Ask Sadie - The Reception
Las Vegas theme ideas
Q. We're getting married in Las Vegas, but are having a reception back in England once we're home. We'd like to have a Vegas/gambling theme in keeping with the ceremony and need some decorating ideas.
A. Love the glamourous casino theme! These ideas should help you get started:
invitations
Include a few playing cards or poker chips in with the invitations. Handwrite invitations in gold or silver pen on heavy black paper.
food & drink
Feature outrageous cocktails with lots of "accessories" (paper umbrellas, fruit garnish, huge bowled glassware). Serve pink champagne out of boule cocktail glasses. Oysters and jumbo shrimp. Hire a showgirl/cocktail waitress to serve drinks and pass hors d'ouevres.
entertainment
Elvis impersonator, hire a mobile casino to set up a few games tables and give your guests fun money to gamble with. Karaoke machine with only Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin songs.
decor
Palm trees, sprinkle tables with glittery dollar-sign confetti, use black or red coloured table linens. Dramatic lighting will make all the difference, turn overhead lights off and make use of table lamps or hire a lighting company to light the room for you.
When you are in Las Vegas, take note of any special details that will help add to your celebration. You could also use souvenirs to incorporate into the party back home. Collect matchbooks, brochures and other trinkets from hotels and restaurants you visit and scatter them on tables to add an authentic feel to your celebration!
the seating plan
Q. We've had all our replies, but have no idea where to start when it comes to designing a seating plan. Help!
A. There are lots of ways to solve the "where-do-I-sit?" dilemma.
One of the most straight-forward ways is to set out alphabetised place cards with each guest's name so guests can locate them easily beforehand. In the upper corner, pencil in which table they are to sit at and number the tables accordingly. This arrangement tells guests which table to sit at, but lets them decide on their own which seat they'd like to occupy at their specified table.
Alternatively, you could print a list of the tables and who is meant to sit where. This list should be posted at the entrance, easily visible to all guests on their way in.
If you'd like guests to sit at specific seats, you'll still need to arrange for place cards to be set at each guests seat, letting them know about the pre-arranged seating plan.
Some other quick guidelines and ideas:
1. Family and close friends should not be clustered around the newlyweds. It'll will make other guests feel excluded.
2. Take into account special needs guests, such as elderly people who may have trouble seeing or hearing.
3. Consider a theme to the tables, rather than numbers. If you're having a garden themed wedding, name your tables after flowers instead (i.e. Rose Table, Gardenia Table, Creeping Ivy Table, etc.). Continue the theme by having a different centrepiece for each table (i.e. roses on the Rose Table, ivy on the Ivy Table, etc.).
4. I've heard of weddings where tables ha numbers printed on velum in beautiful silver frames that were given away to one of the guests seated there at the end of the evening.
5. Remember that this day joins two families. Get everyone talking by seating members of each family at tables together.
order of the speeches
Q. In which order do the speeches at the reception go?
A. Here's a quick guideline:
the first toast
made by the giver-away of the bride (usually her father) who stands and says a few words about the bride and groom before proposing a toast to their health.
reply to the first toast
the groom responds on behalf of the bride and himself.
second toast
following on, the groom proposes the toast to the bridesmaids.
reply to the second toast
the best man replies on behalf of the bridesmaids, gives a speech and reads a few cards.
end of speeches
the toastmaster or best man anounces the cutting of the cake and the programme for the rest of the evening.
divorced parents and the top table
Q. Both mine and my fiance's parents' are divorced. How should we organise seating arrangements on the top table?
A. Traditionally, the wedding party, who sit at the top table, comprise the bride and groom, the bride and groom's natural parents, the best man and chief bridesmaid. Even where the parents are separated, remarried or divorced, it is still usual for only the natural parents to sit at the top table. Other family members, such as step-parents, are not part of the traditional bridal party but are treated as honoured guests. As honoured guests, they should be given importance by being seated on a table close to the top table. Having an honoured guests' table also solves the problem of where to sit bridesmaids and ushers. Since these helpers are also honoured guests, they would join step-parents, and partners of separated parents, on this special table - although young bridesmaids and page boys should sit with their parents.
Top table seating arrangement for the traditional bridal party:
Chief Bridesmaid / Groom's Father / Bride's Mother / Groom / Bride / Bride's Father / Groom's Mother / Best Man
Some general rules of thumb:
1. It is usual for the bride and groom to sit in the middle of the top table - with the bride seated to the left of the groom (and for the gender of those seated to alternate).
2. It is also generally accepted that the hosts of the wedding, whoever they are, sit at the top table. In the case of divorced or separated parents, where you are unsure of their reaction, the best course of action is to first ask them what they would like to happen.
3. If the parents of the bride (or groom) are hosting the wedding, despite their separation, they may be happy to sit at the top table without their partners thus avoiding having too many people on the top table.
4. If they have not remarried, or do not have a current partner, they may be happy to sit alone or be accompanied by another relative such as a sibling or child.
5. If they have a new partner and the relationship is generally recognised, they may like to sit with their new partner.
I know it can seem confusing, but the best option really is to discuss the seating arrangements with all the parents. That way, you'll avoid upsetting people and it's one less thing to cross off your list!
Las Vegas theme ideas
Q. We're getting married in Las Vegas, but are having a reception back in England once we're home. We'd like to have a Vegas/gambling theme in keeping with the ceremony and need some decorating ideas.
A. Love the glamourous casino theme! These ideas should help you get started:
invitations
Include a few playing cards or poker chips in with the invitations. Handwrite invitations in gold or silver pen on heavy black paper.
food & drink
Feature outrageous cocktails with lots of "accessories" (paper umbrellas, fruit garnish, huge bowled glassware). Serve pink champagne out of boule cocktail glasses. Oysters and jumbo shrimp. Hire a showgirl/cocktail waitress to serve drinks and pass hors d'ouevres.
entertainment
Elvis impersonator, hire a mobile casino to set up a few games tables and give your guests fun money to gamble with. Karaoke machine with only Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin songs.
decor
Palm trees, sprinkle tables with glittery dollar-sign confetti, use black or red coloured table linens. Dramatic lighting will make all the difference, turn overhead lights off and make use of table lamps or hire a lighting company to light the room for you.
When you are in Las Vegas, take note of any special details that will help add to your celebration. You could also use souvenirs to incorporate into the party back home. Collect matchbooks, brochures and other trinkets from hotels and restaurants you visit and scatter them on tables to add an authentic feel to your celebration!
the seating plan
Q. We've had all our replies, but have no idea where to start when it comes to designing a seating plan. Help!
A. There are lots of ways to solve the "where-do-I-sit?" dilemma.
One of the most straight-forward ways is to set out alphabetised place cards with each guest's name so guests can locate them easily beforehand. In the upper corner, pencil in which table they are to sit at and number the tables accordingly. This arrangement tells guests which table to sit at, but lets them decide on their own which seat they'd like to occupy at their specified table.
Alternatively, you could print a list of the tables and who is meant to sit where. This list should be posted at the entrance, easily visible to all guests on their way in.
If you'd like guests to sit at specific seats, you'll still need to arrange for place cards to be set at each guests seat, letting them know about the pre-arranged seating plan.
Some other quick guidelines and ideas:
1. Family and close friends should not be clustered around the newlyweds. It'll will make other guests feel excluded.
2. Take into account special needs guests, such as elderly people who may have trouble seeing or hearing.
3. Consider a theme to the tables, rather than numbers. If you're having a garden themed wedding, name your tables after flowers instead (i.e. Rose Table, Gardenia Table, Creeping Ivy Table, etc.). Continue the theme by having a different centrepiece for each table (i.e. roses on the Rose Table, ivy on the Ivy Table, etc.).
4. I've heard of weddings where tables ha numbers printed on velum in beautiful silver frames that were given away to one of the guests seated there at the end of the evening.
5. Remember that this day joins two families. Get everyone talking by seating members of each family at tables together.
order of the speeches
Q. In which order do the speeches at the reception go?
A. Here's a quick guideline:
the first toast
made by the giver-away of the bride (usually her father) who stands and says a few words about the bride and groom before proposing a toast to their health.
reply to the first toast
the groom responds on behalf of the bride and himself.
second toast
following on, the groom proposes the toast to the bridesmaids.
reply to the second toast
the best man replies on behalf of the bridesmaids, gives a speech and reads a few cards.
end of speeches
the toastmaster or best man anounces the cutting of the cake and the programme for the rest of the evening.
divorced parents and the top table
Q. Both mine and my fiance's parents' are divorced. How should we organise seating arrangements on the top table?
A. Traditionally, the wedding party, who sit at the top table, comprise the bride and groom, the bride and groom's natural parents, the best man and chief bridesmaid. Even where the parents are separated, remarried or divorced, it is still usual for only the natural parents to sit at the top table. Other family members, such as step-parents, are not part of the traditional bridal party but are treated as honoured guests. As honoured guests, they should be given importance by being seated on a table close to the top table. Having an honoured guests' table also solves the problem of where to sit bridesmaids and ushers. Since these helpers are also honoured guests, they would join step-parents, and partners of separated parents, on this special table - although young bridesmaids and page boys should sit with their parents.
Top table seating arrangement for the traditional bridal party:
Chief Bridesmaid / Groom's Father / Bride's Mother / Groom / Bride / Bride's Father / Groom's Mother / Best Man
Some general rules of thumb:
1. It is usual for the bride and groom to sit in the middle of the top table - with the bride seated to the left of the groom (and for the gender of those seated to alternate).
2. It is also generally accepted that the hosts of the wedding, whoever they are, sit at the top table. In the case of divorced or separated parents, where you are unsure of their reaction, the best course of action is to first ask them what they would like to happen.
3. If the parents of the bride (or groom) are hosting the wedding, despite their separation, they may be happy to sit at the top table without their partners thus avoiding having too many people on the top table.
4. If they have not remarried, or do not have a current partner, they may be happy to sit alone or be accompanied by another relative such as a sibling or child.
5. If they have a new partner and the relationship is generally recognised, they may like to sit with their new partner.
I know it can seem confusing, but the best option really is to discuss the seating arrangements with all the parents. That way, you'll avoid upsetting people and it's one less thing to cross off your list!
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