Anniversary Receptions is the new thing;
Here’s How to Plan One
If we learned something last year, that’s that plans often change and the need to adapt is always important, even if that’s trading your wedding celebration for an anniversary reception! Since many couples chose elopements or "minimonies" over traditional weddings in 2020, a new trend has emerged in 2021: anniversary receptions –
and we’re here for it!
An anniversary reception as the name suggests is a party celebration held on a married couple's wedding anniversary in place of a traditional reception on their actual wedding day. This is perfect for all the couples that didn’t get to celebrate their wedding day the way they had originally planned. In the past, first-year anniversary celebrations weren’t celebrated in a grand way. However, if you had to size down and trim your wedding guest list or -even worse- didn’t have a party at all, having an anniversary reception is the way to go. This gives couples the opportunity to celebrate in a way that is meaningful to them with all their friends and family, in their hometown or why not in the country where they had originally planned their destination wedding. This year many couples are going all out—even if the guest list is still limited.
Why you would consider an anniversary reception?
Any couple who had to downsize their wedding, elope or have a virtual wedding due to COVID-19 will likely be considering an anniversary reception. Typically, you could host an anniversary celebration one year, maybe two, after the original wedding date. However, because life will take a while to get back to normal, the anniversary reception doesn't necessarily have to be on the exact anniversary, giving you plenty of dates to consider.
Guest list-wise, anyone you would invite to your wedding is who you'd invite to your anniversary reception. However, just because you're having an anniversary party doesn't mean it has to be huge, especially as in many destinations there is still a limit on guest counts. Our advice to couples is that you should focus on inviting the people you love and want to celebrate with above all.
Styling, invites, theme - the glorious bits and pieces
Especially for couples that had to cancel their wedding, your anniversary reception could be very much like a full wedding including the usual expectations from such an event (dinner, dancing, etc.)—or not. You could go traditional or try something unique, anything goes with how you can celebrate. There is no right or wrong when it comes to celebrating your anniversary.
Regarding invites and RSVPs and since an anniversary reception is very similar to a wedding you will want to send official invitations. These invitations should reflect your style and what's important to you, so they don’t have to be as formal as a complete wedding invitation suite but they should include all of the event details and match the style of the party.
Essential Steps to Planning an Anniversary Reception
CONCEPTUALISE
The first part of planning an anniversary reception is understanding what your hopes, dreams, and goals are for the event and setting up a budget like you'd for a wedding. Is it essentially the destination wedding you would have originally planned or is it something different?
Pick an anniversary date
Another name for an anniversary reception could be a sequel wedding, on the date where a "normal" celebration couldn't take place. But keep in mind you don't necessarily need to lock in your actual anniversary date if that is not possible. Pick a date that works for the experience you want for you and your guests and go from there. Maybe it’s on your exact anniversary date, maybe not!
hire a wedding planner
Once you’ve determined some general concepts and a budget you can work with, it's time to bring in a planner to make your vision and ideas concrete. The wedding industry is still in turbulence and you could definitely use the help of a trained professional to navigate contracts, vendors, style, and paperwork where required. Just like a wedding, your planner will formulate a plan to bring those ideas to life, ensure a seamless event flow and make sure everyone has a beautiful time. Moreover, your planner will assemble the right team of vendors. Finding the team to help you execute the experience you're looking to create is critical, as every team member of your wedding planner's team brings specific skills and talents that help make your event great. A planner will take care of the schedule, floorplan, flow, guest communication, logistics, design details, music, gifts, and maybe a few fun surprises!
What to wear for an anniversary reception?
You don't have to wear a full-on wedding dress if you don't want to. According to the dress code (if there's any) find something that says wow and makes you feel confident and put together to celebrate the milestone! If you want to wear white or a casual wedding dress, of course, you can - it's all about how and in what you want to celebrate!
Hosting an anniversary reception
It's your day! Don’t forget to sit back and really enjoy this moment of togetherness. Your planner will help you execute everything so all you need to do now is have fun, celebrate with your loved ones and share these special moments with your partner. Keep in mind that like with any wedding, your anniversary reception celebration will go by fast and you want to savor every moment, with the people that mean the most to you!
Konstantina Lafara
Owner & Creative Director
Soo Events
