Non-traditional Wedding Reception

I think it sounds good. Besides the first dance done being played I would have light music play the rest of the time. You can make your own playlist. We’re only doing the cake cutting and first dance also. Neither of us want to do the bouquet/garter or parent dances

Sounds to me like you're over thinking it. Nothing wrong with just a big party. What you want kinda sounds like what were doing.

Sounds good to me.

Sounds good! As a guest it's sometimes a buzzkill to keep moving to the different things the couple "should" do but aren't into! That sounds good to me

Thank you all!!

Totally fine. I think guests get bored with a lot of the formalities (too many spotlight dances, garter toss, etc). Nothing boring at all about a party!

I have been to weddings like this and they are fun! If you're afraid of people being bored maybe have lawn games if that fits the feel of your wedding. My cousin's wedding reception was a really nice dinner at a rustic barn and then we hung out and played corn hole the rest of the time it was really fun! His mom paid for the DJ, but there wasn't really room to dance, and it wasn't their thing but it was really relaxed and fun.

I agree to have some music playing in the background, doesnt have to be anything crazy.

As long as I have good food and drink, I'm usually pretty happy. It sounds like I'd be perfectly fine at your reception eating, drinking and talking with friends and family. I second having background music. It's amazing how much of a difference that can make.

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Awesome! Its good to hear that you'd be happy as a guest. Will definitely have background music. Thanks!

You are 100% over thinking it. As long as theirs food, drinks and some sort of background music - you will be fine! If you are worried about it, you can set up some tables with games for guests to play.

I think it’s your wedding and you should do it how you want to! I think of a reception as a party to try to separate it a little and make more reasonable decisions about mine

This is almost exactly how our reception will go! We're doing dinner in a cozy restaurant with a cake cutting and no other traditions. So far we've had a lot of good feedback from people who are eager to come celebrate with us. I think if you have good food, good drinks, good company and comfy seating you can't really go wrong!!

We showed up mid-way through cocktail hour, did a very low-key entrance, BM and MOH toast, first dance, and cake cutting. That's it, though I guess that's still more than you were planning. We also didn't have a DJ, but had a playlist set up that a friend hit play on. We also kept the guest list small, so most people knew lots of other people there. No one was bored, and everyone had a fantastic time chatting and mingling. A wedding reception is just a big party with the people you love, no need to over-think it or over-plan activities.

This post makes me so happy! It's my first wedding and my FH and I aren't into really any of the traditions. I don't intend on walking down an aisle, not being accompanied by my dad either, no bouquet toss, no feeding cake thing, no first dance, certainly not eating year old cake either. I don't care if it's frozen, I don't like cake anyways. But yeah no dancing! We're having it at a beach house near where we live so the beach will be an option for everyone to go hang out on and there'll be food and drinks inside, buffet style dinner that we're making ourselves. Screw traditions! Thank you so much for posting this, I felt like my desires for my wedding was weird but this is so reassuring!!!