the food?
- Is there a kitchen if the food needs to be heated?
- Is there a bar?
- Check and settle the booking with a caterer.
- Furthermore, remember to check if the site is near a good parking lot. If not, look for other ways to get your guests to the wedding party. Perhaps a bus or a van. Also check possibilities for gusts wanting hotel rooms.
How to set the utensils and how to use them?
The setting of a table is very important and is usually taken care of the catering company. Though, it is practical to know that the utensils are placed outside and in i.e. the salad fork farthest out to the left of the dinner plate. The knife is placed to the right of the plate. The dessert fork and teaspoon are placed horizontally above the dinner plate. The glasses are placed from the right, i.e. the glass you use first is placed out to the right.
Put out a place card with the guest’s name on it at each setting. The setting can also be shown on a board.
A number of menu cards can also be placed on the table.
Of course you must have a wedding cake. This is a tradition descending from the Romans and is a symbol for fertility and success.
Start meeting with bakers three to six months before your wedding. It is very nice if your wedding cake is a reflection of your wedding style. If you have booked a site for your wedding dinner, the wedding cake is most likely included in the price.
The possibilities for the cake shapes, colours and details are endless. The cake can start as low as two tiers and climb as high as twelve tiers (or more perhaps?). Shapes range from traditional round to square, to twisted etc.
Of course, you can bake the wedding cake yourselves, but it is perhaps not such a good idea. It takes a long time and is very complicated.
According to ancient superstition it brings misery if the bride herself bake the cake. Even if you are not superstitious it is surely the wrong day to challenge your destiny. How many tiers will your wedding cake have? Remember that you will have just as many children as the number of tiers! (If you believe in superstition!)
With the hands stacked on each other, the bridal couple cuts the first piece of the wedding cake. This piece is of course the bridal couple’s.
The reception site is settled and you will gladly leave all practical work to someone else. Try to find a caterer who can cook up the feast of your dreams.
It is your big day and you should only concentrate on having fun with your guests. Leave the whole arrangement to the caterer.
How do you find a good caterer? Ask recently married friends for referrals. Hotels etc. will probably have in-house caterers. Your florists, photographer, bridal salon etc will likely keep a list of reputable caterers. Find your caterer as soon as possible. A good caterer can be booked up years in advance.
Before you contact a caterer, decide what kind of reception you want and what you need.Perhaps chairs, tables, cloths, china etc already exists at the site.
Many caterers can help you with, not just the dinner, but also:
- - setting the table (tablecloths, napkins, dishes, tables, chairs and so on)
- - flower decorating
- - serving personnel
- - wait staff
- - on-site facilities for cooking
- - cleaning the site
- - the wedding cake
- - build the scenery (or party tent)
- - take care of the sound and lightening
Musical suggestions
Try to schedule a tasting of their wares before signing the contract.
Be sure that everything is included in the total price. If everything is all right, it is time to sign the contract!
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Articles about the wedding party.
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