It’s a commonly held belief that the wedding party, or reception, is always the best part of a wedding. It’s the time when the bride and groom celebrate family and friends with food, dancing and (hopefully) free drinks. Your choice of the many wedding party themes available is as reflective of your relationship as the rest of the day so take the time to think about the impression you want to give your guests. Traditionally, the colors of the wedding are reflected in the decoration of the reception hall. Balloons, centerpieces and favors should correspond carefully with the shades you and your partner decided on months before. Lighting the hall is important to create a festive mood. Twinkle lights add a magical feel and candles give a sense of occasion. If you aren’t able to afford a space for the wedding party that’s impressive on its own, a lot can be accomplished by draping fabric and manipulating the lights. Unattractive areas can be covered up with balloon bouquets or arches and using tea lights on the tables rather than overhead lighting masks many imperfections. If all else fails, how you choose to decorate your tables will distract from a less than well appointed reception area. Do some research at your local library or in fashionable magazines to get some ideas for stunning, conversation worthy centre pieces. Staging a theme wedding is a unique idea for a wedding party. This is possibly the most reflective of the couple’s taste and is guaranteed to be memorable. Your favorite movie, book, artist or historical period can be made into amusing parties that guests will enjoy being a part of. Your bridal party can have a chance to wear extraordinary costumes rather than dreaded gowns and tuxes and your guests can enjoy non-traditional drinks and food that reflect your chosen theme. This kind of wedding party might take some extra work but the comments and photographs afterwards will no doubt make up for it. Deciding on the theme of your wedding party is something that both partners need to be involved in. Even though it is only one day in a life time of celebrations together, it’s your first party and deserves some thought. It’s important to make the right impression while remaining affordable. Irreverent or conservative, choose a theme that you can both agree encompasses what you are ‘about’ as a newly married couple.