Original ideas for a wedding: entertainment for guests

Place

A creative wedding will force you to give up the usual restaurant, cafe or home environment. And at the first stage of planning the celebration, you should choose exactly the location, because all other preparations will depend on it.

Here are just a few options where you can hold a creative wedding :

• sea ​​coast;
• casino;
• island;
• motor ship;
• roof of a high-rise building.

It’s great if newlyweds are involved in some kind of sport and love adrenaline and thrills. A good example for them will be an American couple - the newlyweds, who are passionate about mountaineering, organized a wedding in a suspended net above a picturesque canyon on the Colorado Plateau at an altitude of 120 meters.

Images of the bride and groom

The appearance of the bride and groom at a creative wedding should not only be impeccable, but also original. Choose the theme of the celebration, and taking into account the stylistic features, create images for the newlyweds.

Game of Thrones

A wedding in the style of the popular series gives the bride and groom the opportunity to dress in medieval outfits and feel like one of the rulers of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros.
Advice! It is better to keep your hair and makeup not too bright to match the spirit of the time.
You can choose an original modern dress for the bride, but complement it with jewelry that is associated with the series : large pendants, a tiara or crown, a cape with a hood, rings. If the wedding is planned for winter, then the groom will look luxurious in a fur cape in the style of Jon Snow.

Mafia

The newlyweds appear in the image of a mafioso from the times of Al Capone. Thematic films “The Godfather” or “Scarface” will help you choose an outfit.

Bright makeup, a headband with feathers, jewelry with rhinestones and beads, and a silk golden dress will turn the bride into the wife of a respected Don, who will appear before the guests in a chic three-piece suit and a gangster hat.

Rustic

A rustic wedding is organized in a natural, rustic style. Outfits should be harmonious and simple, without much chic or fashionable decorations: a straight, light dress for the bride made of natural fabrics, light, minimal, barely noticeable makeup. You can decorate your hair with fresh flowers.

For the groom - trousers with suspenders and a shirt in the color of the bride's dress.

A selection of ideas for organizing a wedding banquet

The Hungry Wolf agency acts not only as an organizer of catering and catering services, but also as an organizer of turnkey weddings. Sasha’s personal start in event management happened back in 2003. Her projects differ from traditional weddings - these are immersive celebrations, the concept of which is developed individually for each couple.

For our readers, she has collected 8 unusual options for holding a modern themed wedding.

Wedding decoration in a single color palette

Mint. The elegant mint color was recognized by the jury of Milan Design Week as the best color solution of this year. It is suitable for decorating a themed summer wedding outdoors: in a forest gazebo or in a tent by the lake. Garlands, napkins and tablecloths can be chosen in complementary colors of dusty rose, dark green or beige.

Caramel and lily. Notes of brown (terracotta, amber, caramel) are suitable for a wedding held in autumn or late summer. They will naturally fit into the surrounding landscape. According to the psychological theory of color, these noble shades are associated with success and prosperity.

Dilute the palette with purple - it is often chosen by people of creative professions with a well-developed imagination and creativity. Add some purple to the table. For example, order a candy bar with lavender panna cotta or blueberry mousse.

Champagne and mustard. A themed wedding with elements of yellow will be appropriate at any time of the year: decorate the table with daffodils in the spring, sunflowers in the summer, and make a composition of dried flowers and fallen leaves in the fall. And a wedding dress in a “champagne splash” shade looks more unconventional than a crystal white one.

Powdery blue and aquamarine. Blue is timeless. Professional color standards provider Pantone said "thoughtful" blue highlights our need for a strong and stable foundation.

But how to arrange catering for a wedding reception in blue? To make the table surface more visually interesting, use several tablecloths in cool shades. For example, spread a lighter, blue decorative runner on a dark blue fabric. Decorate the table with bouquets of asters and cornflowers: large flowers can be placed in vases, and small buds can be placed in crystal glasses. When serving, it is important to consider that napkin rings, candles, cutlery and tableware should be in harmony with each other. The overall color ensemble will be complemented by desserts with blueberries and figs or appetizers with tobiko caviar.

Wedding in the style of "Space"

Decor. Let the space theme be traced in all accessories and decorative elements. The dominant colors at such a celebration will be dark blue and ultraviolet, and silver accents will resemble stars. Decorate the photo zone with a map of galaxies and compositions of blue buds of asters, violets and cornflowers. Pay special attention to lighting, for example, use starry sky projectors, garlands of LED bulbs or neon threads.

Costume. Even a classic white dress can be embroidered with rhinestones and sequins, and glitter or sparkling highlighter can be added to the makeup. The groom's suit will be complemented by a boutonniere of painted flowers.

Treats. The wedding cake is the highlight of the evening. To make it fit into the space theme, ask the pastry chef to decorate it with a glossy topper or decor using the icing technique. At modern weddings, instead of a large cake, newlyweds prefer to order a candy bar with cupcakes, cake pops and berries in glaze.

“The number of dishes and how they are served depends on the theme of the party,” says the founder of Hungry Wolf. “For a wedding in the Cosmos style, we would recommend molecular cuisine or a finger food buffet.”

Photo courtesy of the Hungry Wolf event agency

Wedding in the style of a flower festival

Decor. To recreate the festival atmosphere, a country recreation center is best suited. The bride's path to the wedding ceremony site can be lined with petals, and the location itself can be decorated with a flower arch, ribbons, paper lanterns and hanging swings.

Look at photos from similar themed weddings.

Costumes. Mandatory attributes of such a wedding are lush wreaths, buds woven into hairstyles, and stylish boutonnieres in men’s buttonholes. As an option, invite a mehendi artist to your wedding and complement the guests’ images with henna designs.

Treats . Homemade lemonade, a candy bar, canapés made from farm products and snacks decorated with edible flowers will harmoniously fit into the holiday atmosphere. The mood of a flower festival can be easily recreated through the exquisite decor of the buffet itself. We recommend choosing a delicate color palette, textured textiles and elegant serving bouquets.

Styling an autumn wedding: fertility theme

Decor. Autumn decor is associated with the comfort of home, so use pine cones, acorns, pine needles, rowan berries, seasonal fruits and flowers in decorations. You can put fleece pillows or knitted blankets on banquet chairs. At the entrance to the banquet hall, hang wreaths containing cinnamon sticks, cloves and dried citrus fruits.

Costumes. A long train on a wedding dress is not suitable for wet autumn weather. Don't forget about warm outerwear: embroidered cardigans, ponchos and shawls. We advise the groom to do the same - wear a quilted vest or a checkered jacket and, of course, a wide-brimmed hat!

Treats. To highlight the charm of fall, include seasonal ingredients in your menu or focus on home cooking. We recommend making a list of dishes based on pumpkin mousses, grapes, figs, nut crumbs, berry sauces, pomegranate and game. Instead of a fancy wedding cake, offer your guests apple pie or carrot dessert. A popular sweet for an autumn wedding is caramel apples.

Photo courtesy of the Hungry Wolf event agency

Themed wedding: Boho

Decor . “Boho” combines eclecticism, folk and handmade elements. This style is not as simple as it might seem at first glance. Contact experienced event managers so that years later your wedding in photographs does not look like a very expensive rural holiday.

In the bohemian style, any item from the assortment of an antique shop can become a decorative element: carpets and tapestries, antique chests and suitcases, figurines, dishes from various sets, dream catchers, deer antlers and metal candlesticks made using the “mercury glass” technique.

Costumes. The bride's dress should be simple, but with some flair, such as mesh panels, lace or beaded embroidery. As for shoes, they can be completely different: from rough boots with a wide top to wicker sandals. Hair is braided into loose braids or lightly curled into ringlets. We advise the groom to wear a suit made of natural fabrics: tweed, linen and cotton. Suspenders, hats, wooden bow ties, long hairstyles and Scottish styling are welcome.

Treats. Boho style lovers support the eco-friendly trend. Try a vegetarian buffet or switch it up with a cheese plate with stracciatella, mozzarella and brie. For those who cannot imagine a holiday without delicious meat, offer tapas, tartare or mini-sandwiches.

Photo courtesy of the Hungry Wolf event agency

Eco-friendly wedding

Decor. The basis of the “green” wedding style is natural forms and natural materials: branches, wooden frames, succulents, stones, shells and ceramics. To organize a wedding reception, choose an enclosed courtyard of a loft or a country cottage.

Costumes . Eco-weddings are often held in a rustic style, which means “country” in French, so brides are recommended to dress in beige and olive shades. A wreath of wildflowers and ears of corn is chosen as an accessory, and the groom can complement the look with wooden cufflinks.

Treats. Create a buffet based on balanced and healthy food: include rolls with zucchini and asparagus, microgreen salads and jams on the menu. It is better to replace plastic straws for cocktails with paper ones and avoid using disposable plates. Ask the caterer to bring their own glassware and ceramics.

Safari style wedding

Decor. Shades of mustard, terracotta and sand are relevant for African style. The decor uses animal prints, skins, ethnic figurines, tribal masks and bamboo furniture. The hall can be decorated with compositions with the addition of a local flower - protea.

Costumes. A wedding costume in the African tradition is very different from the European image of a bride. Instead of a white wedding dress, fabrics in bright colors like coral, gold and ultramarine are more appropriate. For jewelry, African brides wear large bracelets on their wrists and beads on their neck, waist and legs.

Treats. A candy bar is a space for creativity in decorating a themed wedding: offer guests desserts in the style of an African safari, as in the photo. Additionally, place baskets with exotic fruits: mango, kiwano and wild cacti. If you order an outdoor bar, then have exotic cocktails served directly in coconuts.

Photo courtesy of the Hungry Wolf event agency

The bride's bouquet

Depending on the theme of the wedding, choose the perfect bouquet for the bride:

• from variegated flowers of the same or different tones: suitable for brave and extraordinary girls;
• from wildflowers: a composition of cornflowers and daisies is suitable for a wedding in a rustic style;
• made of lilies: a symbol of femininity and purity, perfect for a historical wedding or a celebration in a nautical style;
• in kanzashi style: a Japanese bouquet of fabric ribbons provides ample opportunities for creativity and flight of fancy, and it will be stored for many years;
• made from natural elements: a composition of twigs with rose hips, St. John's wort, and rowan is suitable for a wedding in a country or retro style.

Wedding banquet timing calculation

Wedding timing allows you to plan the duration of the dinner: in what order to serve dishes, make toasts, give gifts and bring out the wedding cake.

Welcome buffet

A welcome buffet is organized if registration at the registry office takes place in the morning, and the banquet itself is planned for the evening. Guests are treated to light snacks, champagne with fruit and desserts. It lasts approximately 1 hour. You may need a little more time if guests decide to take photos in the welcome area or at the candy bar. Often a buffet is not just sweets or snacks, but an integral part of the decor of a themed wedding.

Photo courtesy of the Hungry Wolf event agency

Festive dinner

Don't forget to calculate the time for travel, photo shoot and seating of guests at tables. Suddenly someone wants to clean themselves up or take a photo together at the photo zone. Allow an extra 20 minutes for organizational issues.

Have waiters begin serving the wedding reception early. When guests take their seats, appetizers and salads will already be served on the tables. 1 hour after the start of the celebration, hot food is brought out.

End of the celebration

A dynamic banquet with a rich show program lasts on average 3-4 hours. At the end of the evening, the wedding cake is brought out. It will take another 30-40 minutes to cut the cake and treat all guests to dessert.

The culmination of the holiday will be an unusual ritual in the theme of the event. If you're having a boho wedding, you can end the evening with a mystical vow. In some nations, newlyweds plant a tree in the yard of their house. According to custom, the marriage will last as long as the tree grows - an original idea for the finale of an eco-style wedding.

Dress code for guests

How guests at the wedding will be dressed directly depends on what style of celebration is chosen and in what place it is planned to be held.
Important! The wedding style and dress code for guests are indicated in the invitation cards. In this case, it will be easier for guests to navigate the choice of outfit and not be the black sheep at the celebration.

If the wedding is planned on the sea coast or island , guests can choose clothes in a certain color scheme: the color of yellow sand, blue sky or green palm trees.

For a gangster wedding and creating the atmosphere of mafia America of the 20-30s, male guests can choose classic men's suits and complement them with a mandatory attribute - hats. For girls, tight silk dresses and headbands with feathers in the Gatsby style are suitable.

To hold a “village” wedding in a rustic style, the male half usually wears straight trousers with suspenders and light shirts. Girls choose simple straight-cut dresses and light makeup.

How to organize a wedding in a modern style

A modern wedding is designed to emphasize individuality in every detail. There is no place for time-honored traditions and customs. It happens that newlyweds who decide to hold their own holiday, unlike others, encounter fierce resistance from the older generation. How is it possible, a wedding - and without matchmaking, bride price, without a toastmaster and a car rally to relatives and memorable places, without all the more or less acquaintances and friends? Meanwhile, such weddings are gaining popularity.

The scenario of a modern wedding requires detailed thought and a creative approach. After all, the organizers are stepping into new, uncharted territory, discarding boring, ordinary competitions and entertainment, and inventing something of their own. Having given free rein to your imagination, you should maintain a sense of proportion so as not to turn the holiday into a chaotic whirlwind without meaning and rest.

Those who want to completely move away from officialdom prefer intimate weddings only for a close circle. “Themed weddings”, fashionable in 11-15, are giving way to simple, more soulful celebrations. Here it is quite appropriate to bake a wedding cake with your own hands, together with girlfriends or relatives. Gather all the really close people at cozy tables in the style of a summer cafe and just chat, have fun and dance.

Typically, the basis of a modern holiday looks like this:

• the theme and general mood are thought through;
• an original script is developed, up to a costumed role-playing performance, for example, historical or fantasy;
• comfort and convenience are put at the forefront of this celebration;
• newlyweds and guests can show off the most unexpected outfits;
• The decor and location of the wedding are limited only by imagination and financial capabilities.

There is no one-size-fits-all rule for holding a modern wedding. Each couple brings something of their own, special, corresponding to their inner world and mood. It could be a tenderly romantic wedding, or a folk-style celebration, or a deliberately casual party with complete freedom for the newlyweds and guests.

Invitations and seating cards

For guests, the wedding begins with an invitation. To encourage them to think more carefully about their image and, perhaps, to take an active part in preparing the celebration, it is necessary to take a responsible approach to creating invitations.

Perfect for a creative wedding:

• handmade cards made in a themed style;
• envelopes sealed with wax seals or scrolls;
• posters for inviting a group of colleagues or close friends;
• fridge magnet invitations;
• videos posted on YouTube or sent by email.

Don’t forget about original place cards , which should fit into the style and surprise with a non-standard appearance:

• bake yourself or order personalized cookies from the chefs, which will indicate to guests where to sit;
• purchase or instruct decorators to make seedling cards in the form of business cards on a leg with an unusual stand;
• prepare funny and delicious sandwiches, on which the names of those gathered are laid out from sausage, cheese, tomatoes and other products.

Accessories

Accessories will help add uniqueness and originality to your wedding. Handmade products are especially popular , because they are not only unique, but also filled with warmth and attention. To make them you will need imagination, a little skill and some free time.

You can create decorations for:

• bottles;
• glasses;
• cars;
• banquet hall;
• table setting.

Important! Decor should not destroy the functionality of the item.

Create beautiful covers for bottles and glasses in the same style as the theme of the wedding or decorate your car with balloons and flower arrangements that will highlight a non-standard approach to organizing the celebration. So, an unusual solution would be photographs of the newlyweds at the wedding procession. They can be printed on a printer or ordered banners from a printing house.

Decoration of the venue for the celebration

The most difficult stage in a modern wedding is thinking through the theme and bringing the idea to life. Since traditional design will have to be abandoned, it all depends on the sense of style and desires of the stewards. You can simply decorate the banquet hall with imagination, or come up with an original theme, a costume celebration in accordance with the preferences of the newlyweds.

Having realized what kind of plot you want to see at your wedding, you can begin to implement it. For decoration, use whatever comes to hand and matches the theme:

• antiques;
• ribbons;
• LED, lamp, floral, paper and fabric garlands;
• flowers, from exotic to ordinary dandelions and daisies, in bouquets, buds and garlands, live in flowerpots or cut;
• unusual dishes, vases, lamps and candelabra;
• paintings, panels, fabric draperies and various household items, including barrels, carts, their wheels, steering wheels and painted clay jugs.

If the wedding is held outdoors, then you should remember that the natural landscape itself is a unique decoration, and do not overload it with artificial elements. The wedding arch should fit harmoniously into the surrounding space. For trees, flower beds and bushes, well-placed lighting and a few garlands will be enough. It is permissible to pitch a tent or arrange a canopy over the feast area. If the holiday takes place in a wild, remote area, then ordinary tents or huts made of branches and grass will look great.

Banqueting hall

Each element in the decor of the banquet hall must correspond to the stated theme of the party, and the design should not be too flashy or tedious.

Pastels are suitable as the main shades, and they can be supplemented with bright contrasts.

Balloons

Perhaps someone will think that it is impossible to decorate the hall in an original way with the help of balloons, and they will definitely be mistaken. The variety of shapes and sizes, the ability to create shapes from balls will allow you to radically transform a standard setting. In addition, balloons are one of the most affordable design options.

Posters and photographs

Posters can be ordered from a printing house or made yourself. Friends with creative abilities will probably want to help. Photos of the bride and groom at different ages in the form of a love story, creative wishes, witty toasts and tips for guests - when decorating a banquet hall for an atypical wedding, the most daring ideas are welcomed.

Textile

Decorating spaces with fabrics has enormous potential and can transform even the most unprepossessing room. The fabric creates the effect of volume and multi-stage.

Particular attention should be paid to the decoration of tables and chairs, their legs, as well as the space behind the newlyweds.

Cake

The art of confectionery today allows you to realize almost any idea, and if you want to see an unusual dessert on the wedding table, place a special order from good craftsmen. Often it is enough just to express your wishes for experienced confectioners to offer innovative options.

Weight

Decide on the weight of the cake based on the number of invited guests : each - a piece of 200 grams. There should be enough treats for everyone!

Compound

Newlyweds should focus on their own preferences and, if possible, find out whether any of the guests are allergic to certain foods.

It is possible that the standard composition - chocolate, strawberries and nuts - will have to be abandoned in favor of other products. You should also be careful when decorating the cake with fresh flowers, which also often provoke allergies.

Advice! The creative wedding format allows you to abandon the traditional multi-tiered cake and replace it with unusual cakes or fun cupcakes.

Decor

How the cake will be decorated determines the stylistic direction of the celebration. If a multi-tiered dessert is chosen, then for a sea wedding it can be made in the form of a luxurious frigate, and for a beach party it can be turned into an edible basket with exotic fruits in jelly.

Where to hold a modern wedding

Modern wedding celebrations can be organized anywhere you wish, including in rather unexpected, extreme conditions. Usually newlyweds limit themselves to more traditional versions:

• a restaurant with an unusual, catchy design, but not in a traditional wedding setting;
• a mansion outside the city, the territory of a boarding house or hotel in a forest area. The only condition is the unusualness of the interior, breaking all the foundations;
• river or sea vessel, ferry. Even better is a sailboat in the romantic style of Assol and her scarlet sails. In this case, you will have to refrain from excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages, otherwise disaster is not far away. But such a wedding will definitely be remembered forever;
• you can use old industrial buildings, picturesque ruins or mysterious artifacts of ancient civilizations;
• roofs of high-rise buildings, attics and vast terraces, old farms and theaters, museums and cozy rural houses become relevant;
• a wedding in nature, be it a virgin forest or a crystal lake, a wild beach on the seashore or beautiful rocks, is always relevant. An extensive old garden or flower greenhouse will also work.

There can be many ideas. The main highlight in this case is the unusualness and a step away from tradition.

Decor

Useful tips will help you take into account important nuances when choosing decor for a non-standard wedding :

• Instead of the traditional rice and rose petals to greet the newlyweds, use a more original and creative solution - multi-colored confetti that is weightless and does not stain clothes;
• On the table for each guest, place prepared crossword puzzles with questions that concern young people. Guests will not get bored while waiting for snacks or the next part of the entertainment program. At the end of the wedding, you can hold a competition, the winner of which will be the one who correctly and completely solved the crossword puzzle;
• Set up a small sweet table with sweets and cakes. It will not only become a decorative decoration for a banquet, but will also delight the youngest guests;
• Order or bake cookies with fortunes hidden inside. Let all the words be warm and positive, this will not leave the guests indifferent and will be remembered for a long time.

Ideas for entertaining guests

Use non-trivial ready-made ideas for a creative wedding or come up with your own!

Sommelier

Let guests not just drink wine, but taste it. In the future, they will be able to tell which drink they liked best and discuss with refined sophistication the notes in a particular wine bouquet.

If the wedding is taking place in a flower conservatory or garden, hire a plant specialist to teach interested guests about the growing flowers and the wedding legends associated with them.

Illusionist or comedian

Call an illusionist or magician to entertain your guests. Everyone loves magic tricks , so this is a win-win option for holding an unusual celebration.

Instead of a toastmaster, you can invite a professional comedian who will fill the pauses and make guests laugh at witty jokes.

Instant photo device

The beauty of an instant photo machine installed at a wedding is that each guest will be able to immediately print out the photo and take it as a souvenir . This innovation appeared quite recently, so any of the invitees can then tell what fashionable and modern wedding they attended.

Spa

If space allows, turn your bathroom into a spa where guests can get a quick manicure, get their hair done, or even relax with a massage . This idea for a creative wedding will appeal to everyone, because it will give you the opportunity to spend quality time.

Artist

Let a cartoonist draw caricatures of each of the invitees. Find a specialist who does this professionally and funny, but in a way that is not offensive. All guests will be satisfied and grateful, and they will have funny cartoons as a memory of your day.

Original wedding tricks: ideas for celebration decor and accessories

The design of the ceremony and banquet plays a key role in how the guests will perceive the holiday. Even the smallest nuances set the tone for the celebration. Let's find out how you can implement original ideas for a wedding using decorating techniques.

Invitations with encryption or from unusual materials

There are many design options and methods for making invitations for guests. We offer you interesting wedding tricks that relate specifically to the idea. Don't write the date, time and place, but encrypt them! But don't come up with an overly complex puzzle: let it be a simple mini-quest with encrypted information.

Also pay attention to the trend of making invitations from unusual materials. For example, postcards made of transparent plastic are especially relevant in 2021. And also from past years, invitations burned on wood or plywood remain in fashion.

Perfectly round decorative elements

Geometric shapes still continue to occupy a leading position in wedding decor. Particularly relevant are circles, which are often made of wood and decorated with flowers. This could be an arch for the ceremony instead of the usual semicircular or rectangular design, a lampshade on the platform, as well as ring bouquets for the bride and her bridesmaids. Such authentic and cool wedding features will set the celebration apart: it will become more stylish and unusual.

Diffused light creating coziness

Forget about spotlights and directional bright lights at the wedding venue. Add more coziness with the help of numerous point light sources: garlands, candles, lanterns. This is a great idea for an outdoor summer wedding.

Greenery and flowers in original containers instead of standard vases

One of the interesting features in the design of modern weddings is the combination of colored glassware and greenery instead of flowers. You can also harmoniously “weave” natural stone or its imitation into this tandem, as well as wood and wildflowers. You can choose any shades, but in 2020-2021, in addition to natural ones, shades of deep blue and green are preferred.

Photo

More and more newlyweds are expressing a desire to have an original wedding instead of a traditional one. Positive emotions after such events remain for a long time not only among the heroes of the occasion, but also among the guests of the holiday.