If wedding ceremonies are all about the newlyweds, then the reception is all about the guests. Wedding photos will not be as beautiful without your loved ones in the composition.

At first glance, the title of this blog might raise some eyebrows—especially for all the nearlyweds out there. The truth is, weddings will not be complete and meaningful without your friends and family there to bear witness and celebrate it with you. It will not feel as special if there is no one to share a feast with and enjoy every memorable moment on your wedding day.

That is not to say that the spotlight should be given to your guests during your reception. Rather, it means showing appreciation for their presence and time.

Wedding Receptions Represent Togetherness 

When planning your wedding, you think about the venue, the theme, the decorations, and most typically, the food. 

Why is that?

The reason is that weddings are not just a celebration of love. It is also sharing an intimate milestone with the people who matter in your life. Otherwise, why would you painstakingly make sure that everything—from the meals to the venue to the details—suits your dream wedding perfectly?

Your guests add more excitement to your party. You base your reception’s overall vibe of the people who make up your ‘exclusive crowd’. You want to leave a good and lasting impression and may even hire a professional wedding planner to help do the job.

Here are a few more reasons why your wedding reception is defined by the people who attend your special day:

Guests share the flood of emotions at your wedding.

No wedding is  complete without a dose of happy tears, contented sighs, and boisterous cheers. All of these  emotions are not enough to be contained within two individuals only. Your guests are there to experience and honor your love story with your spouse. They are one with you in acknowledging your brand new journey. Besides, wouldn’t the happy emotions double or triple with more people there to experience it with you?

You express gratitude to your guests through your reception.

Your wedding reception gives you the opportunity to express your appreciation to your guests. By feeding your guests and providing them with a one-of-a-kind event that they will enjoy and remember, you make them know just how much their presence means to you. At the end of the day, the people who truly care about you and the milestones in your life are the ones worth hosting an amazing wedding reception for. 

Be more thoughtful of your guests.

While the couple chooses what to serve at their wedding reception, that does not mean that the menu is entirely an exhibition of foods that only the two of them fancy. Generally speaking, when you invite people to celebrate a milestone in your life, it is just right that you be considerate of their needs. By that, it means considering whether some of your guests have allergic reactions to specific types of food or spices. The least you can do for the people who can make time for your special day is to go through your guest list and check whether your choice of food does more harm than good for them. 

The food is not the only detail to consider on your reception. The venue and accommodation are just as essential. For instance, if you plan to get married in the winter, it would be best to choose a cozy, indoor venue complete with warm drinks and soups. If you are to be wed during the hotter seasons, an outdoor setting may or may not be ideal.l. You can also have fans and additional stations for refreshments prepared to keep your guests feeling refreshed throughout the entire celebration. 

More importantly, check whether your wedding venue is accessible for most—if not all—of your guests. How easily will they be able to get transportation to reach the venue? Can your budget accommodate shouldering the travel expenses for all your guests? Also, how will you ensure the safety and comfort of guests who may have underlying health conditions or disabilities?

The reception is essentially a thank you to your guests.

When you ask people to attend your wedding you are asking them to commit to a number of things. Potentially taking time off from work, pull their kiddos out of school, paying for transportation and accommodations, buying new outfits and purchasing gift(s). This all adds up. And yes, your guests will usually, joyfully do these things to be a part of your wedding celebration. But how do you think these same guests will feel if there is little to no consideration for them after the wedding ceremony? If there is nowhere for them to sit, no food or drinks or limited, specialized food or drinks, no consideration for their health or dietary needs, or asking them to pay for food or drinks? It is for these reasons that we say that your reception is about your guests.

Written by Sophia Young Content Studio