3 ways to make your wedding reception unique

Weddings can be very straightforward and traditional. From the ceremony and the vows to the cocktail hour and toasts at dinner—it can all feel very predictable. When it comes to planning your wedding, you may want to consider spicing it up a bit and adding a unique flare that is representative of your and your love! After all, you want to plan an experience that is fun and special for both your guests and yourselves.

The good news: the possibilities are endless. For example, if you’re artistically inclined, you can have a paint by numbers activity or hire a specific DJ or band that plays music that you and your partner love—think bluegrass, folk, jazz, 80s, you name it! Or for those who are not super into dancing and want to have other activities for guests, you can do karaoke or lawn games. There are plenty of ways you can make your wedding reception a little different and less predictable, all while still being true to your love and your personalities.

These ideas don’t have to be ambitious or dramatic—if you’re a laid back, down to earth couple, what you do during your reception can reflect that! Think corn hole boards, singing a little song, putting together a little dance for your first dance, and so much more! These ideas can be inexpensive and easy to add to your wedding planning to-do list.

3 creative ways you can make your wedding reception unique

Doing something a little creative and unexpected can not only help make your wedding fun and memorable for your guests, but it can also help create a wedding experience that is more inline and representative of who you are as people. Here are three creative ideas I’ve seen couples do at their weddings that made their receptions unique and fun!

1. Costume change

Showing up to your reception in new wedding attire can be a fun way to spice up your evening and make your grand entrance a little more exciting! Depending on your style and aesthetic, this is a great way to tie in cultural traditions or personal styles. For example, I’ve seen a bride change from her wedding dress to a lehenga to incorporate her family’s heritage into her special day, while I’ve also seen a couple change from their classy traditional attire to sparkly, more free flowing attire that will allow them to dance more openly on the dance floor. These changes are exciting for you, your guests, and add variety to your wedding album! If you have the budget or a second outfit in mind for your reception, you should absolutely add a little time in your schedule for a quick change!

On a more particle note, having a second outfit can help reduce any potential damage to your wedding dress or other wedding attire. The reception involves lots of food, drink, and dancing and this can all potentially harm your beautiful and expensive clothing.

2. Serenade your guests

Adding a few surprises into your wedding reception can keep your evening exciting and fresh for your guests! One sweet surprise I’ve loved is the bride and groom singing a duet and serenading their guests. They sang a song that not only means something to them, but that they’ve sang with each other throughout their relationship. It was both a surprise to their guests and an homage to their love.

Of course, for those of us who may not be blessed with beautiful voices, there are other things you and your love can do together to surprise your guests. For example, you can perform a short, choreographed dance! This is a great way to spend some time together leading up to your wedding day and so fun to watch as a guest. Of course, you don’t have to do this just with your new spouse. If maybe one of you comes from a family that likes dancing more than the other, you could instead do a choreographed dance with one of your parents. This is a great way to also let your parents be involved in your day and makes for some really fun photos!

3. Grand exit, but add a little bit of spice

While sparkler exits can be super fun and gorgeous, your venue or state may not allow you to use them for your grand exit or maybe you just don’t like them. That’s okay! There are plenty of other creative and unique ways to have your guests send you off after your reception. From bubbles, human tunnels, light sticks, environmentally-friendly confetti, to ribbons, I’ve seen couples think outside the box for a unique and beautiful send-off.

The great thing about doing a send-off that doesn’t involve fire is that you also can do it multiple times! This may seem silly and counterintuitive—after all, it’s a grand exit—but more often than not, your guests have a ton of fun with whatever it may be and will cheer for you to do it again. This is also perfect for photos and can help ensure that you get the perfect shot!

If you can’t do sparklers or they’re not for you, don’t discount the idea of a grand exit! You can still have one.

It’s your wedding—do what you want!

As I’ve said before: it’s your wedding day, do what you want. If you’re the type of couple who has always imagined a traditional wedding, have it! Don’t worry about what anyone else thinks or says. The most important part of your wedding day is that you’re happy and you two have fun. And of course, if you’re a couple who tends to do things a little differently, don’t worry about what anyone else thinks or says. Do what you want and have fun doing it.

If I’ve learned anything from capturing weddings and planning my own, it’s to prioritize your needs and wants. Everyone has an opinion, but the only ones that matter are your own.