By Bryanne Whatley
Madeline Martin was feeling stressed and overwhelmed. Planning a wedding reception at the Hilton Hotel in San Diego required countless hours and time was running out. At the last minute Martin decided to eliminate the stress; she changed all plans and opted for a beach-themed reception off the coast of California on the sandy island of Coronado.
Planning a wedding reception can be the most stressful part of an engagement, but couples are finding unique ways to make this moment memorable. Themed wedding receptions are a modern twist that not only liven up the atmosphere but also make planning a little easier.
?There was so much pressure I was putting on myself to plan everything just right,? said Martin, a sophomore attending Utah Valley State College. ?Finally I decided it wasn?t worth it and I went to the place I love most?the beach.?
Themed receptions, which may include a cultural heritage focus or natural settings, are all different elements that can be explored when trying to plan the perfect reception.
?I have seen everything from a ceremony in a hot air balloon to a reception at the base of Mount Timpanogos,? said Jonathan Canlas, a professional wedding photographer from Provo.
Canlas said most wedding receptions he sees still follow a traditional program, with guests going through reception lines and a cake cutting ceremony, but the d?cor of the event is what really sets the mood.
One reception Canlas photographed was for the marriage of a Caucasian bride and a groom of Asian descent. To honor the groom?s heritage, the bride wore a traditional Chinese gown, and the tables were decorated with bamboo arrangements.
Nan Ellen Ah You, the administrative director for the Department of Physics, hosted an island-themed reception for her son who also honored the family?s Samoan heritage with a luau.
An array of food such as shoyu chicken, kalua pig, fruit and cultural dancing were components of the reception that developed the luau theme, Ah You said.
Often, incorporating a holiday theme or genre into a wedding reception is the key to adding a personal and unique character to the party.
Kerra May, food and beverage manager at Sundance Resort, has seen a number of receptions incorporate a couple?s pet or favorite animal.
?I have seen invitations, ice sculptures, even guest gifts centered around a couple?s pet dog,? May said.
Mandy Disbrow, a photographer from Mazula, Mont., said she has seen several wedding receptions with the guests dressed according to a costume theme such as hats.
?Guests wore all kinds of hats,? Disbrow said. ?Anything from cowboy hats, Viking helmets, or even bonnets.?
The hat theme brought a party feel to the event and guests seemed to really enjoy a reception that was out of the ordinary, Disbrow said.
Apparel, food, flowers, entertainment: all are ingredients of a wedding reception which can be spiced up with a theme and should be planned according to taste.