Planning a Stress-Free Atlanta Reception

After you decide the who, what, where, and when of your Atlanta reception, it’s time to get organized! It is crucial to plan a sequence of events for your wedding reception including everything from the cake cutting to the bouquet toss. Spending time establishing a schedule before your Atlanta reception can save you from a lot of stress on your wedding day! Here are a few hints:

• Put your schedule in writing and give it to all of your wedding vendors. Be as detailed as possible including names, times, specific locations and song titles of special dances. Jim Tiernan of Blue Sky Atlanta recommends that you, “create a plan and stick with it. Don’t be afraid to do something different. If it’s what you and your parents want, it might be a big hit!”

 
• Don’t forget to share the itinerary with your bridal party and family so they know where they are supposed to be for wedding pictures, dances, etc., and when.

 
• Give your DJ a no-play list, meaning you and your fiancé wish to not have certain songs played. If you hate the Chicken Dance or the Electric Slide, make sure to tell them, otherwise they are sure to be played. You should also include a must-play list. This list is composed of your favorite songs to dance to with each other and/or with the entire wedding.

 
• Remember not to be too disappointed if the first dance is 3 minutes late. “Events tend to take on their own personality”, Jim Tiernan adds. The times should act only as a guide and to keep things moving in the right direction.

 
• The cake cutting many times signifies a point in the evening when wedding guests can leave without feeling rude or unappreciative. Time the cutting of the wedding cake so that it is not too late into the evening. Your little guests and your grandparent’s generation may need to be home at an earlier time.

Planning can make all of the difference for the perfect Atlanta reception. Visit My Perfect Planner™ to create your own planner, featuring checklists, seating charts, guest lists, and a budget calculator that help keep you organized for the big day.