Distinctive Wedding Receptions

After meeting with almost 50 couples for 2010 weddings, I am finding that brides and grooms want their wedding day to be more of an EXPERIENCE then a memory. I have researched and found five fun and different activities that will prove to be a hit with your guests during your wedding reception. My only suggestion would be to refrain from using all of them in one night – it still needs to feel like a wedding, not a circus.

Photo booths

Photo booths have always been a hit at special events, but more companies are identifying the specific factors that make them more popular for weddings. Mobile Photo Booth of San Diego not only allows room at the bottom of the photo strip for a custom message, text or initial; they also print two strips. Your guests get to take home a classic memory, and you get one in your photo booth guest book. Weddings can be such a busy night, this is a creative way to recall all the fun your guests had days later.

Fire pits

If a summer wedding is in the mix, why not end the evening out on the patio roasting marshmallows? This is a great idea when having an outdoor reception, or when you have a venue with an outdoor patio or terrace without an overhang. Ocean Pearl Weddings at Sheraton Carlsbad offers a fun late night break of marshmallows, Hersey’s chocolate and graham crackers complete with a little roasting hibachi and wire skewers. Take it further and have lounge furniture scattered around several portable fire pits on your patio. There are not too many rental companies at this time that rent these out, however Platinum Pros located in North San Diego County has several chic fire pit and lounge options. You can also purchase outdoor fire pits at places like Home Depot starting at $50. Anytime you make a purchase like this for a wedding, remember you can re-sell on craigslist!

Cigar Rolling

This is another finishing touch you can add towards the end of the evening if your venue has an outdoor patio or terrace. A cigar caterer can offer a master cigar roller to join your event providing intimate touch on the fine art of rolling and smoking a cigar. Custom cigar bands can also be added with the bride and grooms name, date, or maybe a special quote. This would also be a good time to bring back the classic custom match boxes, or maybe an updated look with

Magician

Kevin Viner, Magician & Mentalist, points out that when people plan their weddings they often put the least thought into their cocktail hour. “Along with fostering conversation and introducing your guests to one another, a close-up magician can provide something for your guests to enjoy while you are busy taking pictures with the photographer.” While performing sleight-of-hand magic and interacting your friends and family, a magician helps you create a more enjoyable atmosphere for your guests. Magic can help create introductions between guests who may be meeting each other for the first time.

Wii

I noticed a lot of corporate holiday parties offered a variety of video games like Rock band, Guitar hero, and various Wii Sports games the past couple of holiday seasons. It must have made a lasting impression, because has come up with several brides and grooms this year who all remember it being such a hit with their co-workers. This is another activity that allows introductions between guests and offers opportunities to connect and create an experience. Everyone usually knows someone with a Wii and games, so you don’t have to break the bank either. You may only need some simple audio visual rentals to project onto a big screen. If you have a ballroom with white walls, leave out the screen all together!