11 Unique Wedding Reception Ideas to Make Your Special Day Unforgettable
One of the most important aspects of planning your wedding is finding ways to infuse your reception with unique elements that make it memorable. In this blog, we will share 11 unique wedding ideas straight from our wedding reception hall team to make your special day unforgettable.
1. Bespoke table settings
Instead of choosing the expected completely coordinated table settings, go for an eclectic look that sets your reception apart. This can be a fun way to express your sense of style, collecting great finds from flea markets, or contributions from family members.
You can either do a unique table setting for each guest or each table. This has a real vintage feel that is whimsical and nostalgic, featuring beautiful patterns on plates, mismatched cutlery, coloured glassware, and special touches such as elegant china or glass “charger” plates.
As part of this unique approach, you can also invite guests to take their charger plates or glassware home. This is not only a special way to thank guests for attending, but also reduces the costs of wedding favours. If this seems like too much work, there are plenty of rental companies that can assist in putting bespoke table settings together if your budget allows.
2. Elevated lighting
Lighting is a decorative touch that is often overlooked at weddings. You can add subtle lighting such as fairy lights, unexpected lighting such as Edison bulbs strewn about the room, or something very elegant such as chandeliers or candelabras.
Advanced lighting technology can create bespoke lighting features such as casting a quote about love on the walls, projecting your names behind the head table, or creating interesting shapes or images that enhance your reception’s ambience.
3. Cottage core romance
Introducing floral patterns and extravagant floral displays throughout the wedding reception hall helps build on the romantic, elegant cottage core trend. Colours such as blush pinks, creams, and accents in deeper-toned pinks and lavenders are ideal for a romantic cottage core look.
Using beautiful floral fabrics for tablecloths, napkins, or bustles on seating also works well. And don’t forget the impact draped floral fabric can have on areas such as behind the head table, as part of a floral archway, or to separate areas of the wedding reception hall such as the bar, dance floor, or lounge.
4. Make a statement with chairs
Instead of going with the standard chairs provided by wedding reception halls, consider ways to incorporate statement chairs. An assortment of chairs from different eras and styles creates an intriguing look at reception tables.
A mix of wood, hints of rattan, metal, leather, fabric upholstery, etc., can be dressed down for rustic weddings, or dressed up with chic floral arrangements and lighting for a more sophisticated look.
You can also include luxe, comfortable chairs for lounging throughout the hall, creating intimate areas for conversation or a place to take a break from all the excitement. Also, don’t forget your chairs at the head table. Set yourself apart with something more extravagant, ideal for photo ops, and a hint of fun.
5. Include touches of nature
Floral arrangements are a common sight at wedding reception halls. Introducing different touches from nature is far less expected, creating a woodsy look, or leaning towards vibes that feel more tropical.
Greenery is very elegant on its own, adding texture and fragrance using things like pine or eucalyptus. Bare branches, birch, and moss can also be soft and elegant, and become sophisticated when paired with candles, or whimsical with strings of fairy lights. Potted palms, hibiscus, and fig trees lean more toward tropical themes.
6. Use potted herbs in unique ways
Pretty potted herbs can be used in various unique ways, such as the following:
Placeholders at tables
Escort cards for guest seating
A whimsical, fragrant centrepiece
Not only are herbs lovely and fragrant, but they also make a practical gift for guests to take home.
7. Get creative with chalkboards
Whether you fancy yourself a bit of an artist, or you hire someone to create some interesting drawings, chalkboards are highly customizable, one-of-a-kind wedding reception hall decor features.
They can be used as a backdrop for selfies, a decorative touch behind the head table, a fun way to show guests where they’re seated, a massive welcome sign, or a general artistic display anywhere in the reception hall.
Additionally, they can be used as a fun place for guests to leave personalized messages. Capture the messages on video and share them with guests, or keep them as a wonderful memory of the day.
8. Steal the Swiftie bracelet idea
Create customized friendship bracelets a la Taylor Swift, and use them as place settings that can be taken home as a fun favour for guests.
9. Create a nostalgic photo display
Celebrating the great loves of both families is a romantic way to include your family heritage in your reception. Collecting wedding images or images of family couples in their day-to-day lives and displaying them in a unique way is a lovely decorative touch that will add interest to the wedding reception hall.
Guests can take a trip back in time and wax nostalgic about the good old days and their loved ones. The displays can be made in different ways, including the following:
Slide show projections
Framed photos placed on guest tables, reception areas, gift tables, etc.
Placed in mason jars
Tacked to a whimsical corkboard
Strung as a garland
10. Dine family style
Ideal for smaller weddings, having guests sit at one table and help themselves to platters of food creates a more intimate, interactive reception dinner that is reminiscent of childhood family dinners. You can also apply this idea for larger weddings, using long tables as opposed to several small tables.
11. Include clever messages
Creating a more immersive experience for guests makes wedding receptions more engaging. For example, including clever messages throughout the wedding reception hall helps guests find their way to key spots you’ve set up.
Upon arrival, greet guests with a chalkboard or framed message that tells them where to go or what to do, whether it’s enjoying cocktails in the foyer, heading to their table, or stepping into a courtyard for some appetizers.
You can also have fun with messages such as placing a riddle at each guest’s seat to start conversations, or creating a milestone sign that points people in the right direction to the bar, the buffet, the washrooms, the lounge area, outdoor spaces, etc.
Contact Château Le Jardin for an Elegant Wedding Reception Hall
These ideas are sure to create many unique experiences for your guests, providing wonderful memories that will last a lifetime.
For more information about the wedding reception halls at Château Le Jardin, call us at 1-888-529-8573 or contact us online.