KC Weddings .net - Reception Protocol

All About Reception Protocol
By Jeanette Hawkinson

Each family has its own style, each couple has their own style, and each celebrates in its own way. Some are reserved and dignified; others are fun loving and festival. You will have to consider the combined character of your collected relatives and friends when determining not only what you will have at the reception, but also how you will have it. Nevertheless, do not forget to make it a reception that you will enjoy as well.

We realize, of course, that some situations are difficult: estranged parents or feuding relatives, for example. You cannot force people to be other than who they are, so there is no point trying. What you can do, though, is to plan for the comfort, convenience, and friendliness of the majority of your guests at the reception and try to head off any altercations with some sensible preventive measures.

Think about the following:

Will the time of the day and location you have chosen present a problem for elderly relatives? We originally wanted our reception on the top of some bluffs that my husband’s family owned. However, the steepness of the hill would have made it difficult for some people to walk up.
Will guests have to wait outside during picture taking? More and more couples are taking pictures earlier, before the ceremony, to avoid this.
Will you want everyone to sign a guest book? If so, let them do that as they enter the reception area.
Are some of your guests elderly or handicapped in a way that makes it difficult to walk or stand? Assign an usher or a friend to give them special assistance, and bring them into the reception site first.
Will there be many small children at your reception? A separate sideroom with toys and games for them, supervised by teenage sitters, could be a godsend-for everybody.
Do some guests have special dietary needs (vegetarian, kosher, diabetic)? If yours is a seated reception, give the caterer a list of those people, and arrange for their meals in advance.
Do your families and friends have gourmet palates or more tastes that are ordinary? Make menu selections so that all will be sure to find something they enjoy.
Will there be dancing? Make sure there is music for all ages, including any ethnic numbers your guests will expect.
Will there be alcoholic beverages served? Make sure the site does not have any rules or regulations concerning alcohol. Some places do not allow alcohol to be served on their property.

With all this in mind, you should be able to plan a reception in a location and to the degree of formality you want, and be able to please the guests also. Remember though, you cannot please everybody, but do please yourself.