6 Areas That Can Make Your Wedding Reception A BIG Mess

If you are getting married soon, read this for your own good. 

A Wedding reception is the part of the ceremony that shows how much of preparation went into the planning of the wedding by the couple.

It is where people fight over food, where phones and properties are stolen, where the music band in their quest to get more money will sing for total strangers who is spraying them money at the time the couple are dancing in, where different groups will seek to be recognized or else they won't show love and so on. 

If you are not careful as the couple, your wedding reception will be one that you won't like to remember.

Having served as the MC at wedding receptions in different parts, I can give you certain counsels that can help you. 

1. For the planning of your wedding reception especially, if you can, engage an event planner to help you think, ask questions, tell the person what you want from planning to execution. 

Don't also give all the power to the event planner. Let the event planner know your vendor preferences and why. Get involved and ask for updates too. 

If you can't afford an event planner, get a friend of yours who is 'organized' to commit to helping you plan with you.

Questions like: 

- Hall or field? 

- What's the cost for each? 

- What is my budget? 

- How many persons are we looking at?

- Rice or beans? 😁

- Who are the vendors and what's their track record? 

These are important questions that you and your 'organized' friend can think through months and tick the boxes weekly. 

2. Pay a good music band. Never negotiate a deal with a band leader that he can make money at your event if you pay 50% of their fee. They will mess up your event. I promise you. 

Many of them overdo it. I once went for a wedding reception where while the father and mother were dancing in and were not spraying money on the band leader, the band leader stopped singing for them and started singing a total stranger who was a potential money spender in the audience. 

These guys will mess up your event. Pay a good band. 

If you can't get a good band, pay a good DJ. Do not forget to confirm that the DJ is a good one and has good mics. 

Also, give the DJ your songs. The song you want him to play during your first dance especially. It's important. 

3. Engage your 'trusted and capable' friends to help you handle different parts of your event.

I used the words 'trusted and capable' for a reason. Some friends are good but on your big day, it is risky to trust them to come on time and manage things well. 

Usually the only part we get someone trusted for is the picking of money part😂 whereas this is not the only aspect.

For instance, who is in-charge of cake before and during the cutting of the cake? 

The person ensures there is knife, plate and drink for the cutting of the cake moment.

The person also cuts it into bit to be shared to everyone in the audience. 

- Who is in-charge of the seats for the father and mother of bride and groom?

- Who ensures that the seats are reserved and are firm? 

You can get two of your friends to handle this part. 

I attended a wedding where the father and mother of the bride and groom couldn't get a place to sit because their seats were occupied already. 

Guess what?

The people who sat down on the seats of the Bride and Groom's Father and Mother didn't want to leave. It was an ugly scene. 

If you are not careful, your event will be messed up. 

4. Minimize how you serve alcoholic drinks.

This one is for your own good. A friend of mine told me of a wedding reception he attended, a man who is a friend to the groom having drank alcohol more than he was capable of taking and still remain sane started misbehaving, went and sat forcefully sat on the couple seat, at some point he was jumping everywhere and became a nuisance. 

It was a disgusting scene to behold. 

5. Food. 

Who is in-charge of the food? 

Usually it's the mothers of the couple with both ensuring that their invited guests are well-served. 

You should discuss with your mums well about this. Also ask if one of your friends can be with them as the volunteer. 

Or better still, ask your parents to seat and cut a deal with a 'trusted' catering friend to take care of this aspect.

Questions like: 

How many persons are we inviting? 

What is each person's portion like and how do we measure it? 

Please note that food should not be served until after the grand entry of the couple. If you serve before this, you have handed the cards to the audience and may start to see empty seats soon. 

6. The Art of Choosing A Photographer/Videographer

Unlike the MC whose work you can feel at your event, the work of the photographer/videographer is only felt after the entire event. 

It doesn't mean that if he is very expensive, he will do a great job. 

You can get an affordable guy and put together the list of moments you want captured at your event and give to the photographer even if he says, he knows the moments and that you should not worry. 

Initiative can only be taken based on experience, a plan, vision or by inspiration.

Special 7. Get a truly good MC, answer questions and listen to his/her recommendations.

You should have a list of the kind of MC you want and scout well considering your budget.😁 

I am very a good Master of Ceremonies.

Everytime I anchor a wedding reception, I do it like it's my wedding reception. 

I spot gaps quickly and try to make things go smoothly. 

I love my clients and indeed I do.

You will need to give your MC power. By this, I mean that you let him/her know of any change and direct anyone who comes to you for a request for a time slot to perform or do anything, tell the person that the MC is in-charge here. The person should meet the MC.

Let the music band know too. 

There has been cases of Music Bands fighting for power with the MC.

ALWAYS take side with the MC. He is the Master of your Ceremony. 

Again, let me remind, pay your music band or DJ and have an agreement reached.

When getting an MC, don't get one that is rude, abusive and one who is not coordinated, if you do, you may regret it. 

It's the reason I mentioned that you should pay a good MC. 

Also depending on your kind of audience, get one that speaks good English, sense of humor, coordinated and presence of mind to connect. 

I am a very good Master of Ceremonies

08036802193 | oluwapelumiawe@gmail.com

I hope this was helpful. 

Feel free to share and leave a comment.

I want you to win.😊

Oluwapelumi Awe