How to Run a Smooth Wedding Social | Manitoba Social Planning Guide

Manitoba Socials have been part of Manitoba culture for decades and generations — a blend of community support, celebration and good old-fashioned fun. But the world has changed. People are spending more time online, less time in large in-person groups, and many younger couples have never actually been to a social before planning their own.

Even so, socials remain one of the most effective and meaningful ways to bring people together. They're not just a fundraiser — they're a chance to reconnect, celebrate, and build community in a way digital life can't replace. With a few modern updates, and thoughtful planning, socials can feel just as relevant today as they did in the past.

This guide walks through how to run a smooth, well-organized social — and how to make it feel fresh, welcoming, and enjoyable for today's couples and their guests.

A timeline that works for today's socials

Most socials still follow a familiar structure. It keeps the night organized and gives guests a sense of what's happening next.

8:00 PM - Doors open (in Westman, this is often at 9:00 PM)
Guests arrive, background music sets the tone, and silent auction tables are ready.

9:00-11:00 PM - Silent auction, 50/50 and booze-wagon ticket sales
These tickets are sold at the "ticket table" located near the entrance, usually beside the drink ticket sales. Often volunteers (voluntolds?) walk the room selling arm-length 50/50 tickets and booze wagon tickets. The DJ should be making clear, periodic announcements to support sales and keep guests informed.

9:30 PM - Optional first dance
Some couples still include a first dance, though it is becoming less common.

10:30 PM - Late lunch
Traditionally consisting of deli meats (especially Kielbasa), cheeses, bread (for decades it was KUB bread!), pickles, chips, perogies, meatballs and coffee. Today, there are many other options and many pizza places offer social packages as well.

11:30 PM - Silent Auction
This is a good time to hold the auction. Too early, and many guests leave. Much later, and you will finish the auction around the time the lights go on! These days, most of the regular prizes are posted for people to check and only the grand prizes and possibly the door prize are drawn and announced on the microphone live.

1:00 AM - End of night
Final songs, closing announcements (if any), and the lights go up.

Why socials still work — even as times change

Younger couples are navigating a different world than the ones socials were originally built in. People move more often, friend groups are spread out, and most communication happens online. That makes it harder to sell tickets the "old-school" way — but it also makes socials more valuable.

A social gives people a reason to gather in person, reconnect, and support a couple or a cause they care about. It's a chance to build community in a way that group chats and Instagram stories can't replicate.

Modern socials succeed when they:

Make participation easy

Use digital tools to build momentum

Offer multiple ways to contribute

Feel welcoming to people who may have never attended one before

With the right approach, socials can feel like a fresh, fun event — not just a tradition from another era.

Making ticket sales easier and more effective

Ticket sales are the backbone of a social, but the way people buy and sell tickets has changed.

Entry tickets, support tickets, and pricing

Entry tickets have been $10 since the 1980s... four decades and counting. With inflation, many couples are starting to charge $15, and realistically, entry could be $20-$25.

Support tickets are ideal for people who want to contribute but won't be attending. These tickets do not count toward hall capacity as they do not allow entry and can be priced the same or slightly lower than entry tickets. Some people will even do a "however much you wish to contribute" amount, leaving the amount paid up to the purchaser. So, someone who does not know the people well may pay $5, while someone who wishes to provide a lot of support might do $50, or even $100.

If you have one of your grand prizes confirmed before printing, include that prize on the ticket design to help boost interest and sales.

Ticket printing included in current packages

Our current 2026 social packages now include*:

Social tickets (you design, we print or we can design for a small additional charge)

Silent auction tickets

Grand prize tickets

50/50 tickets

Drink tickets

This gives couples and organizers a consistent, professional look and removes the hassle of sourcing and printing everything themselves.

* Gudlite offers tickets with social package as of March 1, 2026. Offer subject to change without notice. Conditions apply. Contact us for details.

Using social media to build momentum

Today's socials thrive when they blend tradition with modern communication.

Create a Facebook group or event page dedicated to the social

Announce prizes one at a time to keep attention high

Spread posts out over several days or weeks to maintain momentum

Encourage friends and family to share posts to reach new audiences

Use Instagram stories and/or TikTok clips to showcase prizes, behind-the-scenes prep, or fun countdowns

This approach helps ticket sales and keeps the event top-of-mind for people who live online.

For couples wanting more guidance on choosing vendors, these posts offer helpful insight:

How to find the perfect DJ

What to look for in a DJ

Handling payments smoothly

Guests appreciate options, and having multiple payment methods available makes the night run more efficiently.

Cash is still king, and the easiest option. Encourage guests to bring cash, especially since ATMs that may be available at your venue will likely have a fairly high fee to withdraw money, which can discourage people from doing so.

E-transfer works well for ticket sales or drink tickets, as long as there's a clear way to verify transfers.

Square readers have become extremely helpful for socials. Gudlite will soon be offering a reader for clients to use, making things even easier.

The goal is to make it simple for guests to participate however they prefer.

The DJ's role in keeping the night moving

A smooth social depends heavily on the DJ’s ability to guide the room and support the flow of the night.

Announcements should be clear, confident, and well‑timed.

Requests should always be welcomed — socials bring a wide age range, and requests help keep everyone involved.

Music flow should balance classics, sing‑alongs, and dance‑floor favourites.

Transitions between raffles, draws, and dancing should feel natural.

For couples wanting to learn more about choosing the right DJ, these posts offer helpful insight:

Ten Questions to Ask Your DJ

Why are some wedding DJs more expensive than others?

Practical details that make a difference

These simple items help the night run smoothly:

Volunteers to help with the door, sell tickets, put out food and help clean

Float for auction, 50/50, grand prize and drink tickets

Pens, tape, markers, poster board (for posting auction results) and bags for the auction

A plan for keeping track of cash and sales

A system for distributing prizes

A clear end-of-night plan for cleaning and packing up

Having these ready keeps everything organized and efficient.

Bringing socials into the future

Socials don’t need to disappear — they just need to evolve. Today’s couples can make them feel modern, inclusive, and fun by:

Using digital tools to promote and organize

Offering multiple ways to participate

Creating a welcoming atmosphere for guests who’ve never attended one

Blending tradition with fresh ideas

Making the night feel like a celebration, not an obligation

For couples wanting to learn more about the history and culture behind socials, this post is a great place to start:

The Wedding Social: A Prairie Tradition

Check out our current social packages

Book your social now!

How to Run a Smooth Wedding Social (And Why They Still Matter)