Choosing a wedding hall can make things easy, planning-wise, but injecting personal touches into this often-cookie-cutter space can be a challenge. It’s also important to let your guests know about your personal touches. There’s no point in serving family recipe cookies if only you and your mom know about them. So here are some tips to add your touch to the reception site:

Match the decor to your interests
If you and your fiance love the surf and sand, name each table after famous beaches (Malibu, South Beach, Waikiki), then choose a seaside palette of soft blues, whites and creams. Prefer the theater instead? Pattern the tables after your favorite Broadway shows.

Make favors part of the decorating scheme
Embellishing with a ribbon in your wedding color is an easy trick.

Use a menu card to highlight special foods
A special mention on handwritten table cards can lend an intimate tone to your meal.

Place a card with guests’ names on each table
It’s harder to remember names and talk to people when you can’t see their place cards. An extra touch: an explanation of who’s who, as in “Amy Johnson (Beth’s sister)” will work wonders for the conversation level.

Showcase your family tree
Print your newly united family lineages on a large poster board and display it on an easel during the cocktail hour.

Choose meaningful songs
Explain their significance in the wedding program.