Here's some advice on throwing a great reception from the book "Where to Seat Aunt Edna: And 500 Other Great Wedding Tips" (Hundreds of Heads Books, www.hundredsofheads.com, $13.95), straight from people who've done it.
“Always make sure the best man mentions the bride. Always. My husband’s didn’t. And it’s not like he didn’t know me. But he gave a long, never-ending speech about him and the groom, and their whole history together, and only mentioned me very briefly. It was like they were getting married. What can you do, though? I just had to laugh it off.”
—D.S., Brooklyn, N.Y., number of wedding guests: 150
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“Even though you think seating arrangements are a pain, don’t think you can get away without one. We thought we were being laid back and letting people choose for themselves when we skipped the seating arrangement at our wedding. Even though there were technically enough seats, some of our young friends didn’t want to split up and sit at a table of old relatives. So, a couple of them ended up eating on lounge chairs. We really regretted this and are kind of embarrassed when we think back on it.”
—A.J., San Francisco
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“The best memory of my wedding was actually afterward: When the party was done, I went up to the hotel room with my husband, we put on jeans, and walked to my brother’s hotel room where the party continued. Just having fun with everyone meant a lot to me.”
—Anonymous, Buffalo Grove, Ill.
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“Enjoy the wonderful gestures from others. As a Midwestern Catholic gentile, I will always fondly remember two of my new Jewish coworkers shaking my hand, hugging me, and saying ‘mazel tov’ at my wedding reception.”
—Ted Riney, Dallas, number of wedding guests: 300
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“You don’t get to eat at your own reception because you’re much too busy saying hello to everyone. All I had was a bread stick, a beer, and one bite of cake. My husband and I should’ve eaten beforehand; by the time we got back to our hotel that night, we were absolutely starving.”
—S.A., Lake Forest, Calif., number of wedding guests: 150
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© 2007, Hundreds of Heads Books, Inc.