35 Romantic Ideas for Your Wedding Reception Wow-them ways to share the love at your dream reception.

By: risten !inello Right "ome #age $itle:

%o&ile 'lider:

'et the 'cene (. "old your festivities at the site where your hus&and-to-&e proposed. )ne couple held their wedding at the ma*estic %ount Washington "otel in Bretton Woods+ ,ew "ampshire+ where the groom had proposed a year earlier. 'ince he-d popped the .uestion in a horse-drawn carriage+ they treated guests to their own romantic rides.

#hoto /redit: $an*a 0ippert #hotography 1 2(3 4. 0et your site inspire your wedding loo5. 6ngaged at the 6iffel $ower7 Incorporate a #arisian theme into everything from your save-the-date cards to the nap5ins at your coc5tail hour. 89nd consider a gorgeous !rench-style

cro.uem&ouche ca5e+ a wonderful cream-puff pastry covered with caramel.: 3. 'ome locales are inherently romantic: /hoose a vineyard+ a &otanical garden+ a lush &ac5yard with &eautiful plantings or an old mansion with chandeliers+ ornate mantelpieces and a landscaped garden for guests to roam in. With naturally gorgeous &ac5drops li5e these+ you *ust can;t go wrong< =. /onsider the hues you use. !or a fairy-tale romance effect+ try a color scheme of pin5s+ whites and silvers. )r use shades of red+ from the palest pin5 to luscious watermelon to a deep rose. If you prefer a more sensual+ romantic am&ience+ choose a palette of strong+ passionate reds.

#hoto /redit: $an*a 0ippert #hotography 1 2(3 5. 0ighting sets the stage for romance. "ave a lighting specialist create a special glow for your first dance.You might pro*ect your married monogram or a simple+ swirling design onto the dance floor. It never fails to get guests out there to 5ic5 up their heels. >. )ne idea for a very romantic loo5ing ta&le: a white linen ta&lecloth covered with a pin5 overlay. $uc5 a tiny+ perfect rose&ud into each guest;s pale pin5 nap5in. 9 centerpiece might include varieties of pin5 &looms+ such as roses+ orchids and tulips. ?. %asses of candles will warm everyone;s heart. !loat them in glass &owls or cluster some in various heights on ta&les. 9t an outdoor wedding+ you can achieve a magical effect &y suspending do@ens of tiny electric candles in small glass glo&es from tree &ranches. 9nd don;t forget to consider nestling pretty Aapanese lanterns among the &ranches B utterly enchanting<

#hoto /redit: 'inclair and %oore1 243 C. 'heer fa&rics ma5e a romantic statement. Dse lengths of tulle or organ@a as ta&le runners. 9dorn windows+ mantels and doorways with gorgeous swags of the same fa&rics. E. "ave ta&le cards printed with the FfirstsG of your romance. $he two of you can write these together. Dse them instead of standard ta&le num&ers B for eHample+ one ta&le would &e the F!irst issG ta&le and another would &e the F!irst IateG ta&le and so on. (J. 9 somewhat different version of this idea: "ave romantic facts a&out the two of you printed on cards+ and place one on each reception ta&le. #ut the cards in holders so guests can pass them around and en*oy them. !or inspiration+ thin5 a&out the most romantic thing you;ve done for each other+ how the groom proposed or your favorite thing to do as a couple. You could also include a line from a movie+ song or poem that is special to you. ((. #ut friends; and families; wedding photos on display. $his is a wonderfully inclusive way to show how much you appreciate the encouragement and support from everyone who loves you. ,eHt: 'weet and sentimental wedding ideas K1 233 Be 'entimental

#hoto /redit: 'inclair and %oore1 243 (4. %a5e meaningful music. Wal5 down the aisle to a song that is particularly special to the two of you. )ne couple hired a guitarist they;d met on a vacation in %eHico to perform F"ere /omes the 'unG at their wedding ceremony. (3. "ave him meet you halfway. $he &ride who is wal5ing down the aisle solo can have her groom meet and escort her to the altar. It will &e an unforgetta&le moment for everyone< (=. "ave your groom greet you at the altar with an offering. 9 truly romantic gesture is for the groom to present his &ride with a single flower when she reaches the altar B it could &e a perfect yellow rose or her favorite garden &loom. (5. 9nother way for the groom to show his romantic side: )ne groom conspired with the florist to add a &lan5et of rose petals down the aisle that ended in two circles of petals at the altar where he and his &ride would stand. (>. /reate a sentimental surprise. %any couples write their own vows+ &ut you could carry this a &it further. Read aloud a few words from a note or love letter that he sent toyou early in your relationship. 'uch a gesture will delight him B plus+ the fact that you 5ept the note rates a ten on the romance meter< (?. !or a sweet touch+ consider a hand-painted aisle runner. You can add your monogram or a favorite .uote from a love poem that is special to you.

$ender $ouches (C. )pt for a Fsweetheart ta&le.G %any couples choose to sit at their own ta&le during the reception. ,ot only do they get to en*oy each other as newlyweds+ &ut the &ridal party gets to sit with their significant others as well. ,o one wants to &e separated from their sweetie at a wedding< #hoto /redit: 'arah athleen1 2=3 (E. Instead of an ordinary guest &oo5+ try a Romantic Wish Luest Boo5. 9s5 guests to use their imaginations and pen a loving+ personal hope for your future. 4J. Iuring the ca5e cutting+ some grooms offer their &rides a special toast. $his gives the groom a chance to eHpress his feelings in a way more personal than the vows the two of you recited &efore the officiant at the ceremony. 4(. Your groom might prefer creating a video tri&ute. It might feature a photo montage in which he descri&es the moment he fell in love with you. "e might in*ect some humor B whatever helps him eHpress his tenderest emotions. ,eHt: Let romantic ideas for your transportation and menu K1 253 Romantic Rides

#hoto /redit: 'inclair and %oore1 243 44. /hoose an over-thetop mode of

transportation. If you;re getting married on a yacht+ sail up to it in a charming+ flowerfestooned &oat. 43. Build some alone time into your ride. )ne &ride and groom decided to splurge on a vintage Bentley to &ring the two of them to their reception. $hat car ride turned out to &e one of the only poc5ets of time that they had alone together on their wedding day. $hey relaHed for a few minutes+ sipped champagne and marveled at the fact that they were actually married< 4=. !or an even more private getaway+ go it alone. 'ome newlyweds are choosing to go solo B sans even a hired driver. Lrooms are whis5ing their &rides away in a friend;s vintage automo&ile or the groom;s dream car+ rented for the occasion. )ne groom we 5now decided to ta5e the reins of an old-fashioned horse-drawn carriage< !estive %eals

45. 'elect a menu that incorporates items with romantic significance. /onsider dishes you shared on your first date+ on the night you got engaged or the first meal you coo5ed for your groom 8or he prepped for you<: 4>. Lo for &ig-time romance with your ca5e. $ry a confection of straw&erry mousse or one filled with rasp&erry+ iced with &uttercream and topped with fresh+ deeppin5 roses and pin5 orchids. !or chocolate lovers: pin5 fondant icing and a cascade of sugar-paste pin5 and lavender roses that conceal layers of chocolate within< #hoto /redit: Iana Lrant1 2>3 4?. Ion;t serve *ust any drin5s. )ne &ride and groom served &eer from the

&reweryMrestaurant where they first met+ as well as specialty coc5tails with moni5ers li5e F!irst Iate.G With dessert+ they offered the F"appily 6ver 9fter+G a tasty li.ueur in a chocolate shot glass.

#hoto /redit: $an*a 0ippert #hotography 1 2(3 4C. /onsider serving a rose champagne 8the pin5 tint comes from a splash of pinot noir in the &lend:. If you;re offering pin5-hued foods+ li5e lam& or salmon+ you can even serve the &u&&ly with the meal. 4E. Your first dance as hus&and and wife should &e magical and memora&le. )ne &ride wanted an a cappella group of a do@en vocalists to sing her favorite &allad as she and her new hus&and too5 a turn around the dance floor. %ay&e the two of you will want to show off your salsa moves with a hot num&er you;ve rehearsed. /hoose your style< 3J. "ave a gorgeous slide show. #lan a super-romantic visual accompaniment to your first dance: a slide show pro*ected on a large screen+ featuring photographs of the two of you over the time you-ve &een together. 3(. Dp the romance of the first dance. 9s5 your wedding planner to arrange for spar5lers that &urst from the centerpieces as you and your hu&&y ta5e center stage.

#hoto /redit: Irew ,oel #hotography 1 2?3 34. eep the romantic vi&e going strong all night. Before the &ig day+ compile a list of your married guests; firstdance songs. 9s5 your &and or IA to play those tunes throughout the night. !inally+ send guests home with a /I of the songs and a list indicating the name of the song+ the couple who chose it and how long they;ve &een married. 8!or eHample+ F%y )wn $rue 0ove+G %aureen and 9nthony+ married 3? years.: 33. 9nother way to eHpress the love you share: /reate /Is of favorite music from the early years of your relationship to use as the sentimental soundtrac5 during your coc5tail hour. 3=. 'ing out your love. 9fter than5ing their parents and the friends who had introduced them+ a groom serenaded his &ride with F'omething 6lse 9gainG &y /hris de Burgh. $he com&ination of her tears and laughter+ his nerves and the 5nowledge of what had *ust come to fruition was magical. 35. %a5e your last dance of the evening as sweet as your first. Invite your guests to surround you on the dance floor. "ave someone pass around a &as5et of rose petals so your guests can shower you and your new hu&&y with the petals. 6veryone will remem&er this final+ loving moment.