Weddings are meant to be celebrations full of joy and festivities. The joy is naturally built in as you are marrying the one you love, and the people that love you most will attend the wedding.
The festivities on the other hand take a little more planning and thought, but can leave a lasting impression on your guests that will keep them talking about your big day for years to come!
So how will you make your wedding more interactive and memorable for your guests? Here are 7 ways to keep your guests involved and having a blast until the end of the night.
01. Build-Your-Own Bars
Add in a snack station that guests can customize to their liking. This could be set out during cocktail hour or even after dinner. Some ideas could be popcorn, milkshakes, tacos, loaded fries, pretzels, chicken & waffles, pizza, s’mores – the possibilities are endless! Think about your favorite foods and there’s a good chance a ‘build-your-own bar’ version is conceivable.
You could even take it a step further and give combination suggestions for guests that have catchy names with significance to you and your groom. For example, for a milkshake bar you might name one “Tall, Dark, and {insert grooms’ name}” or “Nuts about {insert bride’s name}”.
Image via: 24 Carrots
02. Keep on Truckin’
Utilizing food trucks to serve an entire reception crowd for dinner can get tricky, but you can easily use these specialty trucks as a fun extra treat! Liven up the party by including a champagne truck or a beer on tap truck. You could also consider offering a sweet treat by having a donut, popsicle, or cupcake truck.
Image via: Bubble Bros
03. Exit in style
Exits make for some of the most fun photo-ops that include you and your guests. Exit from your ceremony being showered with flower petals, dried lavender or even bio-degradable confetti! Or be sent off with a balloon release or to the chimes of bells.
You could also opt for an exit from the reception. Why not use every minute of your special day?! Some fun ideas could be a lantern release, sparklers, glow sticks, or fireworks.
Image by: Cory & Jackie Wedding Photographers
04. Play up the space
If your venue has outdoor space, this is the perfect opportunity to think of creative ways to utilize it. Set up oversized lawn games for guests to enjoy during cocktail hour. Or create a cozy nook and integrate a mini “tasting room” with your favorite wines or whiskeys. You could also offer a selection of cigars for guests to enjoy late into the evening.
Image by: Silvie Gil Photography
05. Socially Acceptable
Hashtags are a cool way to pull together a lot of images from your different wedding events and festivities. Another idea is to use a Snapchat Geofilter. No need for a photo booth, just set a geofence and guests can snap away!
Image by: Mirage & Light Photography
06. Devour
Food plays such a big role in any type of celebration, and a wedding is no different! To make food a more interactive part of the day you could have charcuterie boards and carts dispersed throughout your cocktail hour. Guests are bound to chat as they layer the perfect bites.
Or maybe during dinner, serve it family style. This can be done upscale but gives a much more welcoming, homey feel. Another idea is a tapas style dinner. Your guests can come and go as they please to various, unique food stations. For example, you could have a bruschetta station, then a “pasta-tini” station – this keeps the evening fun and interactive, yet still inviting and chic!
Image by: The Melideos
07. Tour the City
Many wedding timelines include a gap in time from the reception to the ceremony. If you have a lot of out of town guests you could show them your city by renting buses or trolleys to take them to all of the interesting must-sees before being dropped off at the reception.
Image by: Low Country Valet
Xo,
The JDWC Team
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