Planning the Reception

A wedding reception is no different than any other special event, such as a grand opening or a major fundraising dinner. It requires careful planning, attention to detail and a means of creating agreement between the decision-makers involved in the event (in this case, the bridal couple and their families).

Here are a couple of free planning templates that you can download to your computer and print out to assist you with your plans for the wedding reception.

The first one, entitled “Before the Wedding: Questions to Ask the Bride & Her Mother” contains 59 key questions that need to be addressed well in advance of the wedding to help ensure the wedding reception meets everyone’s expectations.

Those of you that have already purchased my book can use this interactive template for their planning purposes, based on the information contained in the book.

Others who are still trying to decide whether to buy the book will get a sense of the thoroughness and attention to detail that is required in hosting a wedding reception and serving as Emcee and/or Best Man.

Those 59 questions are a product of my 20+ years of experience in planning, emceeing and managing major special events and wedding receptions. And that level of professionalism is evident throughout the book, from the step-by-step guide to planning the wedding reception to the sections on how to write a wedding speech, make a wedding toast, deal with your nerves and serve as an exceptional Best Man and/or Wedding Emcee.

The second planning template, entitled “Planning the Agenda for the Wedding Reception” is for your use in preparing an agenda for the wedding reception. For just as a movie needs a script, a wedding reception needs an agenda.

Everyone involved in the event – from those in the wedding party to the caterers serving dinner to the photographer taking pictures to those making toasts – need to know what the event is going to look like and how it’s going to unfold.

They need to know the approximate times for specific events (such as the cake cutting), the order in which they will happen (who makes the first toast – and when?) and who is responsible for what (who will usher the guests into dinner? who will give the blessing? who will announce the first dance?).

Those of you who have already purchased the book can use the sample agenda that I have included in the book to create your own wedding reception agenda, using the planning template included on this page.

If you’re still trying to decide whether to buy the book – JUST DO IT!
It’s the best ten bucks you can possibly spend towards the success of the wedding reception and your role in emceeing it!