LDS Wedding Receptions

LDS brides

Alternatives to the Wedding Garter Toss

garter toss and alternatives for LDS wedding receptions
Photo Courtesy of Ravenberg Photography

If you are LDS and planning your wedding reception and your reaction to the words “garter toss” is “absolutely not!”, or you are in any way uncomfortable with removing and tossing a garter in front of all your friends and family, read on to find plenty of fun alternatives.

Toss the Boutonnière

No law says the groom has to toss a garter. Why not another important part of the wedding ensemble? The groom could throw his boutonnière. Or, have him undo his necktie or bowtie and toss it to the crowd – as long as it’s not a rental! Line up the single male guests at the reception and announce that whoever catches this tie is destined to be the next one to get married.

Balloon Drop

Blow up a bunch of balloons, one of which has a ribbon or other lightweight item in the wedding colors inside (the exact number of balloons depends on the size of your guest list.) Secure them in a net that is fastened near the ceiling. Have all men or all single men stand underneath and let the balloons drop – the lucky guy who finds and pops the balloon with the ribbon wins.

Gift Toss

If tossing the tie isn’t an option, consider another garter toss alternative like throwing a new gift. Some good examples are a new necktie or a pair of leather gloves. You can throw anything that most men would like as a gift, but nothing hard or dangerous to throw like a pocketwatch or pen knife!

Race to the Bride

garter toss alternatives for LDS wedding receptions
Photo Courtesy of Burnt Exposure Photography

On one side of the room, line up the bride and the male guests; at the other side set up a long table scattered with inexpensive dollar store scarves or handkerchiefs. On the groom’s signal, the first man to run across the room, retrieve a scarf, and give it to the bride at the starting line is presented with a garter or garter alternative.

Musical Chairs

Think musical chairs is just for kids at a birthday party? It’s actually hilarious when adults are the players. Set up chairs in a circle and let the best man win. This is a great time to have some fun with the music. Try the Mission Impossible theme song, “Luck Be a Lady” by Frank Sinatra, or “Perhaps” by Cake. The winner of the game receives a garter or LDS garter alternative.

garter toss alternativesfor LDS wedding receptions
Photo Courtesy of Justine Miller Photography

For those of you who are brave enough to have a garter removed from your leg with everyone looking on, let your groom go for it. But if you don’t want anything to do with the traditional garter removal and garter toss at your wedding reception don’t leave out your male guests while your female guests get the bouquet toss. Instead of cutting the garter toss altogether, consider replacing it with a more appropriate LDS garter toss alternative.

♥ Jenny Evans
Exclusively for WeddingLDS.info
Copyright © 2010 WeddingLDS.info. All rights reserved.

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Pros and Cons of Hiring Wedding Professionals

Wedding Service Professionals for LDS Receptions

Wedding Service Professionals for LDS wedding receptions
Photo Courtesy of Whitney Lewis Photography

Some LDS brides and grooms hire a professional wedding photographer and rent a reception hall with professional catering and DJ services for their special day; others let family and friends handle the pictures and serve homemade food at a wedding reception in their backyard or at a local LDS chapel. Which way is best for you depends on your circumstances, preferences, and of course your budget.

First, let’s take a look at the reasons why people hire professionals – and why they sometimes choose not to. Many people like professional wedding services because they…read more

LDS Wedding Bouquet Toss Songs

LDS Wedding Bouquet Toss Songs

Bouquet Toss Songs for LDS weddingsFor the single girls at your wedding reception, the bouquet toss is one of the most looked-forward-to events of the reception. Make it perfect with a bouquet toss song that celebrates girl power and all things feminine.

This One’s for the Girls by Martina McBride
I Feel Like a Woman by Shania Twain
It’s Raining Men by The Weathergirls
Just a Girl by No Doubt
Wishin’ and Hopin’ by Ani Difranco
One Way or Another by Blondie
Another One Bites the Dust by Queen
Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It) by Beyonce
Independent Women by Destiny’s Child
Where My Girls At by 702
Luck Be a Lady by Frank Sinatra
Girls Just Want to Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper
Diamonds Are…read more

LDS Wedding Cake Cutting Songs

LDS Wedding Cake Cutting Songs

cake cutting music for LDS wedding receptions
Photo Courtesy of Ravenberg Photography

Whether your wedding reception features a big cake or a small one, chocolate or vanilla, you’ll need to select the right music for the bride and groom cutting of the first slice.

These songs about sweetness and sugar run the gamut from ballad to up tempo, silly to romantic. There’s got to be a perfect cake cutting song for you here.

Recipe for Love by Harry Connick, Jr
Sugar, Sugar by The Archies
How Sweet It Is by James Taylor
The Sweetest Thing by U2
Ice Cream by Sarah McLachlin
Pour Some Sugar on Me by Def Leppard
Savoy Truffle by The Beatles
I Want Candy by Bow Wow Wow (or punk remix by Good Charlotte)
I Can’t Help Myself by the Four Tops
Cherry Pie by Skip and Flip
Cut the Cake by Average White Band
If I Knew You Were Coming I’d Have…read more

First Dance Tips and Ideas

First Dance Tips and Ideas

LDS bride and groom, first dance
Photo Courtesy of Justine Miller Photography

The LDS bride and groom’s first dance is one of the sweetest moments of the wedding reception. It is symbolic of the new life you’re starting together, so it’s important to do it right.

Traditionally, the bride and groom first dance happens right after dinner is served to warm up the dance floor for the guests. If you aren’t serving dinner, the first dance is held soon after the bride and groom’s entrance to the reception.

Choosing a first dance song is more complicated than it might at first appear. Before you…read more

How to Get a Quote for Wedding Catering

LDS wedding reception catering quote
Photo Courtesy of Whitney Lewis Photography

How to Get a Wedding Catering Quote

You’ve found a handful of wedding caterers in your area on WeddingLDS.info. You’ve read their reviews, spoken to friends about their recommendations for a caterer and maybe even checked in on a few companies’ standings with the Better Business Bureau. Are you ready to start contacting wedding caterers for quotes?

Brides should start thinking about catering soon after they select a wedding date, and generally book six to nine months in advance. Though it’s possible to book a caterer before the reception venue, most wait until after because it may affect the caterer’s price or availability.

Before you start contacting wedding caterers, you’ll need to…read more

Tips for Choosing a Wedding Caterer

how to choose a wedding caterer
Illustration by Naoko Art, exclusively for WeddingLDS

How to Choose a Wedding Caterer

Having the right wedding caterer can make or break your wedding reception. The importance of choosing the right wedding caterer can’t be understated, so make sure not to go into the selection process unprepared.

Before picking up the phone or getting on the Internet, you need to decide with your fiancé what kind of reception you envision. Is it a sit-down dinner or a buffet? Is dessert served? What about appetizers before the meal?

You also need to…read more

Who Sits at the Head Table during a Reception?

a head table with name plaques
Photo Courtesy of JarvieDigital.com

Who Sits at the Head Table?

At some point in wedding planning, every Latter-day Saint couple has to make the decision about who is going to join them at the head table at their wedding reception. There’s no “right” way to do things, but here are some of the most common head table seating scenarios at LDS wedding receptions:

Traditionally the wedding couple sits in the center of a U-shaped or long rectangular head table, the bride on the right flanked by her bridesmaids and the groom to the left flanked by his groomsmen. Ushers, flower girls, ring bearers, and so on do not sit at the head table.

This formal arrangement looks best when…read more

Reception Buffet Food Ideas for LDS Wedding Receptions

Wedding Buffet Menu Items: Reception Buffet Food Ideas

LDS Reception Buffet
Photo Courtesy of Whitney Lewis Photography

Deciding on a buffet rather than a sit-down dinner gives you a lot of peace of mind when you’re in the throes of wedding planning: you’re juggling so many expenses that saving money with a buffet feels great. But now you need to decide what to serve at your wedding buffet!

Whether your buffet is catered or you’re putting it together yourself, here are some essential things you need to know about wedding buffet food selection.

Wedding caterers who do buffets generally offer different packages of food at tiered price levels. This simplifies the process for them and for you.

Look carefully at…read more

Non-Alcoholic Drink Ideas for LDS Wedding Reception

LDS Wedding Reception Drinks: Non-Alcoholic Drink Ideas

alternative drink ideas for LDS receptions
Photo Courtesy of JarvieDigital.com

Latter-day Saint couples may be unsure how to handle drink service at their wedding receptions, especially if not all of their guests are LDS. If you are uncomfortable with serving wine with dinner or alcohol at the bar, you’re well within your rights to have a 100% alcohol-free reception.

Having an non-alcoholic wedding reception is simple: think of better and tastier alternatives! Use sparkling cider instead of wine for the wedding toast, and serve a variety of non-alcoholic alternatives like sodas, juices, punch, flavored water, spring water, and other drinks at the bar.

You could also…read more

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