Are you suffering from a thinker’s block on how to make your wedding more interesting? Especially when you are trying to make your wedding unforgettable for your guests?
Fret not. I have 8 really cool, offbeat ideas that will make your wedding hard to forget:
1. Have a photobooth
Yes it is good to have an army of the best wedding photographers. They will add awesomeness and emotions to the old wrinkled face of your granny while she watches over you tying the nuptial knot. But also have a photobooth.
Because people like perfection but they like goofiness and fun too. A photobooth with funny hats and glasses and other accessories will add to their memories. Understand that weddings are also like reunions. Cousins meeting after long time, people getting to know the exact length and breadth of their family tree and much more – it is a gala party.
Their favorite people, the license to be goofy & as many pictures as they want – trust me, your guests will go crazy!
2. Doodle bar
Create a special stall / bar for them to write wishes for you. They could doodle whatever they want to say. Different types of painting and writing options, a huge canvas, confetti and many more artistic choices – it will be a sure shot attention clincher.
You can consult contemporary artists, your own very creative cousin or pick up ideas from the internet for this. You can keep an option for them to get clicked with their art work. An even better idea would be instant photos and a photo wall where everyone gets to show off their special wishes for you.
Important reminders – keep provision for them to clean off properly. No one will want to get their ensembles spoiled for the sake of writing you a wish. This could also get a bit messy. Keep experienced people to handle the stall and look after the kids at the stall as well.
3. Games for the guests (applicable for small weddings)
Games are a perfect way to keep your guests occupied during the time between two ceremonies. Destination weddings have fewer number of guests, hence it would be a feasible and highly engaging idea.
Generally, guests get bored if they don’t have any sight seeing to do between two ceremonies. Simple, effortless but fun games would give you the time to bond with your friends and family.
This can easily be arranged by your wedding planner or your over-enthusiastic, extremely helpful gang of friends! And you can brainstorm with your family over the kind of games you could keep. It will be a fun activity to plan and execute.
And your guests are definitely not forgetting it. Specially if they end up winning something!
(Not feasible for weddings with a huge guest list)
4. Customize your invitation cards
You have probably heard this one before. But apply it now. You may say – “It is a wedding card. It is obviously customized!” But that’s not what I mean.
Use concepts that reflect upon you and your fiancé. For e.g. if your ‘would be’ husband likes sports and you like reading books, you can use these on your invitation. Or if it is a destination wedding, you can get it designed in the form of a boarding pass!
Most wedding cards look like they are identical twins of each other. Make yours stand out. Your aim should be to secure a permanent position for your wedding card in your guest’s shelf. And to make it get used as a reference point for innovation 🙂
Come on. Make some good use of Internet. There are millions of ideas waiting to be found and implemented!
5. Song request cards & karaoke
On your DJ night, distribute song request cards among your guests. They could also use it as a medium to dedicate songs to you or someone else. A very fun activity indeed.
They can fill it up and drop it in a bowl for the DJ to pick up and use. Will save you the trouble of deciding on which songs to be played. And you get only those songs played which your guests like. They will enjoy for sure. Isn’t it?
You can even turn this into a karaoke night. You can ask a guest who is a good singer to do the honors. A more personalized touch to the whole affair! Karaoke is generally done in bachelor parties but why should only youngsters have all the fun!
Besides, it will be much more fun to see your 50 year old grandpa sing / dedicate a song for your grandma or your always introvert aunt do a cool number for your uncle!
6. Put up wedding signs all over the place
Why only the entrance? People only see it once, while entering.
Put up the ‘You weds your husband’ signs everywhere. Small banners, showpieces, centerpieces, flower decorations – everywhere. Brand your wedding with your name.
You could do very subtle things like use your name in the small umbrella on the drinks that get served or the confetti that hangs from the decorative trees. There could be chains of paper lanterns with your pictures on the wall hangings with welcome notes in your handwriting.
Trust me, long after your wedding is over, your guests will remember these.
And don’t be worried about over doing it. It is your wedding. You should be all around your guests in spirit, if not in person!
7. Keep a cell phone charging booth
They will bless you for this!
You know how it is with smartphones. Click a few pictures, take a few videos and whoops! Your battery is gone! And they were probably taking your pictures, or asking your friends when they are going to show up. So, you could also take it as your moral responsibility!
Besides, there are many family members who are coordinating for your wedding arrangements and are hence constantly on phone. And not to mention, some of your guests are just gaming freaks who need chargers at their disposal at all times.
Keeping the most common type of chargers at a stall and someone to look after it – a very simple way to make your guests feel cared for. And make you unforgettable!
8. Live stream your wedding
Not at the venue only. For your guests who couldn’t make it to your wedding.
There will always be a few special guests who really want to be a witness to your betrothal but can’t make it for whatever reasons. You should think about them too. Of course, sharing the video is an option. But the videos come to you very late.
Besides, there is nothing like a live telecast. Is there? 🙂
Arrange for a live telecast for your distant relatives. Share the link of the stream and keep someone who can handle any issues to take care of it. Someone from your own family to coordinate with the guests who will be viewing the live stream is also a must.
Use technology along with traditions. Even the guests who are attending the wedding will remember you for this for long. They might end up saying in the next wedding they attend, “You should take ideas from Mr. / Mrs X” 🙂
Having a grand, lavish wedding is simple. And great. But having a wedding that no one will forget is difficult. And better! Stay tuned. I will help you plan one.