Planning a wedding usually takes a lot of time, effort, and money. Booking a venue, choosing a dress, food, catering, organizing a seating plan, and sending out invitations can leave you with very little time and money left to give your wedding that quirky, personal touch that sets it apart. If you are looking for cheap and easy ideas that you can use to make your wedding unique and memorable, we have listed six of the best here!
Pre-ceremony drinks
Having drinks at the reception is essential, of course, and let’s be honest—a lot of guests will be looking forward to a few glasses of bubbly most of all! However, one way to set your wedding apart is to offer drinks to your guests before the ceremony. A glass of champagne, wine, or a cocktail can be a great start to the celebrations. Make sure not to serve drinks that are too strong—you don’t want your guests to be falling asleep or getting too lively during the ceremony! If you don’t want to serve alcohol that early, why not serve mocktails or iced tea? Non-alcoholic alternatives will also be appreciated by some guests, especially those who are driving.
Custom signs
Custom signage can be surprisingly easy and inexpensive to arrange. For example, you can get a few chalkboards and get your most artistic friend to write custom messages (for example, “this way to the wedding” or “cocktails here!”) in a stylish font. These signs can be left around the venue, or even on roads leading up to it! Custom table numbers can also add some flair to the day.
Creative wedding favors
Wedding favors are small goodies given out to guests, typically items that are useful or fun during the reception, such as bottle openers or disposable cameras. If your wedding has a particular theme, favors that relate to this theme can be fun. If your theme is a little more unusual or “out there” you may have to go beyond any traditional guide to wedding ceremonies. For example, if you have a disco-themed reception, items like novelty sunglasses or glowsticks can be entertaining!
A choreographed dance
The first dance is a special moment at any wedding and is the transition between the formality of the ceremony and the fun of the reception. If you and your partner have some dancing skills, you can really personalize this. Breaking into a choreographed dance routine can surprise and thrill your guests, and really get the party started! Why not start out with a traditional waltz and halfway through change the music and show your best Saturday Night Fever moves? You can even recruit a friend or family member to jump in on the action for an extra surprise.
“To go” gift baskets
Gift baskets to take home can be highly appreciated, as well as being inexpensive and easy to arrange. If your guests are arriving via a coach, you can leave these baskets in there, or you can leave them by the exits of the venue for guests to grab on the way out. If your guests have had a few drinks, you can put together a hangover survival kit, with water, aspirin, and multivitamins to get them going in the morning.
Karaoke after-party
Sometimes guests want to carry on the party after the venue closes. Offering an entertainment option for guests after the reception is over can be surprisingly easy. Let’s be honest, after a few drinks your guests probably won’t be too hard to impress! Booking a room at a karaoke bar, or even getting someone to host it at their place is a great way to finish the night belting out cheesy classics.
