Reception only ideas

We had a DW then a local reception for 50 guests. Food will likely be the biggest draw, even if just do cake & punch (or champagne). You can do brunch or even a casual catered dinner. We went full-out with our dinner: unlimited beer & wine, two-course meal, dessert bar, live band/dancing & Frank Sinatra impersonator.

What do you have in mind?

View Quoted Comment We almost finished paying the reception. It is a big reception venue. Only 150 people but full music, video, shot cart, flowers, big cake, and all. My fiancé wanted it like that since it is his first wedding.

View Quoted Comment Wow! You’re going all out. Guests will love to attend! I don’t have access to our invite, but I’ll try to find & post. We called it a wedding reception but also mentioned “an unforgettable evening of drinks, dinner & dancing.” We hoped that would entice guests to attend. 😁

Our wedding was reception first but it did include a 30 minute ceremony at a restaurant.
We had all our 100 guests arrive at 11:30am on a sunday morning and were greeted with mimosas and signature drinks as well as passed food. Upon guests arrival the bride and groom were there, everyone chatted and mingled while Sam cooke/ Motown music played in the background as it was integral to add good morning vibes. About 30 more minutes went by and the brunch station opened up. An hour and a half after my husband and myself had eaten and spent time with our guests separately and together, we went to a backroom with my dad, his mom, my best lady and his best man. The dj queued up the Space Odyssey theme song and we busted out of the doors and there was cheering and clapping as we made our way to the area where the food stations once were and a platform was in it's place. My groom and I got up on the platform with our officiant and had our 30 minute ceremony which included toasts from the best man and best lady, we exchanged vows and as we were announced married the beat dropped and the dance party began. We had our shortened parent dances and first dance. We created a dance that called our friends from school to the dance floor and assigned a shortened song for them. Followed by another grouping with a song for them too, until all 100 guests were on the floor. Desserts were available an hour later and the entire event finished up at 6:30pm.
Though you asked for a reception only event, ours was a reception that happened to have a short ceremony. My husband and I love breakfast and brunch (we make the meal for each other every day as it's the best way to begin the morning and he proposed during breakfast on my 30th) as well as dancing, so we prioritized those things and everything else fell into place.

Depending on your season and location and if it's indoors or outdoors, and its formality you can do something even more fun that you as a couple enjoy and go completely non traditional or simply have a photobooth, life size jenga, large connect four, corn hole, a newly wed game, and much more. Depending on your area you could go to a themed bar that has games or a bowling alley or an arcade or laser tag. A lawn croquet match and picnic. Brainstorm with your spouse over coffee or with drinks and see what you come up with and what refelcts your personality.