subject: Progressive Receptions [print this page] Progressive Receptions Progressive Receptions
f you are planning your nuptials and are looking for a unique way to set your reception apart from others, consider a progressive wedding! A progressive reception is when your food, music, theme or overall style of your wedding progressively adapts to different locations of your venue on your wedding day. This gives the bride and groom an opportunity to include more of their visions and ideas into their special day, and also gives your guests an opportunity to attend a wedding reception like they have never seen before!
The couple's first objective should be to find a venue that has multiple areas where a reception can be held. Depending on what is available, you will be able to talk about ideas that you may have for that certain area. For example, if the hotel you are looking at has a patio area that is available, you might consider having your cocktail hour there. If your venue has several rooms available for your wedding day, consider using them for the different parts of your reception (one for appetizers and dinner, one for dessert, one for dancing, etc.) It is completely up to you to choose the themes or styles for each of them.
Some brides and grooms use the different rooms as a buffet for different types of food. For example, one room could be serving Italian food, while another room could be serving an Asian cuisine! This gives your guests an opportunity to sample foods from all over the world and gives more options for those who are picky eaters. Other couples choose to design these rooms based on colors, patterns, seasons, or even locations. A beach themed room could be where dinner is served, while dessert and dancing could take place in a "Paris" themed room.
If you truly want to stick to the "progressiveness" idea of the reception, try this design tip: For each room that is used, decorate it with pictures of the bride and groom throughout their lives (a room for childhood years, a room for teenage years, and a room for college days), all leading up to the final room that is decorated with pictures of the couple from the time they met all the way up to the day of the wedding. This is a unique and unforgettable way to allow your guests to take a look back at who you were before you met each other and who you are as a couple.
If you are interested in a progressive reception, remember to think outside of the box, especially for a location! Try to match your ideas and visions to your venue and make sure that all of the themes flow. Your guests will be impressed and surprised when they see the creativity and effort that you put into your wedding day!
By Emily Kantrowitz, Assistant Wedding & Event Planner
