10 Tips for Making Your Reception a Success

2. Serve food that is appropriate for the time of day as well as the season (e.g., a light brunch for an outdoor summer wedding).

3. Mail your invitations early enough to ensure you have a firm guest count two weeks prior to the event.

4. Don’t require your guests to pay for their own drinks. Also, no tip jars, please.

5. A good master of ceremonies can keep the tempo of the event moving. Choose wisely.

6. Assigned seating is more work for you, but your guests will feel more at ease. Plus, you can better control the dynamic of the groupings.

7. Music to their ears: Have both younger and older relatives give you song-request lists a week before the event so that everyone has a tuneful night.

8. Lock ’em up: Keep gifts in a secured room to prevent theft.

9. Shutter speed: Keep your post-wedding photo session short. Your guests are eagerly awaiting your arrival. 

10. Time will fly. Pause often to soak up the magic of your special evening together.