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There will be countless weddings in your immediate circle over the years, some will stand out and others, well, won't. It doesn't matter whether you're the first or the last of your friends to get married, you can have the most memorable party. Here are a few key steps you can take to have THAT wedding sticks out in guests' minds.
[Photo: Samm Blake]
1. Have music in your ceremony. Keep your ceremony short and sweet--nobody wants to be sitting there forever. In lieu of readings, which can be boring or awkward if the person isn't a good public speaker, hire musicians or singers to perform. While your guests won't remember *yet another* reading of Corinthians, they will definitely remember a lively performance of "Oh Happy Day!" by a gospel choir. Music is impactful like that. Choose a song that is both meaningful and recognizable so that guests can sing or clap along.
[Photo: Style Me Pretty]
2. Book a great band. The band makes the dance party and the dance party makes the wedding. Choose a band over a DJ, and even consider bands that aren't traditional wedding bands. You want a group that can ROCK! Funk bands and classic rock bands are crowd pleasers. Spend your money on a band with a horn section, not an emcee (nobody remember the guy that introduces the bridal party... everyone remembers the trumpets in "Celebration"). Make sure they know the classics, and skip the first dances if need be (it's a lull in the dance party for everyone else!).
[Photo: Dylan And Sara via Style Me Pretty]
3. Get the lighting right. You want bright, natural light for the ceremony, soft lighting (such as candles in hurricanes) for dinner, flashing lights on a dark stage (strobes, etc) for the dance party. String lighting is festive and pretty. You don't need to spend a fortune on lighting, you just need to give it some thought.
[Photo: Style Me Pretty]
4. Have large floral arrangements. Small table centerpieces are somewhat important, but what stands out most in pictures and in people's minds are large floral arrangements. A floral chuppah or canopy, for example. If you can't put giant arrangements on every table (which you actually don't need), order 3 or 4 and place them strategically, like at the buffet table, behind the altar, or at the head table.
[Photo: Style Me Pretty]
5. Get married outdoors. Weddings with a view make for incredible pictures--not just your professional pix, but all the ones your guests take and post to social media. A stunning nature view like mountains, gardens, fields, lakes or oceans mean you can spend less on decorations and lighting. The natural surroundings will speak for themselves. And they have a huge impact on how people remember the wedding.
[Photo: Jacquelynn Brynn via Style Me Pretty]
6. Skip the first dance, garter toss and other stale traditions. There are some aspects of weddings that sound good in theory when you're planning them, but in the moment of the wedding don't actually matter. People don't want to stop dancing, for example, to watch you have your first dance, father-daughter dance, etc. Let the party flow naturally (led by a great band and lighting!)--don't cause unecessary starts and stops.
[Photo: Style Me Pretty]
7. Greet guests with signature cocktails. Have your servers greet guests with trays of a signature cocktail at the reception (or ceremony if you really want to get 'em drunk!). Signature cocktails feel fun and festive, guests don't have to think about what to order, and the service is memorable, as well. This is a gesture that will go farther than you think.
[Photo: Pat Moyer]
8. Have a big finish. Even if the party is going to continue on to an after party, have a big, memorable finish at the reception for guests who are going home after (like older relatives). Fireworks, sparklers, someone playing with band, everyone dancing on the stage, a surprise guest, a big sing along, balloons, glo sticks, etc. are all fun ways to close out the party. Everyone will remember that moment when everyone was involved.
[Photo: Bliss By Mishelle]
