Popular Wedding Reception Ideas and Current Trends

You’ve seen the wedding reception ideas of the rich and famous in the magazines and on television. But what is actually popular among real people? Well, we don’t claim to speak for everyone, but we do have a point of view worth considering since we help real brides every day with at least some small aspect of their planning. With that in mind, we thought we’d pass along what we’re seeing and see how it matches up to the lists of trends that are always floating around the wedding publishing circles.

Charitable Giving

This wedding reception idea is making the rounds and it’s a good one. Some brides and grooms are foregoing a traditional registry and asking guests to make a charitable donation in their honor instead. Others are donating money to a good cause in the names of their guests in place of the typical "wedding favor" thank you gift. But, don’t feel pressured to join in just because "everybody is doing it." The truth is that a lot of the people that are doing it are feeling no financial pressure of their own. (They’re rich, they already have good jobs and are established, and did we mention they’re rich?) If you are like a lot, and we mean a lot, of brides and grooms, you’re just getting started in life and you need the basics – dishes, silverware, money, and so on. This is why people started giving brides and grooms these gifts in the first place. Accept them with grace and gratefulness. When your day comes that you have some money to give, by all means, you should then give. Do not feel guilty that you don’t have extra to give when you’re just getting up on your feet. By the way…if anyone is making a big deal about how much they’re giving, then they’re not truly giving. You know you’re truly giving when you can give and not tell anyone about it. If you have to make a big deal about how you give and how much, you’re doing it to promote yourself, not for others. See our article on that subject elsewhere.

Monograms

We just saw an article that said monograms are on the way out and are being replaced by logos (see below). This is an example of some author attempting to create a truth. Monogram wedding reception ideas are going full steam and probably still picking up steam. This trend started with the monogram cake topper and has grown from there. There are more options than ever for matching the font and letters you use on your monogram cake toppers in other elements of the wedding. That’s where the trend really seems to be. Before, it was just a cake topper. Now, those monograms are being used throughout the wedding events in stationery, napkins, bridal party gifts, and yes – logos (see the next trend).

Wedding Logos

These are growing in popularity but are by no means mature yet. Wedding logos made About.com’s list of wedding trends. Many wedding reception ideas that involve logos or motifs are really some sort of extension of the monogram theme. The monogram is encircled with some other embellishments that help to carry the wedding theme. For example, an antique font might be used with vintage inspired designs around it. Or a casual font might be used surrounded with beach wedding theme designs or icons. In some cases, as people work on designing their logos, they start to abandon the letters and use their names in a font and with clipart that reflect their theme. Others skip the monogram reference all together and "create a brand" for their wedding using a single element – a seashell in a solid color, for example – or a combination of elements together to create a logo that they put on everything that represents their wedding (save-the-date notes, invitations, programs, aisle runners, place cards, and on and on).

Do it Yourself Brides that Look Professional

When it comes to wedding reception ideas and decorations, the do it yourself bride has gone mainstream. This trend is not mature, but growing as brides realize that there are a lot more options out there. Some items that are really fueling this are the availability of great looking stationery (invitations, place cards, menu cards, etc.) and the advent of monogram and custom stamps and embossers. These new and affordable items are making customization really easy and professional-looking at the same time.

Wedding Themes

Themes are here to stay. They’re timeless, they help to inspire wedding reception ideas, and they can be adjusted from casual to formal within the same theme. Plus, people like them. They’re fun. Among the more popular are…

Beach Themes – Is there a more popular wedding theme? This one has no end in sight and is perfect for any time of the year or any place. Who doesn’t want to think about sitting on the beach? (Maybe whales, but we should think that’s about it.)

Tea Party Themes – These are really more for bridal showers, but we see so many people interested in them that we thought we’d make a note of it.

Wedding Websites

This trend is here to stay. Consider having at least a simple wedding website an essential for you and your guests. It’ll keep your guests informed and it’ll keep you on track as you make sure it’s up to date.

Unique Wedding Gifts

Because so many couples already have the basics, many guests are thinking outside the box for their wedding gifts. They are giving the new couple travel instead of towels, and tickets to a play or show rather than pillow shams. (For some examples, see the gift certificate ideas at givefun.com.)

We’ll add more trends in wedding reception ideas as we see them but these are a good start. They don’t represent the entire wedding world – just our site’s visitors. But that’s a decent measure of what’s really going on out there. With unlimited funds and budgets, anyone could fill magazines with great wedding reception ideas. But even without that, as you can see above, there’s lots of room to make a big difference for less with the small details.