In comparison to the wedding ceremony, the reception is a little easier on you. You can relax a bit and hand most of the work off to the people you've hired to feed and water your guests. As the host, though, you will have a few things to take care of, so don't get too relaxed.

Greeting the Guests

You're the host — or at the very least, you're one of the hosts (or at the very, very least, you're the bride's father), and as such, you'll be expected to greet the guests. The bride and groom will be expected to stand in a receiving line in order to accomplish this task. You won't be — you'll be getting the party started inside the reception hall. That way, the guests will arrive, say hello to the newlyweds, and move into a party that's already in progress, instead of feeling as though they're waiting for the entire wedding party to join the festivities. Your presence gives them the green light to dig into those appetizers and to hit the bar.

Your duty here? Be charming. Say hello to everyone, even the guests you don't know. If you're a good mingler, this will be a cakewalk for you. If you're not, start practicing now. A drink or two might help you feel more at ease, but don't set up camp at the bar — no one likes to see a staggering, speech-slurring father of the bride.

Dad and Daughter Dance

You'll be expected to dance with your daughter. If she hasn't asked you about a particular song you'd like to hear, she's chosen it herself. The guests will gather round the dance floor to watch (and to see if either of you cry). In days of yore, the father-daughter dance was always a slow number — these days, of course, anything goes. If you're known for doing the Hot Chocolate or the Camel, your daughter may just choose a tune from the days of disco. Jitterbug is your thing? She may well decide on a swinging ′50s song. If you're known best for your two left feet, make it clear to the bride that you're feeling a little self-conscious about the whole thing so that she can choose a song that you're comfortable with. You may also want to consider hoofing it over to a dance class to learn a step or two.