From ‘Project Wedding’
5 Unique Wedding Ideas
http://www.projectwedding.com/ideas/309937/5-unique-wedding-ideas
Have Cocktail Hour Before the Ceremony
If you’re hosting your ceremony and reception in the same place, consider offering cocktail hour before the ceremony. It might sound totally weird, but look at the positives – your guests won’t be famished post-ceremony, and it will pretty much guarantee that everyone is on time for your walk down the aisle – even if someone arrives late to the cocktail hour, they’ll still be in their seats by the time the ceremony rolls around.
(Now My Take)
Suggesting having the cocktail hour before the ceremony is iffy. If the ceremony is late enough it’s probably the ‘better’ option. They’ll be ready for the reception dinner right after the ceremony. However, this may pose a problem to the photographer wanting to get shots of the bride and groom together. That is, if they haven’t already seen each other.
If the wedding is at early afternoon, who really wants cocktails at noon or earlier? For an earlier wedding ceremonies a brunch might be just the ticket before the ceremony.
Offer Other Entertainment
From photo booths to caricature artists to lawn games and cigar bars and more, provide your guests with an alternative to dancing – especially if your crowd isn’t into dancing. Just make sure that whatever activities you provide, they fit your personal style and work within your wedding venue!
(Now My Take)
Ah, the above entertainment suggestions are great ‘add-ons‘ to the dancing but, I wouldn’t suggest canceling a ‘good’ DJ and dance floor for a ‘cigar bar’. You’d be surprised how many people dance at those “nobody likes to dance” wedding receptions.
Serve Dinner Cocktail or Family-Style
Instead of serving a sit-down or buffet-style dinner, why not do a small plates menu featuring different stations so that guests can get up and move around throughout the reception – a great way for everyone to mix and mingle. Another idea: Serve dinner family style. Passing and sharing food will get everyone chatting and provide a light-hearted and relaxed feel
(Now My Take)
The dinner stations is a great idea for smaller wedding receptions but, if you have 100 + people at a wedding, I would suggest not doing that for many reasons.
Serving family style is a good idea for some foods, it may not be such good idea for other food categories.
Don’t Assign Seats
This works especially well if you’re having a smaller wedding and your guests all know each other well. Skip the escort cards and allow your guests to sit wherever they like. Again, this is another nice idea for a more casual and relaxed wedding.
(Now My Take)
This could become either awkward or dicey. It all sounds good on paper until you have divided room of ‘in-crowd’ vs ‘those other people’. You could also, as an alternative, assign tables for immediate family and the bridal party. You could then make the rest of the room a free-for-all.
Skip the Traditions
Bouquet toss, garter toss, long speeches – all of these “interruptions” might pause the flow of your wedding reception. Let your guests enjoy the party and keep the music going throughout the night. Keep the speeches to a minimum (save the long ones for the rehearsal dinner), and feel free to skip the bouquet and garter toss (for some alternative to the bouquet toss, click here!).
(Now My Take)
Long speeches should be reserved for the rehearsal dinner. That is true however, the maid of honor at a wedding I attended sang the couple a song at the rehearsal dinner and it was very nice for everyone that she sang it again at the wedding reception (Where it got video taped).
I agree with the wedding interruption but instead of throwing out the traditions, knock them ALL out before opening up the dance floor.
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