Planning a wedding can be stressful, but it's important to remember that it's also a party and is meant to be fun! The key to a fun wedding is to be intentional about it from the get-go. Here are some tips to make your wedding a blast:
- Think of your reception as a party and figure out what makes you love a party. Incorporate those elements into your wedding.
- The people are the most important element of your wedding. Make your guest list a priority and ensure they feel taken care of. Provide welcome notes at the hotel, name tags with a note about how they know the couple, and a seating chart.
- Balance what you love with what your guests will love. For example, mix some Motown into your indie rock playlist or have board games and a cocktail hour.
- Let people know what to expect. Use your invitation, a wedding website, and word of mouth to communicate what kind of party they're in for.
- Feed people on time! Hangry guests are not happy guests.
- Relax and enjoy yourself! Guests will take their cues from you and your partner. If you're having the time of your life, they will too.
In addition, here are some unique and creative ideas to make your wedding fun and memorable:
- Hire additional entertainment such as a live band, DJ, magician, tarot card reader, or celebrity impersonator.
- Add interactive food services such as a waffle bar, a beer bar, or a DIY bar area.
- Have a pre-wedding field day for your bridal party to get acquainted.
- Add a line for song requests on your RSVP cards.
- Hire a caricature artist or a live wedding painter.
- Incorporate lawn games such as corn hole, Bocce ball, or giant Jenga.
- Set up a photo booth with cute props and colourful backgrounds.
- Have a fireworks display or sparkler send-off.
- Rent a bouncy castle or a ball pit.
- Serve carnival food or set up a tasting bar with your favourite libations.
- Instead of a guest book, leave a glass bowl with cards and pens for guests to contribute a favourite memory or marriage advice.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Drinks | Pop champagne before the ceremony, serve drinks on "My Two Cents" coasters, set up a tasting bar, and keep shots cold with a custom ice luge |
Food | Serve carnival food, have a waffle bar for a brunch reception, hire a food truck for a late-night snack, and set up a DIY bar area |
Entertainment | Hire a celebrity impersonator, rent a bounce house, hire a wedding photographer with a sense of humour, get a caricature artist, and play lawn games |
Decorations | Use disco balls, decorate the bathrooms with childhood photos, and hang a large sign with heartfelt messages |
Guestbook | Have an audio guestbook, a coffee table book, or an anniversary piñata |
Seating | Have a photo seating chart, and use distinctive seating like floor cushions or tree stumps |
Attire | Wear comfy shoes, give your ringbearer a costume, dress your groomsmen as superheroes, and enlist your grandmas to be your flower girls |
Cake | Get custom cake toppers created in your likeness, or opt for a cheese cake |
Favours | Give out sparklers, set up a "farm stand" of fresh fruit, let people fill up bags with candy, and hand out wedding day cookies |
What You'll Learn
Fun food and drinks
Food and drinks are an integral part of a wedding and can be a great way to add a fun and unique twist to your special day. Here are some ideas to make your wedding menu memorable:
Interactive Food Stations
Add an interactive element to your cocktail hour or main course with food stations that encourage guest participation and stimulate conversation. Some ideas include:
- Grazing tables with finger foods and appetizers
- Seafood stations with bite-sized seafood classics or a raw bar
- Pasta bars with various pasta types and sauces
- Taco bars with classic toppings and unique additions
- Salad bars with a variety of toppings, textures, and dressings
- Charcuterie tables with fine meats, cheeses, and a "drunken charcuterie" option where guests can dip cheese in liquor and spices
- Sushi stations with chopsticks and a variety of rolls
Nostalgic and Comfort Foods
Indulge your guests with nostalgic and comforting foods that are sure to bring back fond memories and satisfy their cravings. Consider the following:
- Mini grilled cheese sandwiches with tomato soup shots
- Chicken tenders and fries, especially as a late-night snack
- Mini pancakes with berries
- French toast sticks with syrup
- Ice cream with fun toppings
- Pizza with various toppings
- Burgers and fries, including vegan options
- In-N-Out burgers as a late-night snack
- Fried chicken and waffles
Signature Cocktails and Creative Drinks
Offer your guests creative cocktails and drinks that reflect your personality and taste. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Signature cocktails with unique garnishes and edible toppings
- Prosecco or other sparkling wines
- Mimosas in various flavors like strawberry, watermelon, or classic orange
- Margaritas, especially to accompany taco bars
- Rosé to pair with lobster rolls
- Boozy Baja Blasts, a fun twist on a classic drink
- Tipsy milkshakes
- Harry Potter-themed cocktails served by a costumed mixologist
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Creative entertainment
There are endless ways to make your wedding fun and memorable. Here are some creative entertainment ideas to surprise and delight your guests:
Hire unique performers
- Magicians, tarot card readers, and lion dancers will leave your guests in awe.
- Bring the glitz of Las Vegas to your wedding with singers, dancers, acrobats, or even contortionists.
- For a touch of cultural elegance, consider hiring cultural dancers, such as lion dancers for a beautiful Chinese tradition or a ballet performance by a local troupe.
Interactive experiences
- Rent a bouncy castle or a ball pit for guests to unleash their inner child.
- Set up outdoor lawn games like corn hole, Bocce ball, or giant Jenga for guests to enjoy during cocktail hour.
- Add a spark of competition with a trivia quiz about the newlyweds, hosted by the best man.
- Get creative with a DIY bar area, such as a converted fridge with a Pub-Hub or a mobile bar.
Unusual decorations
- Disco balls as décor will add a fun twist to your venue.
- Create a unique seating arrangement, such as floor cushions or tree stumps with tribal print.
- Hang a series of childhood photos of the couple for guests to enjoy during the cocktail hour.
Surprise your guests
- Pop champagne before the ceremony to get the party started early.
- Hire a celebrity impersonator to perform at your reception.
- Bring your pets into the wedding, perhaps with a flower crown or wreath to match your décor.
- For a whimsical touch, have waiters refill suspended platforms with champagne instead of carrying trays.
Interactive food and drinks
- Hire a food truck for a late-night snack or a unique catering experience.
- Set up a "My Two Cents" coaster at each place setting for guests to share their thoughts or advice.
- Serve carnival food or set up a waffle bar for a brunch reception.
- Instead of wedding favors, create a candy bar where guests can fill bags with their favorite treats.
- For a summer wedding, serve alcoholic Otter Pops or display an ice cream bar for dessert.
These creative entertainment ideas will ensure your wedding is a fun and memorable celebration for both you and your guests!
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Unique decor
Creative Signage
Add a unique and personal touch to your wedding decor with creative signage. From a colourful welcome sign to a neon sign with a sweet love-centric slogan, these details will delight your guests. You can even incorporate your wedding hashtag into a neon sign for a fun photo backdrop.
Dramatic Entrances
Make a grand entrance with a dramatic floral staircase or an actual entrance like a door or a curtain to walk through. You can also frame the gateway to the aisle with elements that match the rest of your decor, such as fresh florals, greenery, dried grasses, lanterns, or candles.
Whimsical Seating
Instead of the traditional rows of chairs, try a curved seating arrangement for an intimate feel. For a fun twist, you can also use unique seating options like floor cushions, tree stumps, or hay bales. If you want to go bold, opt for pink velvet armchairs or sofas.
Mix Modern and Classic Styles
Combine modern and classic styles for a unique tablescape. For example, mix shiny disco balls with soft lilac chiffon, or use vintage rugs to add texture and personality to your venue.
Creative Centrepieces
Get creative with your centrepieces by clustering floral vases or using books as an informal centrepiece. You can also experiment with table runners, such as trails of moss and ivy vines, or opt for a dramatic floral photo-booth backdrop.
Unique Lighting
Dangle string lights vertically to create a whimsical, magical effect, or drape fairy lights around trees for outdoor decor. For a more rustic look, hang paper lanterns, disco balls, or garlands above the dance floor to illuminate the space.
Interactive Guest Books
Incorporate interactive and creative guest books, such as a typewriter, a vintage phone, or a sketchbook station. You can also set up a photo scavenger hunt for guests, with prizes for those who find specific items or capture unique moments.
Fun Food Displays
Delight your guests with creative food presentations. Set up a "farm stand" of fresh fruit, create a unique menu with your favourite foods, or offer a variety of carnival-style sweets like maple bacon funnel cakes and strawberry chilli cotton candy.
Personalised Touches
Add embroidered napkins with your names, the wedding date, or a special message. You can also include your pets in the decor, such as a flower crown for your dog, or create a comfort station with parasols, blankets, and flip-flops for your guests' comfort.
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Interactive activities
There are many interactive activities you can include in your wedding to make it fun and engaging for your guests. Here are some ideas:
Outdoor Activities
- Lawn games: Set up outdoor lawn games such as corn hole, Bocce ball, or giant Jenga. You can also organise a scavenger hunt for younger kids.
- Amusement park rides: Discuss with your venue and planner beforehand about the rides that are allowed at the wedding venue. Alternatively, you can host your wedding welcome party at an amusement park.
- Bonfire with s'mores: If you're having a wedding during the colder months, a warm bonfire can be a great addition to your wedding. You can have a s'mores station, ask people to share stories or keep instruments around for musical inspiration.
- Fireworks display: Fireworks are a crowd-pleaser and will leave your guests captivated.
- Sparkler send-off: Give every guest a sparkler to wave as you and your partner depart for your honeymoon.
Indoor Activities
- Printable wedding games: These can be for both kids and adults and are a great icebreaker for guests to get to know each other.
- Silent disco: This is an innovative way to groove to your wedding playlist. The DJ plays the music through headphones that everyone wears.
- Mini golf: Either have your reception at a mini-golf venue or rent the equipment and set it up at your desired location.
- Live performances: Hire performers such as magicians, tarot card readers, impersonators, or cultural dancers to entertain your guests.
- Photo booth: A photo booth with cute props and colourful backgrounds will be a hit among guests of all ages. You can also incorporate your wedding theme into the photo booth.
- Bouncy castle: Decorate it with a balloon garland that matches your wedding colour palette.
- Vintage arcade games: Rent out your favourite or the most popular video games for your guests to enjoy.
- Ball pit: Restrict the level of drunkenness instead of height!
- Glitter dance floor: Get everyone dancing on a glittery dance floor!
- Anniversary piñata: Instead of a guest book, have your guests leave a message for you in an anniversary piñata.
- Advice cards: Leave out advice cards near the guest book or on the dinner tables for guests to write on.
- Confetti: Let people DIY their own confetti combo and be sure to include lots of sequins!
- Childhood photos: Decorate the bathrooms with childhood photos of the couple.
- Guest book: Leave a glass bowl with cards and pens beside it, asking guests to contribute a favourite memory, a bucket list idea, or a piece of marriage advice.
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Comfortable attire
When it comes to weddings, comfort is key. If you're prioritising fun at your wedding, you'll want to ensure your guests feel comfortable and relaxed so they can enjoy the celebrations. Here are some tips for comfortable attire at your wedding:
Keep it casual
Suggest a casual dress code for your wedding. This doesn't mean guests can turn up in athleisure, but it does give them the freedom to express their personal style and wear something they know they will feel good in. For men, a blazer, nice shirt and slacks are a comfortable option, while women might opt for a sundress, jumpsuit or two-piece set.
Be clear with your code
While you might want to keep things casual, it's still important to be clear about your expectations for attire. If you're set on a particular style, make sure your invitations include a dress code, and consider providing more details on your wedding website. That way, your guests won't be left scratching their heads, and you can avoid any fashion faux pas on the day.
Think about the weather
If you're having an outdoor wedding, your guests will need to dress appropriately for the weather. Provide blankets if it's going to be cold, or parasols and fans if it's going to be hot. You could also suggest that guests wear flowy, breathable fabrics to keep cool, or pack a pashmina or light jacket for when the temperature drops in the evening.
Get comfy for the after-party
If you're planning on partying into the night, suggest that guests bring a change of clothes or comfortable shoes so they can relax and keep the fun going. This is especially important if you're planning any outdoor activities, like lawn games or a sparkler send-off.
Make it personal
If you're set on a particular dress code, why not make it personal to you and your partner? You could ask your guests to wear something that represents your shared interests, or pay tribute to your heritage. That way, your guests can get creative and comfortable, and you can celebrate what makes you and your relationship unique.
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Frequently asked questions
There are many ways to make your wedding ceremony fun. You could add a touch of pizzazz with a unique entrance, like arriving on a motorcycle or in a vintage car. You could also involve your guests in the ceremony by doing a ring-warming ceremony, where your wedding bands are passed around for guests to send their well wishes before you put them on.
There are endless ways to make your wedding reception fun. You could hire entertainment such as a live band, DJ, celebrity impersonator, magician, tarot card reader, or cultural dancers. You could also have a photo booth, a bouncy castle, outdoor lawn games, or a silent disco. If you want to go all out, you could even have fairground rides.
When it comes to food and drink, you could have a waffle bar, a DIY bar area, a beer bar, or a mobile bar. You could also hire a food truck for a late-night snack, or serve carnival food.
It's important to make your guests feel taken care of. You could provide welcome notes at their hotel, name tags with a note about how they know the couple, and a seating chart. You could also provide a way for guests to get to know each other, such as a trivia quiz about the couple or an audio guest book.