image of a reception table with champagne glass and flowers

Once you finalize the details of your ceremony, it's time to turn your attention to the party—your wedding reception! Our budget tips, décor ideas, and practical advice on everything from seating charts and food service to signature cocktails and speeches will help you plan the perfect wedding reception.

A model wearing the Shona Joy High-Neck Stratus Lace Slim Maxi Dress next to a model wearing the Magda Butrym Rosette Mini Dress on a light yellow background
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Maid of Honor Speech at a Wedding
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Guests Sitting at Wedding Reception Tables
5 Free Digital Wedding Seating Chart Templates to Simplify the Planning Process
Black and White Seating Chart At Outdoor Wedding Reception
30 Unique Wedding Seating Chart Ideas Guaranteed to Impress Your Guests
Guests at a Cocktail-Style Wedding Reception
How to Plan a Cocktail-Style Wedding Reception
Bride and Groom Laugh in Response to a Wedding Speech
13 Tips for Giving an Amazing Wedding Speech, According to Public Speaking Experts
A Bride's Parents Give a Wedding Toast With a Microphone
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Bride and groom doing the money dance
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Man giving a wedding speech
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Bride and groom kissing beneath sparklers that guests are holding at night
45 Unique Wedding Send-Off Ideas for an Unforgettable Exit
Bride and Groom During Their Wedding Entrance With Bride Spreading Her Tulle Sleeves
33 Creative Wedding Entrance Ideas for Any Reception Style
Head Table at a Wedding With Place Settings, Greenery, and Taper Candles, Surrounded by Round Tables
Who Sits at the Head Table at a Wedding Reception?
Round Wedding Tables With Mix-and-Match Linens and Moss Garland
Round Wedding Tables Are Trending Again: Here's How to Arrange, Group, and Decorate Them
Ideas for a bohemian wedding ceremony with rugs and pampas grass
55 Boho Wedding Ideas That Are Organic and Ethereal
Groom giving a speech at this wedding reception with his wife
How to Write the Perfect Groom Speech
Bride, Groom, and Wedding Guests Toasting With Champagne Flutes
The Wedding Speech Order You Should Follow at Your Reception
Groom in Blue Suit and Bride in Gold Gown Posing for Wedding Portrait at Sunset
The Best Timeline for Your Wedding Day
Two Brides in Floral-Filled Wedding Reception Laughing at Funny Wedding Toast
39 Short and Funny Wedding Toasts Guaranteed to Make Guests Laugh
Wedding Seating Chart at a Couple's Celebration
9 Expert-Approved Tips for Creating Your Wedding Seating Chart
bride and groom in colorful attire walking next to pool with monogram
15 Pool Decoration Ideas for Your Wedding
two men giving wedding speeches
Should You Hire a Wedding MC for Your Reception?
A wedding ceremony arch with greenery and wooden chairs for guest seating.
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wedding guest standing in an open field with a mountainous backdrop
Planning a Potluck Wedding Reception? Here's Everything You Need to Know
An white bar outside decorated with a neon sign displaying the couple's hashtag
How to Create a Wedding Hashtag—Plus, 55 Ideas to Inspire Your Own
wide shot of wedding guests standing at an outdoor reception
How to Host a Modern Cake and Punch Reception
A bride and group pouring rose champagne over a champagne tower as an alternative to the first dance during their indoor wedding reception.
10 Unique Alternatives to the Traditional First Dance at Your Wedding
bride and groom playing the wedding shoe game
How to Play the Wedding Shoe Game—and 50 Questions to Ask
Bride and groom kissing while their guests form a tunnel with lit sparklers outside
Want to Use Sparklers at Your Wedding? Here's What You Need to Know
Wedding Reception Tablescape with Fresh Flowers and Ribbed Glassware
How to Choose Glassware for Your Wedding
Champagne glass escort card display with round red and white cards on a greenery wall
17 Boozy Wedding Escort Card Ideas to Get the Party Started
Wedding Ice Sculpture with "A&J" Monogram
Everything to Know About Having an Ice Sculpture at Your Wedding
Wedding Reception Plate With Butterfly Pattern and Menu Card With Blue Ribbon on Top
Fine China May Be Out on Your Registry, but It's in on Reception Tabletops—Here's What You Need to Know About This Colorful Wedding Trend
old-fashioned van photo booth
A Simple Guide to Wedding Photo Booths
Naomi Biden and Peter Neil with Joe and Jill Biden on her wedding day
We Finally Know What Naomi Biden's White House Wedding Reception Looked Like
Joi and DeAngelo holding hands at their ballroom reception
20 Ballroom Wedding Reception Ideas Guaranteed to Elevate Any Space
A bride and maid of honor cheers with champagne.
Our Favorite Unique Maid of Honor Speech Ideas
Hotel wedding reception
How to Plan a Hotel Wedding Reception
custom dance floor with florals and monogram with floral installation overhead
How to Create a Custom Dance Floor for Your Wedding Reception
Wedding reception
21 Special Ways to Personalize Your Wedding Reception
Wedding Table Place Settings at a Couple's Celebration
40 Stunning Place Settings to Inspire Your Own Reception Tables
groom laughing while listening to speech
How to Write a Father-of-the-Groom Speech
Close Up of Guest Book and Polaroid Camera
How to Set Up a Polaroid Guest Book at Your Wedding—Plus, 13 Ideas That Prove How Fun This Interactive Trend Really Is
bridgerton
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a young woman dressed in burgundy giving a wedding speech
How to Write a Sister-of-the-Groom Speech
A round wedding reception table with white table cloth, pastel flowers, glassware, wooden chairs, and upholstered high-back booth seating.
How to Choose the Right Wedding Reception Tables
colorful bouquet with peach and white roses
Everything You Need to Know About the Bouquet Toss
Bride and groom kissing on velvet green couch surrounded by flowers and greenery
25 DIY Wedding Photo Booth Ideas Guaranteed to Entertain Your Guests
Jewish Hora Dance
What to Know About the Jewish Hora Dance
winter wedding tablescapes
25 Dreamy Tablescapes for a Winter Wedding
Members of a wedding celebration playing croquet on the lawn during a wedding reception in front of a large home on a sunny, summer day.
40 Fun Wedding Games Every Guest Will Enjoy Playing at Your Reception
Bride in floral embroidered white gown and groom in tuxedo on steps with colorful butterfly installation
55 Colorful Wedding Ideas to Make Your Big Day Pop
Wedding Guest Books
21 Best Wedding Guest Books for Every Wedding Style and Theme
A bride and groom holding hands and dancing beneath string lights and star pendants
25 Celestial Wedding Ideas That Are Out of This World
a guide to wedding reception toasts
Who Gives a Speech at the Wedding Reception?
bride and groom wedding reception toast
60 Wedding Toast Quotes for Every Speech
Mother of the Bride in Blue Dress and Daughter in Veil Posing for Photo
Mother-of-the-Bride Speech Examples and Writing Tips
Happy bride and groom holding hands in a field
How to Plan a Wedding in 6 Months or Less
bride and groom wedding day portrait
20 Unique Wedding Lighting Ideas
Family Photos Arranged Next to Escort Cards, a Simple Wedding Decoration
29 Simple Wedding Decorations That Require Little Effort—and Still Look Elegant
post wedding brunch
What to Know Before Booking a Brunch Wedding Reception
restaurant wedding
How to Have a Restaurant Wedding Reception
Bride and groom with cheering guests on a trolley on way to their wedding
How to Transport Your Wedding Party and Guests on Your Wedding Day
Outdoor Tent at a Couple's Wedding Reception
23 Breathtaking Ideas for Your Outdoor Reception Tent
Folded napkin at place setting at wedding guest table
8 Pretty Ways to Fold Napkins at Your Wedding Reception