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A
wedding reception is a party held after the completion of a marriage
ceremony at a wedding venue. It is held as hospitality for those who
have attended the wedding, hence the name reception: the couple receives
society, in the form of family and friends, for the first time as
a married couple. Hosts provide their choice of food and drink, although
a wedding cake is popular. Entertaining guests after a wedding ceremony
is traditional in most societies, and can last anywhere from half
an hour to many hours.
Before receptions—a social event that is
structured around a receiving line, and usually held in the afternoon—became
popular, weddings were more typically celebrated with wedding breakfasts
(for those whose religious traditions encouraged morning weddings)
and balls (for those who were married in the evening). The popularity
of receptions, rather than breakfasts, dinners, and balls, during
the 20th century led to the name reception being applied to any
social event after a wedding venue, whether it is brunch, tea, dinner,
or a dance.
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