We all know that a wedding is all about the ceremony. It’s the bit where you actually get married and what everyone’s there for. But truth be told, most people attend weddings looking forward to the wedding reception, not the ceremony, and it’s true that the actual ceremony will only take up a small portion of your wedding day. Furthermore, it’s the reception where everyone gets to relax, eat, drink and dance, and when everyone’s mingling in the big room, there are countless opportunities for unique and interesting interactions.

To help you strategize, here are 20 wedding reception tips for any Nevada wedding, no matter if you’re throwing a party for hundreds or you’re planning an intimate and personal get together with your closest family and friends after the big ceremony.

1. Organize and Plan Your Seating Beforehand

You might think you’ll have plenty of time to juggle tables and placements on the day of your wedding, but don’t do it. You’ll need a solid seating chart or arrangement to foster the best conversations and interactions, and you definitely don’t want to put two people that can’t stand each other at the same table. Resist the urge to put a bunch of strangers together or play matchmaker — everyone’s there for your big day, and trying to force interactions with people that don’t know each other isn’t a great way to make your guests feel comfortable enough to let loose and have fun. In general, you’ll want to put people who know each other together, and group your tables in ways that doesn’t leave anyone feeling left out.

2. Don’t Forget the Wedding Favors

One of the most important wedding reception tips for a Nevada wedding is to not skimp out on wedding favors. For most people, this will be the one thing they bring home with them from the wedding, and if you give them something memorable they’ll appreciate the thought and feel more involved as the day progresses. From little trinkets to homemade knick-knacks or even a succulent or a fun pair of sunglasses — you’re only limited by your imagination when it comes to your wedding favors.

3. Keep the Toasts Short and Sweet

When it comes time to toast the happy couple, you don’t want someone to ramble on for 10 minutes, or to force your audience to sit through an hour of speaking. Each toast should be a couple minutes or less, and should get to the point quickly. Save the long stories for the rehearsal dinner or the after party, and it might be a good idea to vet the speeches before the big day. You might even want to have an out for when a speech runs long, but keep it funny and respectful — you don’t want to create a scene.

4. There Will Be Kids

While every wedding is different, it’s practically a given that there will be kids at your wedding. In order to prevent them from wreaking havoc on your reception, you’ll want to provide copious forms of entertainment for them, which is one of the best wedding reception tips for Nevada wedding that we can give. Whether it’s their own space or you overwhelm them with movies, games and crafts, as long as you’re keeping the kids busy, their parents can join in on the festivities and have a better time when their kids are preoccupied.

5. Mix up the First Dance

The first dance is a staple at pretty much every wedding, but it doesn’t have to be the same slow dance that you’ve seen a dozen times. Sure, you can start with that romantic dance to your favorite love song, but halfway through you can switch it up to a break dance or swing set, keeping your audience on their toes and giving you and your partner a little creative freedom with the day’s festivities.

6. Set up Food Stations

Not everyone will want the entrees you’ve decided on, or maybe their diet requires a more selective approach to eating. With food stations, your guests can have fun putting together their own plates and dishes without having to bug the caterer for an alternative. They’re also a great way to incorporate fun foods like sushi or mac-and-cheese that might not work as part of the main dinner. If you’re having trouble thinking of ideas, reach out to some of your guests and see what ideas they have. You might be pleasantly surprised.

7. Ditch the Wedding Dress

While everyone else has to wear what they wore at the ceremony, you have the luxury of changing from your wedding dress into something a little more comfortable or something creative that pops for the reception. It’s your special day, and there’s nothing like walking into the reception wearing a haute little white dress or a fab jumpsuit. The best part is that you won’t have to worry about messing up your wedding dress, and that’s one of the most important wedding reception tips for a Nevada wedding that we can give.

8. Surprise and Entertain

Most weddings are pretty predictable, so when you break with the norm and hit your guests with entertainment when they least expect it — like during cocktail hour or just when things seem to be settling down during the reception — you’ll be creating a memorable moment for everyone. The added benefit is that you’ll know it’s coming so you get to see everyone’s response. Whether it’s a mariachi band, a salsa dancer or a magician, it’s the unexpected moments like these that your guests will be talking about for years to come.

9. Create a Place for People to Get Away

Between all the commotion and festivities, sometimes it’s good to take a break. But if everyone’s stuck in one big hall with nowhere else to go, your guests could feel trapped after a long day that’s stretching into the evening. By providing a little area with chairs where people can go relax, you might just encourage some thought-provoking conversation, as well as providing a safe space for those that would rather skip the dancing and the loud music.

For more wedding reception tips for a Nevada wedding from the experts at Occasions4.us, please contact us. With five fabulous venues for both your wedding ceremony and reception, we’ve seen and done it all, and we can help you plan the ceremony and reception of your dreams with an all-inclusive package at one of our beautiful resorts. Contact us today to learn more about our wedding packages, or look through our photo gallery to inspire ideas for your wedding.