35 Ways to Wow Your Guests at Your Wedding

This list is just a start of many ways to “wow” your guests and make your wedding totally you.  Remember, use your creativity, imagination and “Wow Factors” to find even more ways that suit your and your fiance’s unique personalities.

1. A list of trivia questions about you for each table to answer

2. Favors that relate to your hobby or special interest.  Make them edible, if possible.  Everyone likes to eat something.

3.  Childhood photographs of you and your fiancé displayed in an album (also could double as your guest book) or in various frames on a table

4.  Add your parents’ and grandparents’ wedding photos

5. A fantastic theme based on your hobbies, interests, etc.

6. Decorating your Sweetheart Table with mementos or collectibles

7.  Put together a collage of your love letters from a long distance romance

8.  A groom’s cake in honor of your fiancé’s hobby

9.  Choosing your favorite flower for the centerpieces

10.  Playing your favorite teams’ theme song

11.  Doing the silly line dance you and your friends learned in college

12.  Cardboard cutouts of the friend who introduced you but couldn’t be at the wedding

13.  Performances by your professional singer friends, family or guests

14.  Sharing your love story during your ceremony or reception

15.  Giving your guests “table tasks” to do throughout the reception

16.  Playing a game

17.  A special thank you friendship dance with all your guests

18.  Play or dedicate a song to a friend as an inside joke

19.  Wear an item of clothing or jewelry from a beloved family member and share this with your guests

20.  Name your tables to represent one of your favorite Wow Factors

21.  Choose your favorite poems as non-traditional ceremony readings

22.  Photo booth with props for silly photos – can rent or DIY

23.  A scavenger hunt using disposable cameras to “hunt” for images

24.  Announce birthdays, anniversaries, engagements, etc.

25.  Give a dance lesson at your reception

26.  Write special vows that unite your family and friends

27.  Include special ethnic traditions and dances

28.  Play a song or speech together

29.  Make a donation to your favorite charity

30.  Treat your guests to your favorite wine or dessert and tell them about it

31.  Play your guests’ wedding songs

32.  Include your signature animal, team, hobby or activity in your wedding theme

33.  Take Polaroid photos of your guests for your guest book

34.  Have your guests write thoughts and wishes for a “time capsule” you’ll open on your 10^th wedding anniversary

35.  Serve your special homemade brownies at the wedding and give your guests the recipe

      Dear Brides:  Don’t know how to determine your “Wow Factors?”  Shoot me an e-mail at: pwilson@smoothweddings.com and I will send you worksheets for FREE to help you find your “Wow Factors.”

Glamping = camping + glamour

Even though glamping has been around for the last several years, it seems it is becoming the latest trend for honeymoons.

Think of it as a “high-end” camping experience.  You still get the great outdoors, but have the comforts of a four-star hotel.

Apparently, these glamping sites originally started back in Africa and Thailand, but have now been popping up in Europe and the United States.

For your honeymoon, you can find very intimate and secluded sites located in the most scenic, remote and spectacular corners of the world.

Here are some of the more luxury glamping sites you might want to check out for your honeymoon:

Clayoquot Wilderness Resort (www.wildretreat.com) on Vancouver Island in the Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Reserve in British Columbia.

Resort at Paws Up (www.pawsup.com) in Montana.  Both have elegantly furnished tents, which could lure even the most squeamish camper, but the resort is also dedicated to respecting the environment.

The Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle In Thailand.  Located west of Laos and south of Burma, this site offers honeymooners private panoramic views of Burma’s Ruak River and Laos’ mountains.  You could take a trek with elephants in the morning, an afternoon dip in your private hot tub, and end your evening with a choice of dinner at one of four gourmet establishments set up throughout the camp.

Dear Brides:  Would you consider “glamping” for your honeymoon?  Please comment and share.

photo credit:  Four Seasons Golden Triangle

Now, that's a great idea!

Direct from Preston Bailey, one of the fabulous celebrity event designers that I admire, posted this wonderful idea regarding grooms who want to do surprise proposals but want to be sure they purchase the “right ring” for their girl, soon to be fiancée. 

From A Merry Mishap, your groom can purchase a funky geometric designed ring that he can give you at the surprise proposal.  Then, after he pops the big question and gives you this ring, he can take you out to shop for the ring you really want.  

If you think this is a great idea, give your groom the hint.

Dear Brides:  What do you think?  Would you like to receive a ring similar to this in order to be able to have input into the ring you really want?

Grooms Helping to Plan Their Wedding

Have you noticed grooms are getting more and more involved in helping to plan their wedding?  No longer is it just the bride and her family.  He wants to get in on the action, too.   Take Brad Pitt, for instance.  He designed Angelina Jolie's engagement ring and is supposedly restoring an estate in southern France for the wedding as well as having a say on the flowers and ceremony.

As a wedding planner, I have seen many grooms be involved with helping their bride plan “their” wedding.  It’s not just the bride’s wedding anymore.

I actually thought this same thing when planning my own wedding 18 years ago.  My fiancé, now husband, was very involved in the planning of our wedding and I loved it.  I wanted him to be a part of it.  I always thought the wedding is just as much for the groom as it is for the bride.  So much so that I wanted him to also walk down the aisle – and, he did. 

There are still many grooms who say, “Whatever you want, dear.”  But, there are many now that say, “I want to help.”

Dear Brides:  What about you?  Is your groom helping you plan the wedding?  How involved is he?  Please comment and share.

photo credit:  Martha Stewart Weddings

Do You Think You Need More Than A Year to Plan Your Wedding?

Unless there are extenuating circumstances, you don’t need more than a year to plan your wedding.  Why wait when you don’t have to.  I’m here to tell you, you don’t have to wait a year or two if it’s absolutely not necessary.  I speak from personal experience.  You can read my story here.  

If you and your groom know what you want and are pretty decisive, then why wait.   You do have to be flexible and resourceful, though.  The latest technology certainly helps in planning weddings in less than a year.  Having a shorter engagement period also lends itself to not over-thinking everything and trying to micro-manage it all.  You wait too long, you may end up changing your colors, décor or whatever many times over.  This can become very stressful and possibly blow your budget. Who needs that?  Think of it like fixing Thanksgiving dinner.  You cook and slave for several hours, sit down, eat and in 30 minutes, it’s over.  You think you did all that work and it’s already finished.  That’s the way it could feel with your wedding planning.  If your engagement period is only six months, you won’t feel as bad with it all being over in a few short hours versus if your engagement period had been a year or two, thinking, “All this work and time and it’s already over?” 

Based on my own personal experience of planning my wedding for 150 guests in three and a half months, I have developed a very detailed planning calendar based on planning a wedding in six months or less.  If you would like a free copy, please use the sign up box on the sidebar.

Happy planning!

Dear Brides:  How long is your engagement period and are you running into any frustrations with planning it if it’s less than a year?  Please share and comment.

ALCOHOL BAR – HOW MUCH TO SERVE AND WHAT TYPES OF BARS

If you are setting up your own bar for your wedding reception or are just confused on the different types of bar options there are, here are some tips and descriptions to help you.

Listed below are averages for 100 guests for about a four-five hour reception:

Beer: 2 cases
Whiskey: 1-2 liters
Bourbon: 1-2 liters
Gin: 2 liters
Scotch: 3 liters
Light rum: 2 liters
Vodka: 6 liters
Tequila: 1 liter
Champagne: 1 1/2 cases
Red wine: 8 bottles
White wine: 1 1/2 cases
Dry vermouth: 2 bottles
Sweet vermouth: 2 bottles

CHAMPAGNE NOTES

• For toasts, one bottle will serve six to eight guests
• Deep, narrow glasses (flutes, tulips) retain the bubbles longer than saucers, which allow the champagne to go flat more quickly
• The best champagnes and sparkling wines have tiny bubbles that rise in a steady stream from the bottom of the glass
• A magnum is 1.5 liters, or two regular bottles
• A jeroboam is three liters, or four regular bottles

THE OPEN BAR
This is the most courteous option, but will be the most expensive option.  Guests should never pay for anything to attend and enjoy your wedding and reception.  With this bar, guests can order any drink, but you will be paying at the end.  Since this type of bar is usually unlimited, guests may drink like there's no tomorrow. 

THE LIMITED BAR
This is probably the more popular option.  You may offer only beer and wine and possibly a small selection of specific drinks.  You can also set a specific amount of time the bar is open - maybe for the cocktail hour, throughout dinner and then close it one hour prior to the end of your reception.   Or, you could have waiters pass drinks to save guests from having to go up to the bar.

THE CASH BAR
Don't have one.  Really.  Do you have guests over to your house for dinner and charge them for their drinks?   I didn't think so.  Don't do it for your wedding either.  You can cut costs somewhere else.  Believe me.  Guests do not like having to pay for their own drinks at a wedding.

A DRY HOUSE
This is certainly a viable option if you, your families or most of your guests don't drink.  You can serve non-alcoholic drinks, soda, sparkling water, etc.  If you still want something bubbly for your toast, serve sparkling cider.   

Dear brides:  What kind of bar will you be having at your wedding?  Do you have other ideas?  Share and comment.

Planning - Ten Biggest Pre-Wedding Mistakes

Even the smartest, most organized couple can make mistakes during wedding planning. Below are ten things you should keep an eye on before walking down that aisle.

1. Budget, what budget?
If you have started planning your wedding, you know it can cost a lot of money. Many excited brides start booking wedding professionals and making purchases without having a real budget, and then they're shocked to discover they've spent all of their money (or their parents' money) and still don't have half the things they need. If you bounce checks, don't have the money to pay your deposits, or make your final payments past your wedding professionals’ deadlines, your wedding will not happen as you have planned. The flowers won't be delivered, your cake will not be decorated, and the band will not play all night -- unless you don't pay up. Planning a wedding is serious business. Make a budget and keep track of your expenses.

2. Wedding gown/bridesmaid dresses ordered too late.
If you are not going to buy your gown “off the rack,” then you need to place your gown order six to eight months prior to your wedding. Most gowns are made to order.  If you wait too long before your wedding date to make your selection, you may risk the gown not arriving on time. Bridesmaid dresses should also be decided upon during the same time period, but only after your gown has been selected. You want to make sure your ladies have enough time to get measured and find accessories. 

3. Not hiring wedding professionals.
Seriously.  Would you have a friend fix a plumbing problem?  Of course not.  You would want a professional plumber to come in and do the job right.  Same goes for your wedding.  You want professionals who do this for a living – photographers, videographers, florists, wedding coordinators, etc.  They have the experience and skills to help you have the wedding of your dreams.  Don’t risk your friendships by depending upon them to do a professional’s job.  There are wedding professionals that fit every style and budget.  Rely on them to keep you stress-free.

4. Marriage license application woes.
Since every state has their own set of policies for marriage licenses, brides are bound to make mistakes. Be sure to investigate time restrictions well in advance of your wedding date. Get your license 31 days before in some states -- and you won't be able to legally marry on your wedding day because it may be valid for only 30 days. Go for your license the day before your wedding and you may not get it in time, because some states have a 48-hour waiting period. Another common mess-up if you're remarrying: not having official divorce papers in time to get the certificate.  Be sure to check your state’s marriage laws.

5. Out-of-town guests have a room?
Brides often leave blocking out hotel rooms for out-of-town guests until the last minute. If you're marrying in a city (particularly one where conventions take place) or in a resort town and you don't investigate hotel availability in advance, you can literally end up with not a single room for any of your guests to stay in. Your wedding might go on -- but no one will be able attend. Reserve a room block as early as possible, up to a year in advance, in some cases.

6. Inviting too many guests.
Make sure your guest list and your reception site match numbers-wise. You can't invite 400 people assuming only 250 will RSVP with a yes (because your “must-have” reception site can only hold 250).  What if 300 happen to say yes, you may have to turn 50 away at the door.  Some sites may not be able to add several more tables, as fire laws limit the maximum number of people in any room at one time. To avoid this, assume 80% will respond "yes" and limit your guest list accordingly.

7. Beauty treatments scheduled too late.
Many brides think that scheduling chemical peels the week before their weddings will leave their skin looking angelic on their big days. Others think having their teeth bleached within days of their weddings will leave those pearly whites sparkling. Thinking of tanning the day before your wedding? Remember that scene in “The Wedding Planner?”  You may end up with blisters instead of sun-kissed skin. Last-minute beauty treatments can lead to breakouts, mistakes, or -- even worse -- serious infections. Start a long-term beauty regimen months before the big day and save the heavy-duty beauty treatments (i.e. chemical peels, micro-dermabrasion, extracting facials, deep-tanning sessions, teeth whitening, and so on) for at least two weeks before the big day, or you could risk ruining all the hard work you've done to make your wedding -- and photos - perfect. (Never mind putting your health and happiness at risk for the most important day of your life.)

8. Invitations – didn’t put enough postage on the envelopes?
You'd be surprised how many brides just stick a 45-cent stamp on their invites and drop them in the mailbox.  All but a few wedding invitations require additional postage. The postal service will not take pity on you -- your invites will be returned (and rubber-stamped with that ugly "insufficient postage" message) -- and it will take at least two weeks (never mind the additional $$) to get them back out the door.  Always take a complete invitation to the post office to be weighed before purchasing all your stamps.

9. Ignoring religious restrictions.
Think your rabbi didn't mean it when he said you needed to cover your arms in the temple? Guess again. If you plan on marrying in a church, synagogue, etc., you need to abide by their rules. Wearing inappropriate attire or not completing pre-wedding requirements could be grounds for your Officiant to stop your wedding before it begins. As soon as you get engaged, be sure to contact your house of worship to find out about any potential issues. Some houses of worship won't let you marry on certain holy days; make sure to check your wedding date with your Officiant before putting down any deposits for your reception site or wedding professionals.

10. Rain or shine?  Don’t ignore weather warnings.
Brides marrying outdoors often test fate and just wish for the best when it comes to bad weather. Always have a backup plan, or else you may not have a place to marry at all -- or your guests (and you) may be in misery at the hands of Mother Nature. Temperatures normally around the balmy 70-degree mark may unexpectedly turn into a boiling 100-degree debacle – have fans available for guests and it wouldn’t hurt to have bottles of water, too.  A hurricane, flashflood, or gale force winds may visit on your wedding day; make sure you have an interior alternative or a tent as a back-up location.

Dear brides:  What is frustrating you in planning your wedding?  Have you made any mistakes in your wedding planning?  Please comment and share.