There is a saying that too much is too much. This definitely applies to the evening part of the wedding celebration as well. However, the big question is how to successfully plan the social part of the evening so that it is relaxed, interesting and has a free atmosphere?

LĪGAVĀM offers several tips that are sure to come in handy when planning your wedding celebration.

Photos with guests throughout the evening

The wedding ceremony has taken place, you have said your “I do” words to each other and the big question is: what next?

We are often used to the fact that the traditional scenario determines:

1. first champagne toast with guests,
2. small snacks
3. and taking pictures together.

If the wedding is big, it can take a really long time, especially if every guest or couple wants to take a picture with the bride and groom. Therefore, the first task that should definitely be done is to coordinate with the photographer at which time it is better to organize this group photo time. Wedding organizer Inga Bērziņa / bannté states that recently the decision of the young couple and the photographer to organize only a group photo of the guests and some photos with family members or guests that will not remain for the festive part of the evening is becoming a kind of trend.

On the other hand, group photos with the other guests are organized during the evening. "The newlyweds themselves and also the wedding photographers have realized that group photos with the couple can be organized throughout the evening - then they will be much more interesting. Of course, such an evening scenario definitely requires the involvement of the wedding director - during the evening, he should remind the guests of the opportunity to take a photo with the couple and ask them to "catch" the couple and the photographer at some point," says Inga Bērziņa.

Dinner time for greetings and greetings

As usual, the wedding night celebrations start with dinner, during which the host of the evening (if he has not already done so during the outing of the new couple) organizes small activities to introduce the guests, and it is also the time when social conversations, speeches and greetings to the new couple most often take place.

"Dinner time, just like the entire social part of the evening, also needs to be planned at least roughly. The leader needs to know how much time is expected between dinner rounds so he can understand what activities he needs to plan.

Of course, not all of them should be included in the scenario, but there should be backup options. I always ask couples to give my contacts to their wedding guests in advance so that they can contact me if they have decided to give a public greeting or perform at the wedding.  In this way, together with the manager, we can calculate how much time it will take, as well as decide with the guests at which moment they would feel best to implement these ideas of theirs.

If it is not possible to contact the organizer before the wedding, then on the wedding day before the dinner, it would be polite if the guests approached the manager and warned that they have prepared a surprise, a performance, etc. In this way, the manager will also be able to report them and be ready for what is happening," says Inga.

She also emphasizes that sometimes there are guests at the wedding who have prepared some long game or activity without coordinating it with the organizer, as a result of which the entire festive part of the evening can be delayed for several hours. That is why it is always better to discuss such activities with the people involved, so that they are also informed about them.

Michošana already before midnight

After dinner, the first dance of the new couple usually follows (of course, if the couple did not want to dance before dinner or why not - even immediately after the ceremony), after which the musicians stay and play their first time.

"Scenarios for the evening part can be different, but I still recommend mixing for couples this season, which is often calm, subdued and with a completely different feeling than the rest of the evening,

organize it already at 11, when the guests are not yet tired and would not have to “break” the evening party part for 40 minutes or more. After the party, on the other hand, around midnight, the cake can be cut, and then the dancing will follow until the morning," Inga Bērziņa explains the scenario of the remaining part of the evening.

All activities need to be coordinated with the organizer, manager or conductors

In the course of the evening, especially at a summer wedding, the wedding photographer will most likely want to photograph the young couple for at least 15 minutes in the evening sunlight - this time should also be discussed in advance with the photographer and the leader of the evening, so that no activities with the participation of the young couple are planned at that time.

Likewise, the young couple often wants to be alone before the party, tune in to what is to come, get the right feeling, therefore, if there is such a desire, it should also be coordinated with the organizer, evening manager and ushers. Just the same, if the guests plan to implement such traditions as "stealing the bride" and others.

Gallery photo: LIENE PETERSONE , LINDA LAUVA , VIKA ANISKO

Wedding organizer: BANNTÉ