As the world of weddings changed due to the constraints imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, many couples opted for an elopement or a small ceremony and to have a reception on their one-year wedding anniversary. The way we planned wedding days changed with the demand for smaller ceremonies. As a result, many wedding planners began to offer packages that give couples the option to host a two-part event within the same 12 months. Read on to learn how to plan a one-year wedding anniversary reception!
What to Consider
Wedding professionals are so accustomed to planning the entire day––ceremony into the reception. Thus, it takes a shift in mindset for us to help clients plan their one-year anniversary receptions. A few factors for pros to consider here are:
- An understanding of the reception day itinerary
- The flow from guest arrival to the grand entrance
- The couple’s preferred wedding traditions
When couples choose to host a large reception on their one-year wedding anniversary, there’s a higher likelihood that those events land on a weekday and that wedding professionals will be able to accommodate their next year’s clients on the weekends.
Day-Of Itinerary
Depending on the venue, if the one-year wedding anniversary lands on a weekday, there may be more flexibility for reception setup to begin the day before. A stand-alone reception is slightly different from the traditional itinerary following a ceremony. The wedding day usually begins with vendor deliveries, set up, and getting ready photos. The free-standing wedding reception may be a couple of hours shorter than a full wedding day. To that end, be mindful of your contract terms and conditions with respect to your clients’ expectations. For example, wedding photographers who normally offer 8 hours in their contracts may consider 5 hours instead and price the package accordingly.
The flow of the event may combine a cocktail hour, a grand entrance, vow renewal, and toasts. Alternatively, it may entail a meal, a thank you announcement, or a party with dancing. The most important thing is that a couple’s one-year wedding anniversary should include whatever’s a priority for them and how they want their guests to remember the event.
Guest Arrival
At a wedding ceremony, guests normally socialize before being seated. At the reception, make the social area very obvious for guests to avoid unintentional overcrowding. The use of signage and sanitizing stations can help facilitate crowd control.
Consider passed hors d’oeuvres and/or music entertainment to attract guests to a specific area at the venue before the grand entrance or main event. If the couple prefers a seating arrangement, adhere to the CDC and local recommendations for safety protocols that may suggest assigning a limited number of households per table.
Grand Entrance
The couple may choose to highlight their wedding party attendants or family before their own grand entrance. In lieu of a grand entrance, the Master of Ceremonies (MC) may introduce the couple and lead directly into a first dance. Or, perhaps the couple would rather open their event with a salutation to their guests. In any case, discuss how to establish the beginning of the event with a gesture that gives guests some idea of what to expect. Having an MC is an effective way to create a sense of structure and flow for the event.
Wedding Traditions
Wedding ceremony traditions like reciting vows and a unity ceremony may be incorporated into the reception based on a couple’s desire to recreate their ceremony or renew their vows. Typical wedding reception traditions, like the bouquet and garter toss, the first dance, and the cake cutting are still fantastic photo opportunities and events that guests look forward to. Naturally, a big focus of the reception is the series of tear-jerking toasts and spotlight moments on the dance floor.
It’s not uncommon for couples to forgo some of these well-known traditions. Because the one-year wedding anniversary celebration is a rising trend born of the pandemic, it has truly become a choose-your-own-adventure experience for couples. Encourage them to see this celebration as an extension of their wedding day. Inspire them to explore traditions they wish they had indulged on the day they married.
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