Wedding Reception 
Checklist

The Essential Wedding Reception Checklist

Our wedding reception checklist will provide all you need for stress-free planning, and the dream celebration.

Wedding Reception Rental Checklist

On the whole, traditional, and experienced wedding venues typically posses most items needed for a reception, and they are available for you to use. Things like chairs, tables, and lighting etc. But even the most well-equipped venue will not have everything you’ll need to host a modern wedding. There will be items that need to be rented from specialists, and vendors to complete a space.

To ensure you don’t overlook any major elements, we’ve listed everything you could need in our wedding reception checklist below.

• Tent/Marquee
• Tables & chairs
• Lighting equipment
• Dance floor
• Stage
• Glassware
• Chill out area
• Dishes
• Silverware
• Items for the tables (salt and pepper shakers, break baskets, napkin rings etc)
• Serving trays
• Linens
• Accessories for bar area
• Chair covers
• Wedding cake stand
• Photo booth

Some of these items may well be provided by your caterer, or your venue, but it’s wise to tick everything off regardless, just in case something does need to be rented, or bought.

Design your personal checklist

Wedding Reception Decorations Checklist

The creative choices you make when picking out decor for your reception will give your event personality. The flowers, lighting, and those little details dotted around are what makes a celebration feel unique.

The items you reserve from a rental company will go a long way in creating this personal vibe, especially if you choose to borrow decorations for the evening. But it’s the much smaller elements that will really add a sense of charm.

For instance, you can rent a blank chair cover that coordinates with your color theme. But why not go one step further and decorate not just your sweetheart chairs, but the chairs of the guests too. Maybe attach a garland of flowers to the back of them, or combine your floral choice with some tied fabric to create a loose bow? Just something that goes beyond what a rental company can provide, and gives your reception that more thoughtful quality.

Here’s a checklist of wedding reception decorations that you should keep in mind when planning.

• Wedding signs
• Centerpieces
• Floral arrangements (on tables, entrances, dotted around and near points of interest)
• Chair decoration for the marred couple
• Candles
• Accessories for guest tables
• Bathroom basket

Reception Stationery

The wonderful world of stationery offers so many delightful ways to bring fun, and personality to a wedding celebration. From the initial excitement building save-the-date and wedding invite, right through to menu cards and seating charts. Every element has its place, and each item helps to create identity.

Here are some of the major pieces of wedding reception stationery you should have on your checklist.

• Menus
• Place cards or escort cards
• Table numbers or table names
• Signs around the venue
• Tags for favors

Miscellaneous Reception Details

Not every item required at your wedding reception will neatly fall into one category or another. But that doesn’t make them any less significant to the wedding reception experience.

Below we’ve listed many of the items your wedding reception will need.

• Guest book and nice pen.
• Card box for guests
• Favors
• Sparklers or confetti to end the evening
• Decor for your getaway car
• Emergency kit
• Photo frames

What’s important to remember when browsing any wedding reception checklist is that you don’t need everything. Your celebration will not be a disaster if your budget doesn’t allow for a photo booth or a cool getaway car.

Make choices that feel right for you both, and treat the information you find online simply as a guide. Not gospel. Pick and choose the parts that suit your style, and work within your financial constraints. And don’t preoccupy yourself with what other weddings are like. Yours is unique. However, you choose to celebrate.