As micro weddings and destination elopements become more and more popular for couples just wanting to have a wedding their way, so too are surprise wedding receptions. Throwing a wedding reception back home with a larger group of friends and family is a great way to include the folks you can’t do without but just didn’t want to deal with on your just-the-two-of-us focused wedding day.
This new style of wedding reception is catching on with couples who choose to have an intimate destination wedding, and I’m all for it. Follow these tips, ideas, and tricks for a successful surprise wedding reception when it’s time to let the cat out of the bag.
Book a Venue
Sure you got off the hook from having to find a large group event venue on your wedding day, but now you’re going to need a space and some food and drinks. The nature of a post-wedding or post-elopement reception means you can skip a budget-breaking formal sit down dinner, or a gut busting buffet in favor of a more laid back and low-key spread. Make it fun with a more approachable food theme such as pizza and wine, tacos and cervezas, or wings and beer.
There’s a restaurant, gastro pub, or seafood joint for every taste and my team and I are here to help you find the right reception venue for you.
A surprise wedding reception can be scheduled for a time slot other than the always coveted Saturday night time slot that charges a premium price. You’ve broken tradition by going with a micro wedding or elopement, and now there’s no rules when it comes to when you have to have your reception. Weekday evenings aren’t off the table. Sunday afternoons are great. And Friday after 5 is perfectly fine too.
Get The Word Out with Invitations
Just because you had no (or few) wedding guests at your wedding, doesn’t mean you can’t send out invites for your reception. Once you have the reception venue and date chosen it’s time to order invitations printed with your favorite wedding day portrait. You can incorporate the photo right onto a postcard or have wallet size prints made and include them in the envelope of your paper invite. If you’ve kept your people in the dark until now, this is a fun way to reveal the news.
Sample Surprise Wedding Reception Wording
What to Wear
Some couples choose to recreate their wedding day look at their surprise wedding reception by wearing their same attire they did when they said “I do”. This is a good way to get more life out of your dress. Or you could wear a simple version or your second favorite dress that didn’t make the final cut.
Guys may be stuck paying a second rental fee if they went that route on their wedding day. Which is kind of a bummer. Or they could wear some nice clothes they already have in their closet. Does anyone really pay that much attention to what the groom wore? Did you say “yes”? Ok. Fair enough. But it’s alright to step out of the spotlight in favor of the one wearing the must-see dress.
Perhaps the both of you will want to wear your full wedding attire, or neither of you. That’s ok too.
Decor
The main event already happened so you don’t have to decorate an entire venue as if this is that party. In fact it’s a great chance to reuse some of the items you might have had on hand for your wedding day. If you chose to get your flowers preserved, you can put them on display. Don’t want to wear your wedding dress? Put it on a mannequin or dress form so that your guests can still ooh and ahh at it. Did you get a hand-painted wooden sign made for your elopement photos? Bring it along to the reception and display it at the sign-in table if you’re doing a guest book.
Decorative Ephemeral Items That Tell Your Story
Hotel room key cards
Airline tickets
Checked-baggage tags
Swizzle sticks, match books, napkins, coasters or other pieces collected during your trip
Polaroid photos taken during your destination micro wedding
Framed marriage certificate
Entertainment
It may be that the entertainment is hearing the story of your actual wedding rather than rocking out to a band or busting moves on the dance floor. There’s no need for speeches, choreographed entrances or any of the traditional wedding reception activities. Instead, make the party a vehicle for telling your story. Put your wedding video and a slideshow of your photos on a TV monitor.
The other way to go would be to have a themed party based on what your destination is known for or incorporating activities similar to what you did during your wedding.
If you eloped to Vegas, try doing a casino night for your surprise wedding reception.
If your micro wedding was in Florida, California or Hawaii consider throwing a beachy luau or a pool party instead of meeting up at a restaurant.
Did you go rock climbing, hiking, mountain biking or kayaking during your elopement or micro wedding trip? Have your reception at the climbing gym, trail head picnic shelter, a bar near your favorite local put-in or a similarly appropriate location.
This will let your guests have a taste of the fun and adventure that you did. Bring your destination back to your reception by incorporating some aspect of the adventure you had.
Reception Coordinating and Planning
Whether you’re having a traditional wedding reception or a rules-breaking surprise wedding reception, the local experts at Gather After can make it happen so you can make the memories. Get in touch and we’ll help you coordinate the whole thing. From the venue and menu to the entertainment, photography and decor, we’re here for your event needs in Las Vegas.
