Day #4 - Four Unique Ways to Include Guests in Your Wedding

From June Hoffman and Erik Michaels of Megasound

Your wedding is the celebration of you and your fiancé tying the proverbial “knot”. You invite your closest friends and family (and sometimes a few more people) to share in this unique experience. Here are fours ways to involve your guests in your wedding (more than just as spectators).

1. Create a Bouquet – ask your ushers to distribute roses (or other flowers) to the guests seated closest to the middle of the aisles. As you walk down the aisle, collect the flowers from your guests. Either have your maid of honor tie the flowers together with a ribbon when you hand them to her or have a vase available near the alter area to place the flowers in.

2. Unity Sand – as guests arrive for the ceremony, have the guest book attendant ask guests to add a pinch (or spoonful) of sand to a clear glass container. During the “unity” ceremony, have the Officiant (or other special guest) pour the “guests” sand into the "unified" container in which both bride and groom are pouring their sand.

3. Wedding Photos – ask guests to either bring or send you a copy of their wedding photo (or one of their parents or grandparents). Incorporate the photos in varying sizes and unique frames at the wedding reception. This can be done at the reception entryway or on each table as a part of the table décor by assigning someone to make certain that they have each frame put together on each table. Of course, it will be easier to have the photos ahead of time so you can put together all the frames beforehand so that they can be placed on each table at the reception during your decoration time.

4. Sparkling Departure – for evening receptions, have your DJ/MC announce (about a half an hour before the end of the reception) for guests to line up outside the reception hall. Have groomsmen distribute unlit sparklers (either short ones or a bit larger specialty size) to the guests. Then have the groomsmen light the guests sparklers as you and your groom exit and you will have a sparkling departure to a waiting limo or car. An afternoon alternative is to replace the sparklers with a helium balloon release.

Of course, there are other unique ways to involve your guests in your wedding. Just keep in mind logistics, cost, time, and having someone else available to organize things for you so that, as the bride, you can enjoy your wedding.

Happy Planning!!