George Boyle
Second wedding receptions can be a great way to celebrate with friends and family who weren't able to make it to the wedding. They can be as casual or formal as you like, ranging from a simple meet-and-greet to a full-blown wedding reception with all the trimmings. You can wear a traditional wedding dress or opt for something more casual, and you can choose to include any or all of the traditional wedding reception activities, such as a first dance, parent dances, and cutting the cake. Ultimately, the choice is yours, and you can plan a celebration that's unique to you and your spouse.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | The second wedding reception can be held at a non-traditional venue such as a restaurant, theme park, museum, gallery, or even at home. |
| Guest list | The second wedding reception can be more intimate, with close family and friends, or a grand celebration with everyone you love. |
| Theme and decor | The second wedding reception can be more relaxed and informal, with a vibrant colour palette, fun food and drink options, and creative themes. |
| Attire | The couple can choose to wear traditional wedding attire or opt for something more casual. There is no rule that a bride cannot wear white or a veil at a second wedding. |
| Traditions | The newlyweds can choose to include or exclude traditional reception elements such as first dance, parent dances, wedding party entrance, tossing the bouquet, and cutting the cake. |
| Entertainment | The second wedding reception can include games, a photo booth, a DJ or band, or other unique entertainment ideas like bowling and karaoke. |
| Purpose | The second wedding reception can be a way to include guests who were unable to attend the first wedding, especially if it was a destination wedding. |
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What You'll Learn
Keep it casual
Keeping it casual for your second wedding reception is a great way to go. A casual wedding is all about a relaxed energy and laid-back aesthetic. It's a chance to express yourself and celebrate your relationship in a way that's true to you.
First, consider the venue. A casual wedding reception can be held anywhere from a backyard to a ballroom, but choose a venue that suits you and your partner's personalities and interests. If you're going for a more relaxed vibe, a lakeside setting or a barn could be perfect. You could even set up a fire pit to give a cozy, backyard party feel.
Next, think about the food. Catering to a casual wedding can be as simple as ordering a sky-high stack of pizzas or grilling up some burgers, ribs, and hot dogs. If you want something a little fancier, go for a wood-fired Neapolitan pizza vibe. Or, for a unique twist, opt for a tower of doughnuts, brownies, or cookies instead of a traditional wedding cake.
As for attire, you can absolutely wear white again if you want to. But if that's not your style, consider a cocktail dress, a jumpsuit, or even a colorful tuxedo. Keep it casual and comfortable, especially if you want to be able to move freely throughout the day or evening.
Entertainment-wise, you can still have all the usual wedding fun, like a DJ, dancing, and a photobooth. But you can also switch things up with non-traditional elements like a live artist, poet, comedian, or animal encounter.
Finally, don't stress too much about the details. A casual wedding is meant to be just that—casual! Focus on creating a joyful and meaningful celebration with those closest to you.
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Make it unique
A second wedding reception can be a chance to express your personality and style. If you want to make your second wedding unique, there are many ways to do so.
First, consider the venue. You could opt for a low-key reception venue, such as a backyard gathering, or choose a venue that reflects your interests, like the couple who held their reception at a zoo.
Second, think about entertainment. You could hire a live band or DJ, or go beyond with celebrity impersonators, cultural dancers, or a photo booth with a wig wall. For animal lovers, a petting zoo can be a fun addition. If you want to keep guests of all ages entertained, renting out popular video games is a great option. For the adults, a miniature casino can be a fun twist.
Third, focus on the details. You can create a signature cocktail, unique centrepieces, or interactive food services. If you want to include a guest book, consider a creative alternative, such as a baseball signed by guests or a planter guests can autograph.
Lastly, don't be afraid to break away from tradition. You can choose a colourful tuxedo or a casual dress, write your own vows, and create a timeline of events that suits you, whether that includes cake-cutting, cocktail hour, dinner, or dancing.
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Food and drink
Food
If you're having a more casual second reception, you might opt for a selection of appetisers or canapes, or even food trucks, grazing tables, or a BBQ. You could also repeat the wedding cake-cutting ceremony. If you want something more substantial, a buffet or food stations are a great way to allow guests to customise their meals and choose their favourite foods. Food stations can be arranged in various ways, either grouped together or spread out across the venue to encourage guests to explore. If you're having an evening reception, consider providing late-night bites in the final hour to refuel your guests after dancing.
Drinks
Champagne or prosecco are classic drinks to serve at a wedding reception, and you could hire servers to creatively pass these out to your guests. If you're having a cocktail hour, you could serve a special non-alcoholic drink, such as raspberry lemonade, as well as cocktails. An open bar is also an option, though this can be expensive, and a cash bar is generally considered an etiquette faux pas.
Catering Considerations
If you're working with a tight catering budget, you can save money by only having the food stations open for a few hours. It's also a good idea to check with your vendors about their meal expectations, as some may require a meal to be included in their contract.
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Entertainment
There are many ways to entertain your guests at a second wedding reception. Here are some ideas:
Live Music
Add live music to your reception with a solo musician, a small jazz trio or string quartet, or a live band. You could even get creative and have more than one musician by, for example, placing a pianist in the main foyer and a jazz ensemble on the outside lawn.
Games
If your reception has an outdoor area, consider lawn games such as cornhole, giant Jenga, Connect-Four, croquet, or a mini-golf course. For indoor entertainment, you could set up a piñata or a photo booth.
Performers
Surprise your guests with a drag performance, celebrity impersonators, or live circus performers. You could even have your favourite drag queen officiate the ceremony.
Food and Drink
Create a unique food experience with interactive food services or food stations set up across the venue. You could also hire servers to creatively pass out prosecco or set up a signature cocktail for guests to enjoy.
Other Ideas
- Hang a chic swing as a fun backdrop for photos
- Hire a magician to perform tricks during the reception drinks
- Set up a bonfire and s'mores station during the colder months
- Bring the glitz of Las Vegas to your reception with casino tables and a croupier
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The send-off
- Sparkler send-offs are growing in popularity and can be a fun way to cap off the night.
- If you want to include a unique element, consider a surprise send-off where guests gather to watch the newlyweds depart, followed by a reception that reflects their personalities.
- For a low-key option, simply let the guests depart without any formal send-off. This can be a suitable choice, especially if the second reception is more relaxed and informal.
- If you want to involve children in the send-off, they can participate by handing out wedding favors as the guests leave.
- You can also incorporate a signature cocktail, a repeat of the first dance, or other traditional reception elements, such as parent dances, wedding party entrance, tossing the bouquet, and cutting the cake.
Remember, the beauty of a second wedding reception is that you can make it your own. Feel free to incorporate elements that reflect your style and personality as a couple.
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Frequently asked questions
You can wear whatever you like! Some brides opt for a white cocktail dress, while others go for a colourful tuxedo.
Second wedding receptions are often held for friends and family who couldn't make it to the first reception, perhaps due to travel costs.
It's up to you! You could serve a sit-down meal, or go for something more casual like canapes, or even a potluck-style dinner.
It's your party, so choose entertainment that reflects your personality as a couple. You could have a DJ and dancing, or go for something more unique like bowling and karaoke.
No, you don't need to have a send-off. Most people will simply go home at the end of the reception.
