Make Your Wedding Fun! 933 views

You may be making one of the biggest commitments of your life, but that doesn’t mean your wedding can’t be fun for all concerned. Sarah Richardson suggests ways to go about it.

Everyone tells you “it’s your day”. They’re right, of course, but, since most couples’ enjoyment of their wedding is directly related to how good a time their guests have, it pays to be a considerate host. After all, your family and friends will, in many cases, be spending a lot of time and money to be there on the day.

As well as being an extremely practical way of relaying information, creating your own personal weddingpath can really get guests involved both before and after the day itself. Build up your site bit by bit with photos, biographies, anecdotes and quizzes, then tell guests to do their bit by dropping a line on your personal message board and asking for music requests.

Don’t underestimate how much your choice of entertainment can add to the atmosphere of your wedding. A DJ or band who can keep the crowd up on the dance floor is worth their weight in gold, while a walk-around entertainer like a magician, a caricaturist or a silhouette artist can be a fantastic ice-breaker during pre-reception drinks. Try to get word-of-mouth recommendations before booking.

When it comes to the wedding breakfast, some guests will be mortally offended if they’re not sitting next to their best friend, while others enjoy chatting to new people and are good at bringing quieter souls out of their shells. Bear all this in mind when working out your seating plan – it’ll have a big effect on how much guests enjoy themselves.

However informal or unconventional your plans, the inclusion of one or two traditional rituals can make things more memorable for you and your guests, as well as breaking up what can be a long day. Throwing rice or confetti, removing the garter or tossing the bridal bouquet will set the occasion apart from a conventional party. After all, it’s not every day you get married. Just pick and choose the customs that appeal to you. You could even borrow some from other cultures.

However strange it might sound to include a quiz, prize draw or other contest as part of your reception, it adds an element of fun that most guests will love – and shouldn’t cost too much, either.

There’s no doubt about it, weddings have the potential to be deadly dull for children. Consider setting up a table with crayons, pencils and paper or, if your venue has space, a room with computer games, board games and a TV for older ones. Also, make sure there is child-friendly food and refreshments available throughout the day to prevent them becoming agitated.

If your budget allows, you might like to bring extra amusement to your reception by hiring one of the following:

• a chocolate fountain
• a novelty casino
• a frozen-margarita machine
• an ice-cream van (and man)
• a bouncy castle
• a karaoke machine
• a jukebox
• inflatable sumo suits for fun wrestling
• a rodeo bull
• an arcade game

There's no telling what will appeal to guests on the day – they might be more interested in simply catching up with old friends than in complementing the stunning food, taking in the decor of the room or enjoying the impressive entertainment you've laid on. If you've done your best to make the occasion go with a bang, all you can do is relax – which will, in itself, make for a better atmosphere for everyone.

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