Make Your Wedding Ceremony Fun And Unforgettable

A wedding ceremony should be a reflection of the couple getting married. It should be fun, exciting, meaningful, and inventive. There are many ways to make a wedding ceremony fun, from hosting cocktails before the ceremony to doing a ring-warming ceremony. Here are some ideas to make your wedding ceremony enjoyable for you and your guests:

- Host an hour-long cocktail party before the ceremony to give everyone a chance to mingle.

- Gift your guests with wearable favors like boutonnieres and fresh flower hair clips.

- Provide snacks or a favorite dish for your guests while they wait.

- If your wedding is at a unique location, give your guests the option of a behind-the-scenes tour before the ceremony.

- Write personalized notes to your guests and leave them at the ceremony entrance to make them feel welcome.

- Have your ring bearer carry the rings in a unique way, such as on a pet or in a hollowed-out book.

- Include your guests in a community vow, where they pledge their support for your marriage.

- Seat your guests in a circle around you so they can literally encircle you with love.

- Include your pets in the ceremony by having them walked down the aisle or sitting in a carrier during the ceremony.

- Add a creative touch to your bouquet by attaching little photos of loved ones who are no longer with you.

- Provide fans or blankets for your guests, depending on the weather, to ensure they are comfortable during the ceremony.

- Create a wedding time capsule with letters and a bottle of wine to be opened on your first anniversary.

- For an outdoor ceremony, consider having a live musician or a DJ to play fun and meaningful music throughout the ceremony.

- Use flower petals, natural decor, or calligraphy on your aisle runner to add a creative touch.

- Plant a tree during your ceremony as a symbol of your growing marriage.

- End the ceremony with a fun exit, such as waving ribbons, sparklers, or playing kazoos.

Serve drinks and snacks before the ceremony

Serving drinks and snacks before the wedding ceremony is a great way to enhance the guest experience and create a comfortable and welcoming environment for your loved ones. It is especially considerate if your ceremony is the first time many of your guests will be meeting, or if they are travelling from out of town and may not have had time to eat beforehand. Pre-ceremony refreshments can also reinforce your wedding aesthetic and theme.

Drinks

• Mimosas or caesars for a morning wedding
• Champagne flutes for a formal ceremony
• A keg of craft beer or a DIY cocktail bar for a fun and casual vibe
• A signature drink designed by you and your spouse-to-be
• Non-alcoholic options such as an apple cider bar for a fall wedding, a hot cocoa bar for winter, or a lemonade bar for summer

Snacks

• Charcuterie cones with cured meats, cheeses, crackers, olives, and fruits
• Chips and dips, such as crunchy, salty chips with creamy guacamole
• Mini lobster rolls for coastal ceremonies
• Quinoa shooters, a protein-loaded snack that caters to vegan or vegetarian guests
• Popcorn, which can be served in boxes featuring your joint monogram or wedding hashtag
• Coconut water served in real coconuts, ideal for a tropical beachside bash

Remember, pre-ceremony drinks and snacks are not mandatory, but they can be a fun and considerate way to kick off your wedding celebrations.

Provide pre-ceremony entertainment

Providing entertainment for your guests before the wedding ceremony begins is a great way to kick off the celebrations. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Lawn Games

If your venue has outdoor space, lawn games are a fantastic way to keep your guests entertained before the ceremony. Games such as giant Jenga, croquet, or a game of rounders will get your guests mingling and having fun.

Photo Booth

Photo booths are always a hit at weddings, and there's no reason why you can't have one set up before the ceremony begins. You could even have a special guest book where guests can stick their photos and write a message.

Live Music

Hiring a musician or a band to perform before the ceremony is a great way to create a fun and festive atmosphere. It could be a singer, a guitarist, a string quartet, or even a kazoo player! Live music is a wonderful way to treat your guests and get everyone in the mood for a celebration.

DJ and Requests

If you've hired a DJ for your wedding, why not ask them to start before the ceremony? Your guests can make requests, and it's a great way to get people in the mood for a party.

Drinks and Snacks

Who says you can't serve drinks and snacks before the ceremony? You could offer your guests a signature cocktail, champagne, or even a fun DIY cocktail bar. Some pre-ceremony snacks are also a good idea, especially if you're serving drinks. Think easy-to-eat, handheld items like popcorn or a candy bar.

Other Ideas

• Set up a pre-ceremony photo booth and encourage guests to take photos with Polaroid cameras, leaving you a copy and taking one for themselves.
• Have a live artist painting a scene from your wedding.
• Provide guests with bubbles, confetti, or ribbon wands to wave as you exit the ceremony.
• For an outdoor ceremony, offer fans (which can also double as programs) or blankets, depending on the weather.
• If you have a lot of children attending, provide a colouring or activity book to keep them entertained.

Plan a theme or costume wedding

Planning a themed or costume wedding is a great way to make your wedding ceremony fun and memorable. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Choose a Theme that Reflects Your Interests

If you and your partner share a passion for a particular holiday, hobby, or theme, consider incorporating it into your wedding. For example, if you both love Halloween, you could have a Halloween-themed wedding, or if you're fans of a specific fandom, you could base your theme around that. Just remember to strike a balance and don't let the theme overshadow the real reason for the celebration—your marriage!

Set the Tone with Your Invitations

Your wedding invitations are the first glimpse your guests will have of your wedding, so use them to set the tone for your theme. Choose invitation designs, colours, and wording that reflect your chosen theme. This will get your guests excited and give them a hint of what to expect on your big day.

Creative Costume Ideas

Encourage your guests to dress up by specifying a costume or themed dress code on your invitations. If a full costume feels like too much, you could suggest themed accessories or colours that tie into your wedding theme. As the happy couple, you can also have fun with your wedding attire by incorporating elements of your theme into your outfits.

Decor and Details

From the ceremony backdrop to the table settings, there are endless opportunities to weave your theme throughout your wedding. Think flower walls, hanging decor, archways, and unique seating arrangements. You can also get creative with your bouquet, opt for a live wedding painting, or include your furry friends in the ceremony.

Themed Food and Drinks

Incorporate your theme into the food and drinks you serve. This could be as simple as choosing a signature cocktail that ties into your theme or going all out with a menu that reflects your chosen aesthetic. For example, a rustic wedding might feature comfort foods like fresh-baked pie, while a tropical wedding could offer exotic cocktails with mini umbrellas.

Entertainment

In addition to the usual wedding entertainment, consider incorporating themed activities or performances that tie into your chosen theme. This could be a fun way to surprise your guests and create lasting memories. For example, if you're having a disco-themed wedding, you could have a disco-themed photo booth or a live disco band.

Remember, the key to a fun and memorable wedding is to inject your personality and interests into the day. By choosing a theme that reflects who you are as a couple, you're sure to create a celebration that you and your guests will never forget!

Include pets in the ceremony

If you're a pet parent, one of the cutest things you can do is involve your pet in your wedding ceremony. From dogs to cats, horses, rabbits, reptiles, and even pigs, there are plenty of ways to include your animal in the celebrations.

Firstly, check with your venue to ensure that pets are allowed, and make sure you have a plan for how your pet will get to and from the ceremony. You'll also want to make sure your pet can handle a crowded, high-stress situation.

If you have a dog, you could have them walk down the aisle with the bridesmaids, or stand with the groomsmen as you say your vows. You could even dress them up for the occasion—a bow tie, a dress, or a floral collar, for example. If you have a cat, you could invite them to sit on someone's lap during the ceremony, or have them join you in the getting-ready suite.

If your pet can't be a physical part of your ceremony, you can still include them in other ways. Here are some ideas:

• Talk about them in your vows
• Use their photos in your decor
• Name a signature drink after them
• Include their likeness in your bridal ensemble—embroider them on your veil, for example, or wear a customized pocket square with their image
• Have a replica of your pet made as a wedding cake topper
• Use an illustration of your pet on your invitations or escort cards
• Put their photo on cocktail napkins
• Create a signature drink in their honour
• Use custom stickers with their face on take-home bags for guests
• Offer cookies decorated with their likeness as wedding favours
• Use a cat-shaped holder for your wedding rings
• Include a stamp of their likeness on your wedding stationery
• Put their photo on water bottles for guests
• Top your cake with a model of your pet
• Use illustrations of your pet on your table numbers
• Use a life-like figurine of your pet as a cake topper
• Put their illustration on pillows in the lounge spaces at your reception
• Brand your to-go cups with their face for an after-dinner treat
• Put their illustration on hand sanitizer bottles as wedding favours
• Include their photo on a welcome sign at the entryway of the ceremony
• Have cutouts of your pets made as dance props for guests
• Put their illustration on gift tags for wedding favours

Have a live musician

Live music is a great way to make your wedding ceremony fun and memorable. It adds a special element to your wedding and lets you personalise the moment. You can hire a singer, guitarist, pianist, violinist, tuba player, or even someone who rocks the kazoo! Here are some tips and ideas for having a live musician at your wedding ceremony:

Choose the Right Musician

Select a musician that fits the style and theme of your wedding. If you want something classic and romantic, consider a string quartet, pianist, or guitarist. For a more unique and quirky vibe, go for a jazz band, soul singer, or even a 1920s-style band. Think about the atmosphere you want to create and choose a musician that will enhance it.

Curate the Song Selection

Work with your musician to select songs that are meaningful to you and your partner. You can choose songs that are special to you, or ask your musician to write a custom song just for you. If you're having a religious ceremony, you might want to include some traditional wedding songs like "Canon in D" or the "Wedding March."

Timing is Everything

Consider which parts of the ceremony you want to have live music. There are four main parts that typically include music: the arrival of the guests, the walk down the aisle (processional song), the signing of the register, and your walk back up the aisle (recessional song). You can also have live music during the pre-ceremony cocktail hour or reception to extend the celebration.

Create a Seamless Experience

Discuss with your musician how they will handle transitions and fading in and out of songs. If you have other entertainment or a DJ at your wedding, coordinate with them to ensure there are no awkward pauses or overlaps in the music. A smooth flow of music will enhance the guest experience.

Plan for Technical Needs

If your musician requires electricity, make sure you have a power source nearby. Also, consider the placement of the musician and any electrical equipment to ensure it doesn't ruin the aesthetics of your wedding ceremony. It's usually best to position the musician in a corner at the front, so they are visible but not in every photograph.

Enjoy the Moment

Live music adds a magical touch to your wedding ceremony. It engages more of your senses and creates lasting memories. Don't stress too much about the details, and instead, focus on enjoying the music and the special moment it helps create.

Having a live musician at your wedding ceremony will undoubtedly enhance the fun and uniqueness of your big day. It will be a memorable experience for both you and your guests!

Frequently asked questions