Reception-only wedding - ways to make guests feel included

My fiance and I are both introverts and really private people. We’re individualistic and don’t really love being in the spotlight or having a ton of eyes on us at once. We decided before we even got engaged to do a private ceremony with our parents only and will probably do that a day or 2 before the wedding as my parents have to fly in from out of state.


We do want a reception, mostly family, with a couple of friends. Our families are from the same borough in NY, some even the same neighborhood, and we want the reception to bring our 2 families together. Does anyone have any ideas on how we can make our guests feel included in the “let’s celebrate and recognize this couple’s love” energy that is usually more associated with the ceremony part of the wedding?
The way our venue is set up, the eating area is separate from the bar/dancing area, which has a little stage. Right now I’m thinking to do the cocktail hour in the dancing area, and for us to come out to a sprcial DJ introduction, followed by a speech from us to our guests thanking them for coming together to celebrate our marriage, then our first dance, then toasts.
Also the plan is to write on the invitations “please join us in celebrating our marriage” so it’s clear the ceremony isn’t a part of the big day. Our families are both very non traditional and down to earth, as are we, so I am not looking for any feedback on traditional etiquette. Just suggestions on how to make our loved ones feel included while still honoring the boundaries we’ve agreed upon going into this.
Any ideas? Thanks and cheers!!