The Importance of a Wedding Reception Room Reveal

It is important to allow time for YOU, as the couple, to reveal all of your hard work before guests head into the reception space. It allows time for the photographer to get comfortable with the lighting. They are also able to capture the details of the day like place cards you made by hand, those table numbers, and the escort cards all perfectly aligned. It allows time for full room shots without staff or guests in the room. Here is how you can plan for the wedding reception room reveal and the variables that impact its viability!

Option 1:

If the ceremony is at an off-site location, chances are, guests will go to the reception venue directly following the ceremony venue. If the cocktail hour is in the same space as the reception, this won’t allow you to view the space as guests will head right in while you are taking family and wedding party photos. Be sure to select a reception venue with a cocktail space in a different location than the reception. This way your guests will have three different experiences. The ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception space. You can keep the doors shut until you have personally had a chance to view the space!

Option 2:

If the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception are at the same location, plan to view the reception space 40 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony. This way, the room or tent most likely will be set and ready for you and will also be just prior to guests’ arrival (guests typically arrive at least 30 min prior, so you want to be tucked away by then).

Option 3:

If your room reveal happens before the start of the ceremony, you will also have to include a first look. If you want your big reveal to happen as you walk down the aisle, plan to head right to the reception space after your recessional! This is a big bonus for having your ceremony and reception on the same property!

The downfall is, a room reveal prior to the start of the ceremony, does shorten the window of setup time you may have to make sure everything is perfectly placed, but the photos and experience are SO worth it in the end! Take a look for yourself!

The Ridge at Verterra Wedding

Wedding At The Ridge At Verterra

Michigan Wedding Planner

This truly is our favorite part of the day! Our goal is for lots of happy tears and hugs. Chat with your photographer, planner or coordinator to make it happen for you!