Responsibilities of the couple

Your major responsibility at the reception is being hosts. In general, this means seeing that your guests have what they need, and are enjoying themselves. Make the rounds of the tables, and visit with each person in attendance. If you've chosen good service providers, you shouldn't have to do much else at the actual event. It's fine to have a friend or relative assist with tasks like cutting the cake, or taking photos. Just try not to saddle any one person with too much work, so they'll have time to enjoy the party, too. Prior to your event, you'll need to take care of seating arrangements. Create table cards showing who sits at which table, and display them near the entrance. You may also want to use individual place cards. Even if you're doing open seating, it's a good idea to reserve a few tables for parents or immediate family. Sometimes, the couple may choose to cover part or all of the reception costs themselves. But no matter who pays, it's smart for the couple to help choose the suppliers, and go over all contracts. If the balance of any services are due after the reception ends, be sure someone is prepared to write the check.