Small gestures to make a wedding reception more memorable

Wedding ceremonies feature the special moment when a couple ocially ties the knot. Such moments have elicited many a tear over the years and helped to create lasting memories for couples and their loved ones. Wedding receptions also help to create lasting memories, and this fun-filled part of a couple's big day can be made even more memorable with some small, unique gestures guests won't soon forget.

• Go o- the beaten path with your guestbook. It's customary to set out a guestbook at a wedding reception.

Traditional guestbooks ask guests to sign their names and jot down a brief sentiment expressing their love for the happy couple. Couples who want a less traditional guestbook can set up a photobooth for a digital guestbook, leave out a Polaroid camera and encourage guests to snap their own photos or asks guests to sign something unique, like baseballs or planters that can initially be used to house a centerpiece and then be kept as keepsakes for years to come.

• Get creative with seating assignments.

Numbered tables are the standard at plated dinner wedding receptions, and couples can even get creative with this familiar tradition. Write guests' names and table numbers on the side of handheld vases with a small bouquet of the couple's choice of flowers inside, which can double as wedding favors guests take home at the end of the night. In lieu of numbering tables, couples can name them to go along with the theme of the wedding. If it's a beach wedding, name each table after a favorite beach. If couples love Hollywood, name each table after a favorite actor.

• Create a cake to re member. This will likely require some close collaboration with a local bakery, but the options here are as limitless as couples' and their baker's imaginations. Cakes can be created to recreate a favorite piece of art for couples with an artistic streak. Sports fans who met at a game can offer a cake built to mirror the stadium of their favorite team. Couples who love to travel together can create a cake made to look like a jet or a favorite locale they visited prior to tying the knot.

• Get guests moving. The dance floor is a popular place at a wedding reception, and couples can spice things up by hosting a dance-o-. Encour age guests of all ages to participate and offer rewards to the guests who impress with their ability to cut the rug.

There's no end to the ways couples can make their receptions more memorable. By focusing on fun, couples can ensure everyone remembers the reception for years to come.