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Listing all posts with label Christmas Wedding Ideas. Show all posts.

  1. Interactive Wedding Reception Games

    Posted by Joanne M Wotherspoon on August 22, 2010 at 3:43 PM under
    Backyard Wedding, Christmas Wedding Ideas, Do It Yourself Wedding, Event Planning, Garden Wedding, Party Planning, Wedding Planning, Wedding Reception Games, Wedding Tips
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    We've all attended traditional wedding receptions where the guests welcome and celebrate the union of loved ones, join them in dance, and share cake with them. Today’s wedding couples are looking for creative ideas, such as games, which include guest participation. 

    Encouraging guest participation is a terrific way to get people up and out of their chairs, and mingling with others.  It makes them part of the wedding celebration, rather than casual observers. 

    One game that all your guests can participate in and enjoy is “Come on Down!”  For this game, you designate an MC.  If you already have a DJ, they can probably take on this role.  Before the reception, prepare a creative list of things that the participants might have.  For example, red shoes, bow tie, painted toenails, sewing kit, etc.  Don’t forget to list some things that will enable the children to participate.

    The MC will then announce an item from the list and tell those people to “Come on Down!”  For example, “Anyone wearing a bow tie, come on down!”  The first person in that category to reach the MC will win a point for their table. 

    Points are tallied throughout the course of the game and prizes are awarded at the end. Be sure to include some obvious items in the list, such as painted toenails, or a man with a striped tie, or a child with a white dress. To add interest to the game, don’t forget to add some surprise, such as a woman with a grey suit jacket.  In most cases, this will mean that the women will have to find a man at their table who’s wearing a grey suit, grab it, and run up to the front. 

    Another fun game that would include most of your guests is a new twist on an old game of musical chairs, where the men are the chairs. The men form a line and kneel on one knee.  The women circle the “chairs”, but when the music stops, they have to find a knee to sit on. Unlike the traditional game, no "chairs" are removed.  People are eliminated when either the man or woman loses their balance.  When this happens, both the man and woman are eliminated from the game.  This game is loads of fun and gets people mixing, mingling, and laughing.  Three things you definitely want for your wedding reception. 

    For guests that have traveled any distance to attend the wedding, or haven’t met many of the guests, it’s a good idea to include a game that will give them an opportunity to get to know each other, and perhaps get even better acquainted with the bride and groom. 

    Again, you’ll need an MC, which should have an outgoing nature.  The guests are separated into two groups, which can be done with a simple count off of 1, 2, 1, 2…until the entire group is assigned a number.  The two groups then form for the duration of the game.

    The MC asks a series of questions about the bride and groom. Working as teams, the guests answer the questions as quickly as possible.  The bride and groom then verify if the answer is correct or incorrect.  During the brainstorming process, the guests will get to know each other and share some laughs.  It's also a terrific way to get to know the bride and groom!

    If you’re not certain that games will fit in with your wedding reception, consider that weddings are celebrations.  They’re meant to be fun, social events.  Not everyone enjoys dancing, so games are another option to encourage more guest participation, and make them a part of the celebration.

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    Related Links:

    Event Planning How To: 8 Affordable Entertainment Tips for your Event

    Event Planning How To: 8 Steps to a Successful Event

    Your Backyard Wedding

    Christmas Weddings

    Eco Friendly Wedding Favors

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  2. Christmas Weddings

    Posted by Joanne M Wotherspoon on October 20, 2009 at 9:54 PM under
    Christmas Wedding Decoration, Christmas Wedding Favor, Christmas Wedding Ideas, Tree Seedling Wedding Favors, Wedding Planning
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    Table Centerpieces

     

     

    A Christmas wedding can be both elegant and memorable. With November quickly approaching, now is the perfect time to consider a Christmas wedding for next year, as most couples need a year to plan their wedding,

    There are some distinct advantages to planning a holiday wedding, which many couples overlook.

    During the holiday season, even the streets are lined with beautiful decorations. If you're on a budget, a Christmas wedding can be the ideal solution. Couples can spend thousands of dollars from their wedding budget on decorations alone. Also consider that, along with the cost of the decorations, there is the time and cost involved in putting them up, taking them down, and finding a new use for them.

    Typically, churches, hotels, and banquet halls are lavishly decorated during the holiday season. All the work is already done for you and, more importantly, you have none of the expense. As well, you won't have to recycle the used decorations, so you score additional points for the environment by reducing and reusing.

    As with any wedding planning, it's important to set aside some time to do a little research. This holiday season, visit the various venues you have in mind to get a sense of how they "deck the halls", so to speak. It's also important to note that you may save some additional expense, if your wedding is just after Christmas. rates and availability may improve, if you choose a date shortly after Christmas day, and many venues leave the holiday decor in place until New Year's Eve or later. If budget is a consideration, you'll want to inquire about those points as well.

    Depending on the venue, table centerpieces may or may not be provided. When seated at a table, you're in a more intimate setting; so many couples opt for a more personalized approach by providing their own centerpieces. Some great ideas for wedding table centerpieces include spruce tree seedlings, a soy candle with fresh greenery and sprigs of berries, or miniature poinsettias. These ideas all help to create a beautiful and warm atmosphere. Simplicity equals elegance.

    Wedding guest favors are also a very important part of your table decor. For a unified look, choose favors that are meaningful and are in keeping with the season. Evergreen tree seedlings or seed favors can be easily customized to match your color scheme perfectly. They add a natural elegance to any table and will be lasting keepsakes for your family and friends. Since they also benefit the environment, they are the gift that keeps on giving.

    In the event that some of your guests are unable to plant a tree, (apartment dwellers, for example) prearrange a tree donation to a local urban greening project, such as a school, community center, or park.* They will plant and care for the trees and most likely post a dedication in your honor. Let guests know where the trees will be going and how they will be benefiting others. It's a wonderful, "feel good" gesture to commemorate your wedding celebration.

    Another terrific idea would be personalized Christmas tree ornaments. Your wedding celebration will be remembered each Christmas, when your family and friends trim their tree. If you like DIY, you can start with clear glass balls and insert a piece of parchment with a memorable quote from the two of you. Tie a ribbon on the hanger, in keeping with your color scheme, and box them individually. You can finish off the look with a glass vase, filled with plain glass ornaments, for your centerpiece.

    During the holiday season, rich colors and luxurious textures abound. We've come such a very long way from the traditional red, green, and plaid Christmas. When planning a color scheme or matching colors, I find that a set of paint swatches is very useful. I have a complete set of paint swatches, for this purpose. I use them to create complimentary color schemes for various projects including decorating and scrapbooking. Simply choose your color palette, tuck the swatches in your purse, and you're all set. You can then use those same swatches to coordinate your memory album supplies to preserve your wedding keepsakes.

    As a final consideration, since many family and friends return home for the holidays, a Christmas wedding could also benefit your guests. They save by eliminating additional travel expenses and, as an added bonus, this leaves a smaller carbon footprint. You'll want to share this special day with the ones you love so, talk to friends and family about it. Ultimately, it's your decision; but it never hurts to gain another perspective.

    *Note: To find an urban greening project in your area, try typing the following in your search engine: urban greening project in (insert city name). When I did so for our area, I immediately found a pdf listing several groups that I could contact.

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