16 ways to WOW your guests
Delight and surprise your guests with these brilliant reception ideas for food, drinks and just plain fun.
LISTMANIA
To keep the guests involved and entertained, ask your DJ to host a bride and groom trivia, baby’s first name game or compile a Top 10 list of things to do on your honeymoon.
Source: Martin James, Alaska Professional Entertainment (APE)
WEEK-LONG WEDDINGS
These days many couples are including activities the week before the wedding where they and their guests can enjoy each other’s company before the wedding day. Collect photos from all the events leading up to the rehearsal dinner, then make a CD before the wedding. At the wedding reception, guests will arrive to a slideshow of themselves. So fun, and a great conversation starter!
Source: Karla DeLong, Karla DeLong Weddings
CULTURED RECEPTIONS
If you strongly identify with your ethnic and cultural background, think about bringing it to the reception. Cultural and exotic food gives guests a unique opportunity to participate in and enjoy your heritage. When ethnic dancers and entertainers suddenly appear performing in full dress, with symbolic icons, musical instruments and song, they often pull the bride and groom into the circle – and guests as well. Traditional cultural dances performed by the couple, parents, family and friends are very moving and entertaining. Also, ethnic pop music is exciting to dance to and a welcome switch from mainstream radio titles. Irish jigs, European polkas, Hawaiian hulas or Polynesian performances complete with fire and drums are sure to leave lasting impressions.
Source: R&R Productions Professional DJ Entertainment & Event Photography
PHOTO OP
As the ultimate personalized favor, consider renting a photo booth, so guests can make funny faces for the camera, and enjoy taking them home for their own scrapbooks. But if a photo booth rental doesn’t fit into your budget, set up a backdrop at your reception that matches the style of your décor (such as colorful paper parasols for a spring wedding, or a blanket of Gerber daisies for a summer wedding) and have a digital camera set up on a tripod with either a self-timer or remote clicker. Have your guests take snapshots of themselves as they arrive. If you use a Polaroid camera, your guests can sign the picture instead of a guest book.
Source: Karla DeLong, Karla DeLong Weddings
HOW CHILDISH!
Need a way to entertain the children and the “big kids” during the week of the event? Rent a go cart track. Your guests will have a blast and it would make for some great photos too.
Source: Donna Turner-Love, Donna’s Corner
CHILL OUT
Wow your guests with an ice sculpture that doubles as a chiller. Drill a hole through the top of the sculpture and catch the chilled beverage at the bottom. People will love to watch and try it out. What could be better than catching a chilled martini as it glides off the ice-sculpted initials of the bride and groom?
Source: Megan Killoran, A Special Touch
NOT SHAKEN, NOT STIRRED
Think about serving exotic blended fruit drinks or chocolate-dipped strawberries and cream puffs in martini glasses. Not a sweet tooth? No problem. Try ranch dressing, barbecue sauce or chipotle cheese as dips for an assortment of savory items including taquitos, chicken wings, meatballs, crudités – or whatever your heart’s desire.
Source: Teresa Groeneweg, Alaska Chocolate Fountains
EXTRA! EXTRA!
Have custom newspapers made up filled with articles about the bride and groom, the wedding party, family and friends, etc. Include a crossword filled with clues about the wedding plans. For a potentially hilarious twist, make the newspaper dated for a day after the wedding with news about what your guests did during the wedding ceremony/reception. Imagine your uptight aunt reading about how she kicked it on the dance floor! Have a folded newspaper and a cup of coffee at each setting for your guests as they arrive.
Source: Karla DeLong, Karla DeLong Weddings
VIP SERVICE
To recognize those VIP guests, present a bouquet to a special person or the longest married couple. Treat them to a “Be Our Guest” theme, with grand server entrance for plated dinner service. And for those guests unable to attend, send them audible memories.
Source: Martin James, Alaska Professional Entertainment (APE)
OH, BABY!
A slideshow of the bride and groom growing up is always fun. To surprise your wedding party and guests, find their childhood pictures and include them in the show. Guests get a kick out of baby pictures!
Source: Donna Turner-Love, Donna’s Corner
TAKE IT OUTDOORS
If your wedding is taking place outdoors, try providing fun activities like hay rides or canoe rides while the wedding party is taking pictures. This will ensure that your guests are having fun, but be sure to let them know to dress accordingly!
Source: Donna Turner-Love, Donna’s Corner
A CAKE WITH CHARM
The Cake Pull is an old tradition that has been picking up speed again recently. Place tiny silver charms inside part of the wedding cake attached to a ribbon sticking out. During the reception, single, female attendants gather around the wedding cake and simultaneously pull the charms from the cake. The charms can be either good luck or represent future children, travel and marriage.
Source: Shawn Williams, Five Star Entertainment
CUSTOM TOAST
Make your own wine or beer at a local winery/ brewery use them as wedding favors. Or make a special toast with your handcrafted drink during the reception.
Source: Shawn Williams, Five Star Entertainment
FIRST DANCE WITH A TWIST
Surprise your guests with a choreographed first dance that differs greatly from your traditional slow love ballad. These include salsas, tangos, swing, hip-hop, fun up-beat jigs and/or a combination of many. Or think about surprising your other half and the guests by breaking out in a karaoke song during the first dance.
Source: Evelyn Sizemore, R&R Productions
GREAT ARRIVALS
Think about incorporating your occupation into the event. Arriving by police escort or atop a fire truck with sirens wailing is hard not to notice and great for the photographer. Golf cart, speedboat, floatplane, horseback and your traditional horse-driven carriage is always fun for the guests to watch.
Source: Evelyn Sizemore, R&R Productions
GO OUT WITH A BANG (… OR A QUIET SPLASH OF COLOR)
Stage a glorious outdoor fireworks show – in your wedding colors, of course! In the winter when there’s less daylight, this finale of fireworks is very exciting. In other months, releasing birds, butterflies or balloons as a symbolic gesture is sure to wow the guests.
