Avoid Boring Weddings!

Attending a wedding may be a privilege, but sometimes it's not always a pleasure. The last thing a bride and groom want is for their wedding guests to spend the reception checking their watches. Here are some tips to keep wedding guest yawns at bay.

Make introductions at the engagement party rehearsal.

A wedding brings together two families and a whole variety of friends from both sides,  which usually means a big group of people who don't know each other awkwardly attempting small talk. The solution? Invite relatives, friends and out-of-town guests to these pre wedding events to break the ice, and introduce those who might have common interests. By the time the wedding rolls around, your guests will have met in a more relaxed atmosphere and (hopefully) keep the conversations going at the reception.

Don’t Neglect

No one expects everything to run with military precision (especially when it comes to rushing your older relatives), but you don't want your guests to idle around not knowing where to go or what to do while you take your formal wedding pictures. This is where the cocktail hour comes in. Set up a lounge or shady courtyard for your guests to mingle, and provide snacks, drinks, plenty of places to sit, and even a little music to set the mood and keep the party atmosphere alive.

If you are having a garden or outdoor venue, you could set up little games for the guest to play.  You can purchase games like Ring Toss, Bocce and Croquet from your local games store or kid’s toy stores.  If you set these up with little signs around the garden or lawn, people will not even notice how long you were gone for.  It’s also a good way for kids (if you have kids at your wedding) to play while the parents can relax and have a few drinks without being nagged and told “Mum, I’m bored!”

TAXI!

If you really want guests to be able to enjoy themselves at your reception, arrange for transportation to get them home safely afterward. If you are having your reception in a hotel banquet hall, suggest they might want to book a room. If they live in the city and don’t want to spend money on a room, Hotels always have a taxi queue out the front.  If you are having the reception a little out of the way, hiring a shuttle service to run throughout the night is a great idea. This extra consideration gives guests the freedom to relax (drink) without worrying about getting home safely when the party wraps up.

Consider your venue.

Your budget will be a huge factor in determining where you throw your wedding, but picking an interesting venue can go a long way toward keeping guests entertained. Many museums will let you rent out their exhibit areas, and zoos often have banquet areas with the animals in full view. Even an otherwise plain and boring reception space can be dressed up with dramatic decor or specialty entertainment. Be sure to talk to your venue manager about your options and what interesting things other people have done in the past.

Work your seating chart.

There's nothing more uncomfortable than being the one couple at a table where you don't know anyone and everyone else went to high school together -- particularly if you can see friends laughing it up five tables away. A well-played seating chart is a cost-free way to make sure your guests spend time with people they like -- or even to set them up with someone new!

Put a time limit on toasts.

Yes yes, it's nice to hear words of encouragement and well wishes, but unless your friends and family are stand-up comedians, an overly long toast can easily go from sentimental to excruciating. Limit the number and length of toasts to a few key guests and let everyone get back to the party.

Send in the...clowns?

Remember that scary clown/magician from your eighth birthday party? Today's specialty performers are nothing like that. The options for wedding entertainment span from tricked-out DJs to belly dancers to singing waiters -- these people are experts at making sure weddings aren't boring. If yourself or you partner come from a different culturel background, why not tie this into your wedding? Many countries have their own ways of celebrating, whether it be belly dancing, plate smashing, fire twirling, drumming or specific dance routines, its a great way to theparty started and make your wedding something to remember

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Think beyond wedding cake.

Wedding cakes are still a staple, but consider expanding the selection for something different, we're talking a full dessert bar with everything from lollies, truffles, cupcakes, candies, along with local delicacies like fried Mars Bars or black-and-white cookies. The dessert bar can double as your wedding bonbonniere by setting out paper bags or boxes for your guests to take a snack for the road.

Say Cheese!

Two words, Photo booths.  If you can spare a little extra money, photo booths are a sure fire hit at weddings and a great way to get some more photos once your photographer is gone.  You can receive all images taken digitally by the company and like original photo booths; photos will be dispensed during the night.  Make things a little more fun by having a table or big bucket with props, hats and wigs, the memories you will get out of this is priceless.