There are lots of traditional wedding ideas and activities that can be added to your ceremony and reception, many of which the guests will expect to see. There are also quite a few ways that you can add unique touches to make the celebration fun for everyone in new ways that are sure to create lasting memories.
Today's blog features 5 of those creative wedding planning ideas we're talking about. They each add a bit of extra excitement that everyone is sure to take notice of and remember fondly.
Pop the Champagne Early
There is no rule that says you have to wait until after the "I do's" to get the celebration started! Have some cocktails ready to greet guests when they arrive before the ceremony, along with a non-alcoholic option for the non-drinkers.
You could even switch things up and host the cocktail hour first, then the ceremony, immediately followed by the reception. This works especially well for a small, intimate wedding or if you'll be doing a first look and getting most of the wedding photos out of the way before the ceremony.
Offer Snack Breaks
Rather than just planning to serve appetizers during the cocktail hour and dinner later, keep guests well-fed at different points throughout the reception. It will keep their energy high to keep the party going plus offer interesting breaks throughout your special event.
Late-night snacks, like pizza toward the end of the evening or baskets of French fries with different dipping sauces, is a great pick-me-up after dancing all night. Letting your caterers handle this extra food is a possibility or you could even hire a food truck to roll up at some point.
Another way to go is the sweet route. Offer a variety of cookies, a donut station, or an ice-cream sundae bar right about the time everyone needs a sugar rush.
Creatively Top the Cake
Speaking of sweet treats, the wedding cake is a beautiful focal point at the reception. Take advantage of showing off your personality and style with a unique wedding cake topper.
WhereBridesGo.com has a wonderful variety of different styles available. Most of these can be personalized for free with either a monogram, your names and wedding date, and in some cases, hair and skin colors to match the two of you.
Cake toppers can also be used as wedding decorations placed on tables around the reception area. You can add a wedding cake top to the groom's cake too, especially if you find more than one you simply have to have!
Beyond the Dance Floor
Wedding receptions usually end with a DJ or band and a big dance party. Surprise your guests with some fun alternatives in addition to hitting the dance floor. Some people prefer not to dance and those that do enjoy it will appreciate having something to entertain them when they take a break from the music.
Lawn games are perfect for a group of people to enjoy together if you have enough space to set them up. You could even set up a board to keep track of the winners tournament-style and give away a prize at the end of the night. Creating a scavenger hunt can be lots of fun too. If you make it a photo scavenger hunt, you will end up with tons of extra fun photos after the wedding.
Personalize the Guest Experience
Instead of just offering generic wedding favors to your guests, pick out something that can be personalized to make them feel even more appreciated. If that item is also something that can be used often after the wedding, even better!
Offer personalized glasses that everyone can drink out of at the wedding and be reminded of that awesome day each time they use it again at home. A fill-it-yourself candy bar is always a hit too. After all, who can resist edible treats?
These are just a few fun ideas that will add extra special touches to your very special day that will hopefully get your own creative juices flowing. Find even more wedding planning inspiration by browsing the pages of our online wedding store.
You're bound to see lots of items on WhereBridesGo.com that will bring to mind unique ideas to make your wedding day reflect the two of you beautifully and create a memorable experience for everyone in attendance.
~The WhereBridesGo.com Team
Post by Deanna Powell, Certified Bridal Consultant