Reception ideas for Toronto

Lifestyle Wedding, Fashion & Beauty
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We are planning a wedding reception for 200 people in Toronto. I don’t live there so hoping for some feedback. We are on a tight budget but I was wondering if anyone has done a yacht reception? I want it fun for my guests but also keep it affordable. Any thoughts/suggestions would be great. TIA.

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Re: Reception ideas for Toronto

What is your budget? Keep in mind that if the Yacht is owned by a non-pakistani, you may have issue with food (unless you are okay with non-Pakistani food).

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Re: Reception ideas for Toronto

Hi Sabah - Let me go over pro and cons so you can decide yourself....but first let me tell you about me. I am a photographer / videographer in Toronto area, so been around the block with different weddings :)
Last time I Was on boat valima / reception was last year.

PROS:
- Boat leaves (more or less) on time! Meaning people will come on time
- It is different, it will be more memorable
- You will have good view (for about 15 min) - more on this below

CON:
- Food will not be amazing, warm or sufficient (like we are used to in a typical wedding buffet)
- If anyone important doesn't get on the boat, be prepared for drama after
- People WILL get bored (more on this below)
- Parking will be expensive ($20 / car)

Everyone is different so people enjoy different things - I am just going by my last couple of experiences but yours maybe different. You have to define what is fun for you, really.

  1. Everyone has to get on the boat - meaning if there is an extra guest from a family you will have to tackle that. There will be line up and can take 1-2 hours to board everyone

  2. Its kinda hard to co-oridnate because usually there are at least 2 deck / levels and PA system is shiz. You usually get your volunteer / family to run and yell to get everyone to know what is going on (most of time)

  3. Food is by boat people. Its not all that - less quantity, less quality essentially.

  4. The view in daytime is ok. Nighttime is much better but you can only see it for so many minutes after that you look something else to do

  5. The top open deck will get full really fast! it can never really fit everyone. This is where you want to do speech / cake etc. If speaker system is good, at night when view gets better it will get dark here - unless your video guy bring lights , you will not see much

  6. People in lower deck (especially old people who will be sitting most of time) will be HOT! and sweating

  7. The weather will be the biggest factor that will decide on the day being amazing or bust.

PS: What are you doing for entertainment?

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Re: Reception ideas for Toronto

As for what is still a hit?

  • Prints are very much in. Easiest is to do through photobooth. I am starting to offer live instant prints for family shots as well.

  • Games, guessing games, Question games, Geo Pakistan type games

  • Dances. Professional performance or get cousins to do a number

  • If you have good # of kids, get a bouncy castle for them on a side (if you have a large hall)

  • Have Candy Station ... or Paan Station etc. People can go and get stuff throughout the event.

Let me know if you need help :)

  • Mohsen
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Re: Reception ideas for Toronto

Thank you guys for the suggestion. So boat is definitely out. I just went for the engagement and the bride side is very desi and were running very late. We the groom side, stood outside for an hour and 15 minutes. So we will probably just go with the tradition wedding hall and all the boring stuff that I was trying to stay away from.

So the only thing I can really control is my guests that are coming from out of town. So I was thinking of renting a nice house for us to stay in. About 10-15 people. Anyone have any suggestions for that?

Thank you all.

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Re: Reception ideas for Toronto

What is the budget if you don't mind my asking? (you can send me in private if you wish). Maybe there are better options out there - try doing an outdoor wedding? You don't have to goto traditional hall. Plus, the key to success for wedding is the little things you do. The personalization of each thing. I can probably hook you up with a wedding planner for free. In PK weddings, that's what they do - keep things on time. Get the side to be late - organized and coordinate entrance.

I did a wedding about two weeks ago, it was similar story as yours - one side super late and other was fairly on time. But they made up for it in dances and performance ... creative people are less organized? They had these spinning mehndi trays made of mirror , it was really cool. Never seen that before. Let me see if I can share a clip.

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Re: Reception ideas for Toronto

Thanks PrinceMS, sending you a private message.