Crafting A Wedding Shtick: A Guide To Making Your Big Day Unique

Wedding shtick is a Yiddish word that means piece or prank. It is a custom that involves performing silly plays, tricks, and acrobatics for the bride and groom at Jewish weddings. The custom is derived from the Talmud's mandate to dance and rejoice for a bride on her wedding night. Today, wedding shtick can include singing, dancing, juggling, silly costumes, magic tricks, fire eating, jumping rope, and more. The goal is to make the happy couple even happier and bring joy to the festivities.

Juggling torches, myrtle branches, or bobcats

Juggling Torches

Juggling torches are a popular choice for fire performances. If you want to incorporate juggling torches into your wedding shtick, opt for lightweight torches that are easy to juggle, such as the Renegade Juggling Torch. When using juggling torches, always face downwind to avoid the wind blowing the flames back onto the centre of the torch, which can cause burns or melting. If you need to place the torch on the ground, ensure the handle faces upwind. Barbecue lighter fluid is preferable in windy conditions as it burns slower and emits less heat than white gas.

Myrtle Branches

If you're seeking a safer option than fire torches, consider juggling myrtle branches. You can purchase these online, with prices ranging from $4.99 to $57.12 on Etsy. The myrtle branch is steeped in Jewish tradition, with Rabbi Shmuel b. Rav Yitzhak known for juggling myrtle branches at weddings.

Bobcats

If you're feeling adventurous, you could attempt to juggle bobcats—the smallest of the four lynx species. However, this option is not for the faint of heart. Bobcats are wild, territorial, and predominantly solitary. They are also formidable hunters, capable of killing prey much larger than themselves. If you do decide to juggle bobcats, be sure to take the necessary precautions, as these creatures are not to be trifled with.

Carrying the bride on your shoulders

The tradition of carrying the bride over the threshold has a long history and has evolved over the years. It is said to originate from the belief that newlyweds are susceptible to evil spirits, so carrying the bride over the threshold protects her from these spirits and any bad luck that may come her way. In Jewish weddings, specifically, the Talmud's mandate to dance and rejoice for the bride includes hoisting the bride onto the performer's shoulders and carrying her around. This is known as a "shtick", a Yiddish word meaning "piece" or "prank".

To perform this shtick, the bride should be hoisted onto the shoulders of a strong individual, preferably someone who has experience carrying people. This could be the groom, a family member, or a hired performer. Before the wedding, the bride and the person carrying her should practice this move to ensure that they are both comfortable and safe.

On the day of the wedding, the shtick can be performed as part of the grand entrance or at another point during the reception. The bride should be prepared and ready to be hoisted onto the performer's shoulders at a moment's notice. The performer should be in a comfortable position, perhaps starting in a squat, and the bride should step onto their knees and wrap her arms around their shoulders. The performer then straightens their legs and stands, lifting the bride onto their shoulders.

To add a unique twist to this shtick, the person carrying the bride could incorporate other elements such as juggling, dancing, or even wearing a silly costume. This will surely bring laughter and joy to the happy couple and all the guests.

Remember, the key to a successful and memorable wedding shtick is to be creative, plan ahead, and ensure the safety and comfort of the bride at all times.

Wearing a costume, e.g. an oversized duck

Wearing a costume is a great way to make a wedding shtick! Here are some ideas for donning an oversized duck costume and making a memorable entrance:

Plan Your Entrance

Firstly, decide how you want to make your entrance. Do you want to simply walk into the hall, or do you want to make a grand entrance by riding in on a motorbike, for example? You could even have a group of friends join in on the fun by spelling out words with letters on sticks, with each person dancing out a word.

Choose Your Costume

There are a variety of duck costumes to choose from, ranging from inflatable costumes to onesies and even duck masks or headbands. If you're feeling creative, you could even make your own costume. Ensure that your costume is comfortable and allows you to move around easily, especially if you plan on dancing or being part of a performance.

Add Some Extras

To enhance your costume, consider adding some extra accessories. You could wear a yellow baseball cap with a duck print, carry a duck-themed handbag, or even wear a duck nose and beak. If you're feeling particularly adventurous, you could try juggling or fire-eating, as these are also part of the wedding shtick tradition!

Make it Memorable

Finally, don't forget to have fun with it! Wedding shtick is all about adding an element of surprise and joy to the celebration. Your performance can include private jokes that only the bride and groom will understand, or you could even perform a skit or song with a group of friends. Whatever you choose to do, make sure it's memorable and captures the happiness of the occasion.

Remember, the goal is to make the happy couple even happier, so feel free to be as creative and whimsical as you like!

Fireworks show

Planning a wedding fireworks display is a great way to add a touch of sparkle to your special day. Here are some tips to ensure your fireworks show goes off without a hitch:

Timing is Everything

The time of year can impact the timing of your fireworks display. Winter weddings mean darker evenings, so you can hold your display earlier in the night, which is ideal if you have young children or elderly guests. Summer weddings, on the other hand, will require a later display time, so keep that in mind when planning the rest of your evening.

Check with Your Venue

Before you start planning, ensure your venue has the necessary outside space for a fireworks display. Also, check with the venue about their policies on fireworks. Some venues may only allow sparklers, while others are happy for you to have a full pyrotechnic display.

Brief Your Photographer

If you want to capture the magic of your fireworks display, be sure to discuss this with your photographer. Negotiate extending their coverage to include the display, and you'll be rewarded with incredible group photos and dreamy couple portraits.

Add to Your Order of the Day

Include your fireworks display on your order of the day, so guests know what to expect and don't miss out.

Enhance the Experience

There are several ways to enhance your fireworks show and make it even more memorable:

• Special glasses: Provide guests with special fireworks glasses that enhance the colours and effects, making the experience more dramatic.
• Music: Integrate music into your display, just like large-scale fireworks shows.
• Diversify: Include other safe items like black snakes, smoke balls, and sky lanterns to ramp up the fun.
• Photos: Encourage guests to take lots of pictures, and consider providing them with special glasses to capture enhanced images.

Safety First

When using sparklers, ensure you follow safety guidelines. Keep a safe distance from others and avoid holding sparklers in a canopy fashion. Instead, have guests stand in two rows for the happy couple to run through.

Now you're ready to sit back, relax, and enjoy the magic of your wedding fireworks display!

Setting the floor on fire

Firstly, you'll need to procure some nail polish remover. This will serve as the accelerant for your display. Ensure you have enough to create a sizable flame, but be cautious not to overdo it, as you don't want to lose control of the fire.

Next, you'll need to decide on the timing and location of your stunt. Choose an area of the floor that is clear of any flammable decorations or furniture. It's best to do this stunt in an outdoor setting or a large, open indoor space with proper ventilation. Inform your wedding party and other guests beforehand so they can move to a safe distance and enjoy the show.

When you're ready to begin, carefully pour the nail polish remover onto the floor in a controlled manner. Create a trail or a small puddle, depending on the effect you wish to achieve. Have a designated person ready with a lit match or a lighter, standing at a safe distance from the accelerant.

On your signal, they should drop the lit match onto the nail polish remover. This will ignite it, creating a dramatic wall of flame. Be prepared for the loud sound of the ignition and the possibility of a momentary cloud of smoke. Ensure you have a fire extinguisher or a large, wet cloth nearby to immediately smother the flames once the display is over.

With proper planning and caution, setting the floor on fire can be a thrilling and unique addition to your wedding celebrations. Always put safety first and be mindful of any local fire regulations or restrictions.

Frequently asked questions