Finally in this third and concluding part in my series of articles, let's examine yet more of the popular ideas that have become the staple at wedding receptions.
Cupcake Trees
Cupcakes became popular over the last decade with all of the cake shows on TV. They are an interesting alternative to the traditional wedding cake; on average we see approximately 40% of weddings are opting for cupcakes. Guests can take one home to enjoy later, and they come in different flavors.
Helpful Hint: If you decide to have a cupcake tree, consider also having a single-tier cake top for your cake cutting photos.
The Photography
Photo Booths:
The Photo Booth is today's "big thing" for weddings. Like the Chocolate Fountain that came before it, the Photo Booth may be with us for another couple of wedding seasons ,and then fade into the sunset, reappearing ever so often. There are many reasons I say this. One being market saturation. While attending Disc Jockey Trade Shows over the past two years, I have seen more and more exhibitors selling photo booths to DJ's, leading to more and more couples using them at their weddings. Since most brides want their weddings to stand out in some way, once the market has moved on to the next innovation, photo booths will lose their popularity.
Photo Montages
The photo montage or slideshow is a great way to share the past of both the couple and their families with the wedding guests.
There are three different ways of doing a photo montage at weddings today. The first and still most common way is for everyone to watch the slideshow at some point between the speeches. Another way is to present the photo montage on a computer screen at the gift table, and the third way is to project the photo montage on a screen during the cocktail and dinner hours.
The Disposable Cameras
Disposable cameras are less common today because most guests have either a digital camera or a mobile phone with a built-in camera.
Helpful Hint: If you provide disposable cameras at each dining table, have whoever is putting them out to take a picture of the table number ahead of time.
Signing Mat
The signing mat has become rather common over the past number of years as a replacement of the guest book. Guest books tend to be put away, sometimes never to be seen again. With a signing mat, the Bride and Groom can put it in a frame to hang over their wedding picture as an ever present reminder of the big day. A new version is a metal signing mat that the guests can etch with a special pen.
Helpful Hint: Instead of putting the signing mat on an easel to sign, make sure it is lying flat on a table. It is easier for your guests to sign it this way, and reduces the chances that your mat will be smudged.
Other Reception Ideas:
Throwaway Bouquets:
Nowadays, the Bride wants her bouquet as a keepsake; therefore, it is becoming common for the bride to toss a "throwaway bouquet". Most are smaller than the bride's main bouquet; in some cases, the thruway bouquet consists of three white roses and some greenery.
Helpful Hint: If you are looking to do something a bit different, ask your florist make a bouquet that is made up of 3 or 4 mini bouquets that can be untied just before throwing.
The Anniversary Dance
The anniversary dance is a great substitute for bouquet toss, if there are not that many single ladies attending the reception. It works like this: All married couples are invited to the dance floor. After ninety seconds of a slow dance song, the DJ asks everyone married for less than 24 hours to sit down. Thirty seconds later, the DJ asks everyone married less than six months to sit down, and then 1 year, 5 years, 10 years, 15 years and so on, until there is only one couple left dancing on the floor. That couple is then recognized for their years of marriage and are presented with a bouquet, sometimes the bride's or sometimes a dozen roses.
The Bridal Party Dance
Having a special dance for just the bridal party is becoming less common. In the past, following the Bride & Groom's first dance, the Bride would dance with her father, the Groom would dance with his mother, and then the Bride and Groom would dance with their wedding party before everyone joined them on the dance floor. It's a great opportunity for the photographer to capture some special photos.
The Shoe Game:
Some of you may know the shoe game as the napkin game. The Bride and Groom sit on chairs back to back in the middle of the dance floor. They then take off their shoes and switch one shoe with each other so that each of them is holding one shoe of their own and one shoe of their spouse. Then the Emcee asks a series of questions with the answer being "Bride", "Groom" or "Both". To answer the question, they raise the shoe that corresponds to the answer. While fun for guests, this game is usually a filler between courses of the banquet; it's not too common.
In Closing
Of course it's up to you to decide what you will include at your reception, all with the desire to make it memorable. As I have stated earlier, our experience with wedding receptions is vast, and we are eager to share it with you as you plan your wedding.
Cupcake Trees
Cupcakes became popular over the last decade with all of the cake shows on TV. They are an interesting alternative to the traditional wedding cake; on average we see approximately 40% of weddings are opting for cupcakes. Guests can take one home to enjoy later, and they come in different flavors.
Helpful Hint: If you decide to have a cupcake tree, consider also having a single-tier cake top for your cake cutting photos.
The Photography
Photo Booths:
The Photo Booth is today's "big thing" for weddings. Like the Chocolate Fountain that came before it, the Photo Booth may be with us for another couple of wedding seasons ,and then fade into the sunset, reappearing ever so often. There are many reasons I say this. One being market saturation. While attending Disc Jockey Trade Shows over the past two years, I have seen more and more exhibitors selling photo booths to DJ's, leading to more and more couples using them at their weddings. Since most brides want their weddings to stand out in some way, once the market has moved on to the next innovation, photo booths will lose their popularity.
Photo Montages
The photo montage or slideshow is a great way to share the past of both the couple and their families with the wedding guests.
There are three different ways of doing a photo montage at weddings today. The first and still most common way is for everyone to watch the slideshow at some point between the speeches. Another way is to present the photo montage on a computer screen at the gift table, and the third way is to project the photo montage on a screen during the cocktail and dinner hours.
The Disposable Cameras
Disposable cameras are less common today because most guests have either a digital camera or a mobile phone with a built-in camera.
Helpful Hint: If you provide disposable cameras at each dining table, have whoever is putting them out to take a picture of the table number ahead of time.
Signing Mat
The signing mat has become rather common over the past number of years as a replacement of the guest book. Guest books tend to be put away, sometimes never to be seen again. With a signing mat, the Bride and Groom can put it in a frame to hang over their wedding picture as an ever present reminder of the big day. A new version is a metal signing mat that the guests can etch with a special pen.
Helpful Hint: Instead of putting the signing mat on an easel to sign, make sure it is lying flat on a table. It is easier for your guests to sign it this way, and reduces the chances that your mat will be smudged.
Other Reception Ideas:
Throwaway Bouquets:
Nowadays, the Bride wants her bouquet as a keepsake; therefore, it is becoming common for the bride to toss a "throwaway bouquet". Most are smaller than the bride's main bouquet; in some cases, the thruway bouquet consists of three white roses and some greenery.
Helpful Hint: If you are looking to do something a bit different, ask your florist make a bouquet that is made up of 3 or 4 mini bouquets that can be untied just before throwing.
The Anniversary Dance
The anniversary dance is a great substitute for bouquet toss, if there are not that many single ladies attending the reception. It works like this: All married couples are invited to the dance floor. After ninety seconds of a slow dance song, the DJ asks everyone married for less than 24 hours to sit down. Thirty seconds later, the DJ asks everyone married less than six months to sit down, and then 1 year, 5 years, 10 years, 15 years and so on, until there is only one couple left dancing on the floor. That couple is then recognized for their years of marriage and are presented with a bouquet, sometimes the bride's or sometimes a dozen roses.
The Bridal Party Dance
Having a special dance for just the bridal party is becoming less common. In the past, following the Bride & Groom's first dance, the Bride would dance with her father, the Groom would dance with his mother, and then the Bride and Groom would dance with their wedding party before everyone joined them on the dance floor. It's a great opportunity for the photographer to capture some special photos.
The Shoe Game:
Some of you may know the shoe game as the napkin game. The Bride and Groom sit on chairs back to back in the middle of the dance floor. They then take off their shoes and switch one shoe with each other so that each of them is holding one shoe of their own and one shoe of their spouse. Then the Emcee asks a series of questions with the answer being "Bride", "Groom" or "Both". To answer the question, they raise the shoe that corresponds to the answer. While fun for guests, this game is usually a filler between courses of the banquet; it's not too common.
In Closing
Of course it's up to you to decide what you will include at your reception, all with the desire to make it memorable. As I have stated earlier, our experience with wedding receptions is vast, and we are eager to share it with you as you plan your wedding.
About the Author:
Looking to find the best Toronto DJ, then visit www.Bobhawkins.com to find the best Toronto Karaoke and DJ services for you.
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