Posts

Jenga yard games wedding

Wedding Experiences

/0 Comments/in /by

Wedding Experiences

The last few years, experiences have become more popular than tangible things. Experiences are fun activities you participate in within a specific event. They create memories far after your guests lose your wedding programs. While your wedding is a once in a lifetime event in and of itself, you can make it packed full of memorable fun by adding wedding experiences to your day. Here are a few ideas!

Games

If your venue has the option for an outdoor reception or cocktail hour, this is a fun option. Games such as bags, bocce ball, giant Jenga, and Twister are amazing games to add extra fun to your wedding day! This gives your guests plenty of activities to keep them occupied as you wrap up your wedding photos. They will surely not forget how much fun they had!

Make Your Own

Do you have a large group who isn’t so sure about dancing? Keep them busy with a make your own activity while they wait to become dance floor ready as their liquid courage to kicks in. Make your own experiences can range everything from make your own wedding favor to make your own custom drink or dessert bar! Guests will love customizing this fun experience to their taste and preference.

Boat Ride, Petting Zoo, or Pool Party

While definitely venue specific, these amazing experiences will definitely take the cake. If your venue is on a lake, treat your guests to boat rides. If you’re getting married on a farm, guests may be able to enjoy petting and feeding the animals. Guests will have to prepare in advance, but having a pool party as part of your reception will be one-of-a-kind, refreshing fun for you and your guests. Keep your venue in mind as you think about experiences. So many options are available if you think creatively.

Dance Lessons

Having two left feet is nothing to be afraid of when you bring in the experts. Your guests can enjoy learning some new dance moves by having dance instructors come in to teach you and your guests some ballroom dance! Everything from swing dance to tango can be easily taught in a few minutes, but you and your guests will have fun memories, and impressive dance moves,  for years!

Magic

Table to table entertainment may not be for everyone, but if you have a group of guests who prefer to stay at their tables a magician is a great way to keep them entertained. Cocktail hour is another ideal time for a magician to perform. Some guests may not know many people, so having entertainment is a great topic to promote natural, easy mingling.

Are you planning experiences into your wedding day? Does your wedding venue have built in experiences? We’d love to hear about your plans! Comment your plans below. For more wedding planning tips and inspiration check out more Chicago Wedding Blog posts below! Happy Planning!

Pinterest Pins of the Week

Pinterest Pins of the Week

/0 Comments/in /by

Pinterest Pins of the Week

Drink Dispensers: We see A LOT of these on Pinterest and in just about every other wedding publication out there. The idea really took off a few years ago when rustic weddings became all the rage. Well, not just rustic but rustic with a refined, elegant edge. These special apothecaries are stunning filled with signature cocktails, fresh lemonade or flavor infused waters. When it comes to the self-serve aspect, we say be as creative as possible. Offer at least one non-alcoholic option and consider using multiple vessels. One drink dispenser never seems to be enough so catch your guests’ interests with multiple varieties ( at least 2.) Our favorites? Southern style sweet tea and vodka lemonade, Fresh squeezed lemonade with fresh mint sprigs and lavender, and cucumber and basil infused water. Delicious and absolutely beautiful! They are functional and will quench your guests’ thirst while setting the tone for your décor.

[pinit]

Pinterest Pins of the WeekKen Kienow Photography

Rose Gold: When it comes to delicate jewelry we have seen rose gold make a huge statement recently. But we have also seen it completely blow up in the realm of wedding rings. The look is chic, modern, and also somewhat vintage. The hint of pink adds a feminine touch and allows you to stay in the traditional gold tone family while also adding some personal flair. For pink lovers, it’s a must! The great part is that infusing rose gold with your existing pave diamond jewelry is a simple transition for anniversary gifts in the years ahead and adding a fun sparkly rose gold band to your engagement ring is a nice compromise if you are on the fence as well. But we can’t help but sit in awe over some of the rose gold engagement rings that take the tone to a whole new level of elegance and refinement. With all of these options, it makes ring shopping that much harder!

[pinit]

Pinterest Pins of the WeekVia Etsy

Creativity Rules: While these mega cute mini gumball machines certainly caught our eye, it wasn’t until we clicked inside this pin for some of the most creative and unique ideas for weddings we’ve seen anywhere! From the ultra-chic black and white chevron flower girl dresses, to the custom pickle bar and animal topiaries, this pin is a must read and see! We love just the thought of inspiring couples to do what feels right and really make their wedding a true reflection of their personalities. And it doesn’t hurt to have a home run idea that guests will never forget!

[pinit]

Pinterest Pins of the WeekLauren Rosenau Photography

Planning a Killer Cocktail Hour

/4 Comments/in , /by

A cocktail hour is a great way to entertain guests while the bridal party is having photos done or to kill time before dinner is served. To ensure your cocktail hour is memorable, follow these easy steps:

Step One: Create a Signature Cocktail

Don’t just offer traditional alcoholic beverages. Add some panache by having the bar create an original cocktail specific to your wedding day. Or, take it one step further and create an entire menu of cocktail concoctions with names based on your bridal party, your hometowns, or your dating relationship.

Step Two: Offer Comfy Seating

A cocktail hour is a fun way to incorporate a different, more informal style to your wedding festivities. Not nearly as regimented as a sit-down dinner, the cocktail hour is intended to be a fun, lighthearted time for guests to mingle and celebrate. Create cozy seating nooks for small groups to gather or offer an outdoor lounge for guests to relax.

Step Three: Provide Background Music

Keep things from getting awkward while simultaneously adding ambiance with music. Create a laid-back playlist for the DJ to spin, or use the opportunity to incorporate live music with a jazz trio or acoustic band. Whatever the selection, keep the melodies low so guests can easily talk and visit.

Step Four: Sip in Style

While the reception site is undoubtedly bedecked in the finest wedding décor, don’t forget to spruce up the space for the cocktail hour as well. Not nearly as formal or involved as the reception hall, the locale of the cocktail hour should include a few unique touches, such as candles, twinkle lights, or small flower arrangements. Use the opportunity to showcase a different side of your style by decorating in a different, yet complementary, way as the rest of the wedding events.

Step Five: Provide Delicious Fare

During the cocktail hour, guests should have some tasty nibbles to nosh on while they wait for dinner. Choose a selection of bite-sized treats that are sure to satisfy guests without being overly filling.

Step Six: Create a Theme

There should be some consistent theme to the cocktail hour, a decision that can actually make your life (and wedding planning) easier. Pay homage to your heritage by dedicating the cocktail hour to your ethnic background, with foods, drinks, and décor that represent the culture, or use the opportunity to serve up relaxing comfort fare at a laidback, rustic gathering.

Step Seven: Personalize It

Adding a few personalized touches to the cocktail hour make it fun and memorable. Serve drinks with customized beverage napkins, or sip through personalized straws. The cocktail hour is also a great time to provide guests with party favors.

Step Eight: Offer Some Variety

The cocktail hour shouldn’t be limited strictly to cocktails. Be sure to offer some nonalcoholic varieties as well, such as flavored waters, sparkling cider, and soda.

Step Nine: Entertain Them

Keep guests occupied with fun activities. If the cocktail hour is outside, set up croquet or cornhole (bean bags) on the lawn. If it’s indoors, keep guests happy with a fun photo booth or table games.

Planning a Wedding Brunch

/5 Comments/in , /by

Breakfast is, after all, the most important meal of the day, so why not serve it at your wedding? Cut costs and free up the evening by hosting a morning wedding ceremony followed by brunch. Not only is brunch easier on the purse strings, it’ll give you a head start on your honeymoon. The event can be as lavish or relaxed as you desire with these easy tips…

Set the Mood: Choose a wedding venue carefully for your morning soiree that creates the right atmosphere for a fun or formal brunch. Brunch usually takes place between 11am and 2pm so be sure to visit the venue in the morning or afternoon before booking it so you can see how it will appear in the daylight. Does it let in natural sunlight, feel dark and gloomy, or heat up too quickly? Think about the season of your wedding, as well, in order to select a place that will make sense with the weather. Wide windows might provide a majestic view in the autumn, but have guests burning up in the summer. A fireplace keeps things cozy during the winter, but might seem out of place come spring.

Coffee Hour: In lieu of a cocktail hour before the meal, allow guests some time to sip gourmet coffee and munch on little nibblers while they visit with one another. Keep it classy by serving up fancy bite-sized breakfast eats, such as scrambled egg tartlets, petite scones, or miniature quiches.

Main Event: Brunch provides a bevy of options when it comes to selecting and serving the meal. A multi-course meal, served with champagne, adds a more formal feel to the day, while a buffet pleases palates and keeps things casual. For an unusual and exciting culinary option, set up individual food stations, such as a waffle or crepe bar loaded with toppings, a choose-your-own omelet stand, or a meat carving station.

Cocktail Accompaniments: Provide guests with alcoholic options without worrying about any out-of-control partying. A brunch reception saves serious funds since people tend to drink much less earlier in the day. Offer guests a tasty array of breakfast-inspired cocktails, such as mimosas, bloody marys, mint juleps, or bellinis.

Sweet Endings: Just because you’re offering brunch doesn’t mean you have to forgo dessert. Serve up traditional wedding cake in lighter flavors, such as carrot, lemon, or angel food cake, or opt for an assortment of sweet breakfast pastries, like warm cinnamon rolls, fruit danishes, or chocolate croissants.