Western Wedding reception

A wedding reception is a party held after the completion of a marriage ceremony. It is held as hospitality for those who have attended the wedding, hence the name reception: the couple receives society, in the form of family and friends, for the first time as a married couple. Hosts provide their choice of food and drink, although a wedding cake is popular. Entertaining guests after a wedding ceremony is traditional in most societies, and can last anywhere from half an hour to many hours.

Before receptions—a social event that is structured around a receiving line, and usually held in the afternoon—became popular, weddings were more typically celebrated with wedding breakfasts (for those whose religious traditions encouraged morning weddings) and balls (for those who were married in the evening). The popularity of receptions, rather than breakfasts, dinners, and balls, during the 20th century led to the name reception being applied to any social event after a wedding, whether it is brunch, tea, dinner, or a dance.

Receiving line

Technically, to be a reception, instead of some other form of entertainment, guests must be greeted with a receiving line. In a receiving line, the wedding party, including the bridal couple, their parents, and any honor attendants, stand in order of precedence and greet every guest in turn. Each guest greets the first (lowest precedence) person in the line and, if necessary, introduces himself. The first person then introduces the guest to the next person in the line, and turns to the next guest. As each guest properly speaks little more than his name (if necessary) and conventional greetings or congratulations to each person in turn, the line progresses steadily without unnecessary delays.

After formally receiving each guest in this fashion, the members of the bridal party can mingle with guests, eat, and enjoy more extended conversations.

Food

The food served at a wedding reception is determined by the time of the wedding and local custom. Food may range from a single non-alcoholic drink with wedding cake to elaborate, multi-course dinners. The type of food is chosen entirely at the discretion of the hosts.

Some receptions, especially if the family's culture or religious faith prohibits alcohol or dancing, focus on dessert. Hosts may also choose to honor regional or local customs, such as by serving a culturally important cake like croquembouche in France rather than a white layer cake, or by adding local specialties. For example, weddings in Pittsburgh often feature thousands of homemade cookies in addition to a wedding cake.
The following options are often incorporated into the reception, although they may be omitted at the couple's discretion.

Toasts

In most Western countries, either before or after food is served, toasts are made by the wedding party, wishing the couple well. Traditionally, the speaking parties include the bride's father, groom, the best man, and the maid of honor. Toasts often include the speaker's first impressions of the newlyweds, or of the two as a couple.

If they were introduced to each other by someone attending the reception, the couple may opt to thank that person publicly with a toast.

Dances

The newly married couple typically have a first dance, which used to be called the "bridal waltz". In most contemporary weddings, a romantic song is played (common choices include songs by Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Etta James, Dean Martin, Barry White, Karen Carpenter, Shania Twain and other standards singers); the first dance is rarely a waltz now. Different dance styles are now used, depending on the nature of the song. Fox trot, two-step, or rumba match most four-count pop ballads.

The wedding reception dance party may involve a certain sequence of special dances. For example, after the first dance, the newly married parties may also share a special dance with a parent.

Traditionally, following the special dances, the guests are invited to join in the dancing. The party continues with toasts and celebrations until the bride and groom leave in a car decorated by the couple's friends.

A new trend involves the addition of a DVD slideshow or photo montage video, featuring pictures of the new spouses growing up and meeting. These are created using home movies and photos taken over the couple's life, edited and set to music. The montage is shown either on a large TV or monitor or with an LCD projector.

Another new trend is scheduling the first dance immediately after wedding party introductions and before the toast or meal.

Additionally, while most couples select a romantic song and a reserved dance style, some couples choose to have humorous choreographed dances, such as those seen on the Rock the Reception TV show.

Wedding cake

Typically, a cake from a professional baker is displayed until after dinner. After a short period of dancing, the couple cut the cake and may feed a bite to one another. Then, the cake is cut for the guests. This cake is typically at least two tiers, and often more. Some couples have a smaller, formal display cake, which is supplemented by sheet cake. It is served with coffee and tea before the main course.

Groom's cake

This is a tradition observed mainly in the southern United States. In the Colonial and Victorian eras, the white-iced bride's cake was considered "too light" for male tastes, and a second cake choice—usually a dark, liquor-soaked fruitcake—was also offered. Today, chocolate is popular, although the groom's cake may be in any flavor and is usually shaped or decorated as something significant to the groom, such as a favorite hobby or sport. Steel Magnolias, the popular wedding movie, features a groom's cake, specifically, a red velvet cake in the shape of a giant armadillo.

Expense

The average cost of a wedding in the United States, as of 2007, was about $28,000, twice the cost of a wedding in 1990. The wedding industry nets $161-billion annually, according to Rebecca Mead, author of One Perfect Day.