an make for some very interesting looking children!);
- Try to break a world record... most people yo-yo'ing at a wedding reception?;
- Generate a little friendly competition with some bride and groom trivia;
- Pit bride and groom family members against each other in a custom game of Survivor;

If you are having a buffet style meal, you can also use creative and hilarious methods to determine which tables will eat first.

Have the emcee call up one person from each table to compete in a contest of some sort:

- Break the balloon by squeezing it between your knees (no hands!);
- Elvis impersonations!;
- Dancing;
- Be the first to suck all of the mystery liquid from a b

Professionally, I am seeing more and more demand for "something unique" at wedding receptions. If you want to do something completely different, there are many options open to you depending on who you know, how creative you are and what your budget is.

When people start thinking about wedding receptions, they sometimes suffer from a form of functional fixedness. That is, a frame of mind that holds us "inside the box" as it were. But if the planners realize that the part of the day that makes the bride and groom married is the ceremony, the party afterward can be anything they want it to be!

Before you begin planning your reception, think about what mood you want to permeate the evening. Would you like it to be romantic and sentimental or fun and crazy? Ethereal or quirky and off the wall?

Think too about how you want to remember the evening? And how do you want your reception to be remembered by your guests? ‘Lovely and sentimental’ or ‘a great party’? ‘Traditional’ or 'the most fun they have ever had at a reception!'?

Once you have decided on the mood and the type of memory you want to instill, choose an emcee for the evening who is likely to achieve what you want your reception to be. You can choose a family friend or relative, or you can hire a professional. Whichever way you choose, make sure that your emcee has experience with weddings and with the kind of reception you want to have. Your emcee must know how to make your vision for your big night happen.

Having selected your emcee, put some thought into what kind of activities your reception will feature. There are an endless array of creative entertainment options that can make your reception much more interesting than some toasts, speeches, dancing and cake.

What could you do?

- Stage an improvisational performance for your bridal party to perform;

- Tie a theme in with your wedding date... "May the 4th be with you";

- Hire a professional to take you and your guests through an interactive game show;

- Come up with your own game show and let your emcee take centre stage;

- Tape envelopes under the guests chairs with game clues, prizes or re-written song lyrics so they can follow along as the bride and groom share their mangled version Endless Love or Amazed;

- Challenge guests to re-write the lyrics of a popular song and perform it for the crowd;

- Hire performers, comedians or entertainers;

- Present video interviews with the bride and groom that have been edited- comments taken completely out of context for the entertainment of all;
- Stage a more serious or humorous version of This Is Your Lifefor the bride and groom. This could focus on the past events that lead to the wedding day or hypothetical events that happen in the future. (A little Photoshop can make for some very interesting looking children!);
- Try to break a world record... most people yo-yo'ing at a wedding reception?;
- Generate a little friendly competition with some bride and groom trivia;
- Pit bride and groom family members against each other in a custom game of Survivor;

If you are having a buffet style meal, you can also use creative and hilarious methods to determine which tables will eat first.

Have the emcee call up one person from each table to compete in a contest of some sort:

- Break the balloon by squeezing it between your knees (no hands!);
- Elvis impersonations!;
- Dancing;
- Be the first to suck all of the mystery liquid from a ba

e it to be romantic and sentimental or fun and crazy? Ethereal or quirky and off the wall?

Think too about how you want to remember the evening? And how do you want your reception to be remembered by your guests? ‘Lovely and sentimental’ or ‘a great party’? ‘Traditional’ or 'the most fun they have ever had at a reception!'?

Once you have decided on the mood and the type of memory you want to instill, choose an emcee for the evening who is likely to achieve what you want your reception to be. You can choose a family friend or relative, or you can hire a professional. Whichever way you choose, make sure that your emcee has experience with weddings and with the kind of reception you want to have. Your emcee must know how to make your vision for your big night happen.

Having selected your emcee, put some thought into what kind of activities your reception will feature. There are an endless array of creative entertainment options that can make your reception much more interesting than some toasts, speeches, dancing and cake.

What could you do?

- Stage an improvisational performance for your bridal party to perform;

- Tie a theme in with your wedding date... "May the 4th be with you";

- Hire a professional to take you and your guests through an interactive game show;

- Come up with your own game show and let your emcee take centre stage;

- Tape envelopes under the guests chairs with game clues, prizes or re-written song lyrics so they can follow along as the bride and groom share their mangled version Endless Love or Amazed;

- Challenge guests to re-write the lyrics of a popular song and perform it for the crowd;

- Hire performers, comedians or entertainers;

- Present video interviews with the bride and groom that have been edited- comments taken completely out of context for the entertainment of all;
- Stage a more serious or humorous version of This Is Your Lifefor the bride and groom. This could focus on the past events that lead to the wedding day or hypothetical events that happen in the future. (A little Photoshop can make for some very interesting looking children!);
- Try to break a world record... most people yo-yo'ing at a wedding reception?;
- Generate a little friendly competition with some bride and groom trivia;
- Pit bride and groom family members against each other in a custom game of Survivor;

If you are having a buffet style meal, you can also use creative and hilarious methods to determine which tables will eat first.

Have the emcee call up one person from each table to compete in a contest of some sort:

- Break the balloon by squeezing it between your knees (no hands!);
- Elvis impersonations!;
- Dancing;
- Be the first to suck all of the mystery liquid from a b

st know how to make your vision for your big night happen.

Having selected your emcee, put some thought into what kind of activities your reception will feature. There are an endless array of creative entertainment options that can make your reception much more interesting than some toasts, speeches, dancing and cake.

What could you do?

- Stage an improvisational performance for your bridal party to perform;

- Tie a theme in with your wedding date... "May the 4th be with you";

- Hire a professional to take you and your guests through an interactive game show;

- Come up with your own game show and let your emcee take centre stage;

- Tape envelopes under the guests chairs with game clues, prizes or re-written song lyrics so they can follow along as the bride and groom share their mangled version Endless Love or Amazed;

- Challenge guests to re-write the lyrics of a popular song and perform it for the crowd;

- Hire performers, comedians or entertainers;

- Present video interviews with the bride and groom that have been edited- comments taken completely out of context for the entertainment of all;
- Stage a more serious or humorous version of This Is Your Lifefor the bride and groom. This could focus on the past events that lead to the wedding day or hypothetical events that happen in the future. (A little Photoshop can make for some very interesting looking children!);
- Try to break a world record... most people yo-yo'ing at a wedding reception?;
- Generate a little friendly competition with some bride and groom trivia;
- Pit bride and groom family members against each other in a custom game of Survivor;

If you are having a buffet style meal, you can also use creative and hilarious methods to determine which tables will eat first.

Have the emcee call up one person from each table to compete in a contest of some sort:

- Break the balloon by squeezing it between your knees (no hands!);
- Elvis impersonations!;
- Dancing;
- Be the first to suck all of the mystery liquid from a b

guests chairs with game clues, prizes or re-written song lyrics so they can follow along as the bride and groom share their mangled version Endless Love or Amazed;

- Challenge guests to re-write the lyrics of a popular song and perform it for the crowd;

- Hire performers, comedians or entertainers;

- Present video interviews with the bride and groom that have been edited- comments taken completely out of context for the entertainment of all;
- Stage a more serious or humorous version of This Is Your Lifefor the bride and groom. This could focus on the past events that lead to the wedding day or hypothetical events that happen in the future. (A little Photoshop can make for some very interesting looking children!);
- Try to break a world record... most people yo-yo'ing at a wedding reception?;
- Generate a little friendly competition with some bride and groom trivia;
- Pit bride and groom family members against each other in a custom game of Survivor;

If you are having a buffet style meal, you can also use creative and hilarious methods to determine which tables will eat first.

Have the emcee call up one person from each table to compete in a contest of some sort:

- Break the balloon by squeezing it between your knees (no hands!);
- Elvis impersonations!;
- Dancing;
- Be the first to suck all of the mystery liquid from a b

an make for some very interesting looking children!);
- Try to break a world record... most people yo-yo'ing at a wedding reception?;
- Generate a little friendly competition with some bride and groom trivia;
- Pit bride and groom family members against each other in a custom game of Survivor;

If you are having a buffet style meal, you can also use creative and hilarious methods to determine which tables will eat first.

Have the emcee call up one person from each table to compete in a contest of some sort:

- Break the balloon by squeezing it between your knees (no hands!);
- Elvis impersonations!;
- Dancing;
- Be the first to suck all of the mystery liquid from a baby bottle!;
- Make the best balloon animal!;
- Tell the best joke;
- Be the first to eat all of the pudding from the container using only your mouth!;

Whatever you decide on, plan it out well and make sure you have the appropriate musical accompaniment. This will require that the emcee coordinate with the band or DJ ahead of time. If you are choosing a professional emcee, they may have emcee/DJ packages so you get a bigger bang for your buck.

The secret to a great reception is to brain storm until you come up with the idea that is perfect for you. Think outside the traditional box. Get creative and realize that the only thing that limits what you can do at your reception is you.