Donn Gonzales - Master of Ceremonies

Some call it the party of a lifetime. It's also the ultimate reunion of friends and family members who've all played major roles in your lives so far. Whatever the style, size and setting of your wedding reception, it's the celebration you've worked hard to plan - a personal expression of your love and the future you can't wait to start. As the perfect hosts, you and your parents will want to ensure your guests a comfortable ambiance, delicious cuisine, delightful music and entertainment that suit your personalities. You may dance the night away or relax to a string quartet; entertain guests with a seated dinner, your favorite cocktail and hors d'oeuvres, or simply champagne and wedding cake. But whatever your style, you can add per¬sonal touches along the way to make the day truly shine.

 

• To impress guests as you take to the dance floor as hus¬band and wife, consider taking dance lessons before the big day. Or you can purchase a dance instruction DVD that includes dance moves to learn for the first time or brush up. Soon, all in the privacy of your own home! Don't forget to choose a romantic song for your first dance together, and let your musicians know the selection as soon as possible.

•  Let guests know they've arrived somewhere extra special with small floral arrangements lining the path to the front door of the reception site, or, if you're marrying at night, with luminaries.

•  Follow a beloved romantic tradition by placing small silver bells at each place. Ask guests to ring the bells anytime they want the newlyweds to kiss.

• Consider surprising your new husband with a groom's cake of his very own, typically a chocolate dessert to distin¬guish it from the bride's cake. The groom's special dessert can also be a mix of his favorite cake flavors.

• Although you'll rely on a professional photographer to capture the major moments of the day, place single-use cameras on every reception table so that guests can become roving photographers, too. Have a bridesmaid or other close friends gather the cameras at the reception’s end and develop the film while you're away on your honeymoon. Then you can include a wedding snapshot with thank-you notes when you return!

•  Place a pretty box on the gift or registry table so that guests can leave you a heartfelt note or message, all won¬derful keepsakes you'll cherish for a lifetime. Guests who choose to bring a monetary gift to the reception can also place it here.

•  Make your cake cutting and first toast a truly memorable moment with personalized champagne flutes, cake plates, and cake knife and server. You'll then enjoy using these items for future anniversary celebrations, most notably a year later when you celebrate your first anniversary with a slice of the wedding cake you've kept frozen for the celebration.

•  Serve a favorite hors d'oeuvre or entree that's common to your region of the country. Or ask the caterer to copy one of your grandmother's favorite recipes for a mouthwatering dessert.

•  Display portraits of both sets of parents on their wedding days at your registry or gift table.

One other noteworthy new trend: Many couples today are finding alternatives to the traditional guest book. In the past, the traditional book may have been the only option for recording who shared in your special day, but now guests may instead sign a framed mat, which you can use to show off a wedding portrait in your new home. Then you'll have a favorite photograph of the two of you and good wishes from guests together in one place. Or consider a pewter plate that can be etched by those in attendance, using a special diamond-tipped pen, and displayed later in your new home. A beautiful scroll for guests to sign, which can be framed later, is another option. No matter which idea you choose, you can be assured of heartwarming memories that will last a lifetime and be preserved for generations to come!