Whether it’s your own, or that of a friend or family member, these days we all (kind of) know what to expect to some degree when it comes to attending a wedding. There are certain traditions in every wedding celebration that will forever remain solid, and always be an essential part of that occasion (we’re talking vowels, speeches, cake cutting, first dance etc.) that we know is all a guarantee…. HOWEVER…. it really is a breath of fresh air to attend one of those rare weddings that literally takes your breath away! A party like no other with all the benefits of the big shebang, the trimmings of a timeless love story celebrated with style & sophistication yet with an element of surprise that leaves the sweetest and most unexpected taste for the guests lucky enough to be there!
What makes these weddings so mind-blowing and unique you ask? Well after many years of working in this industry, allow us to share our top 6 secrets that we feel have made for mind-blowing weddings:
Venue
You may think this is an obvious choice for the list however it’s not what you might think.
One thing we have noticed over the years, that the couples who tend to host some of the most memorable weddings is they choose a venue that is representative of who THEY are as a couple and what they like. For eg: a couple who spends a large amount of their leisure time hanging out at the beach, might opt for a coastal style celebration that incorporates some of the beachy elements within an environment that is fun, casual, relaxed and has a rustic outdoor vibe to it. Or if it’s something more opulent and classic, than hosting a more formal affair with timeless architecture and a indoor ballroom style decor to match is always a winner. Either way, ensuring that the space you choose feels like the ‘right fit’ for the mood you wish to set for the rest of the evening.
Put your own stamp on it
More and more, couples are wanting to make their weddings as personalised as possible so that their guests feel like they have really been a part of something unique and special. One effective and increasingly popular way to do this is to create customised merchandise for your wedding day, for e.g.: guest signing book with images featured of you both taken from an earlier ‘engagement style’ shoot or signage, table gifts, photo booth props, the list goes on.
Be creative with your food & beverage selections
If it’s seafood you and your fiancé are both obsessed with, then serve seafood. If your more of a wood fried meats and buffet style person then be sure to try to offer this to your guests. The reason the method of serving ‘soul food’ works wonders towards hosting a mind-blowing wedding is that your food is a reflection of you both. Your guests will be blown away by creative and well thought out menu selections that really scream who the ‘bride and groom’ are. We recently planned and photographed a wedding for a gorgeous couple who hosted their day at their home nestled in the Gold Coast hinterlands and they opted to have it privately catered by some of the best bespoke event caterers around…”Anise Events” Brendan sat with them and custom created their menu of their dreams, from seared scallops to start right through to wood friend meats and fresh seafood served in a banquet style for their intimate wedding. It was such a hit with their guests as the food shone bright and it was a lavish treat for everyone to enjoy.
Celebrate with a bang
Now this next idea is certainly not for the faint hearted but it is sure to go down an absolute treat with your guests as well allowing your photographer to capture some incredible, show stopping images for you to cherish forever.
Fireworks! You can arrange for these through a number of approved companies who are permitted to release them for events such as weddings, engagements and Christmas parties. Commonly an unexpected surprise for your guests as the bride and groom slice into their wedding cake for the very first time, it is certainly one way to impress your guests and really get the party going.
Entertainment that has personality
We’ve all heard of the ‘Wedding singer horror stories’ and possibly seen the movie too – lets face it – there are a lot of bad wedding entertainers out there and you DON’T want to be one of those couples who makes your guests endure listening to 6+ hours of that at your reception. So…ask yourself this question…. would you pay money to see this act outside of a wedding? If the answer is yes, then go for it. There is something to be said for a dynamic wedding band or singer that really gets the crowd going. People let their hair down, get their dance shoes on and just have fun – this is what weddings are all about right?
Some of the coolest weddings we’ve worked at have not only provided incredible musical and instrumental entertainment but also various traditional acts such as Chinese Dragon dancing and Brazilian Carnival dancers. Your guests will be mind blown and you won’t be able to wipe the smiles off their faces.
Same day edit
This is a biggie and another major crown pleaser! People love to feel involved and when you offer an interactive experience at your actual wedding reception, your guests will be utterly thrilled to see how your day played out unfolding right in front of their eyes during a ‘same day edit’ that is showcased at your reception via a large screen projector.
Hugely popular with today’s generation and many of our modern brides and grooms, it’s INSTANT gratification and not only do ‘Uncle Joe and Aunty Jane’ get a bit of a kick from seeing themselves up on the big screen – congratulating the bride and groom strait after they walked down the isle, they can also re-live the happiness that was experienced earlier in the day. If you ask us, that is one SURE way to blow the minds of your guests and leave long lasting, joyful memories of your big day in their minds forever.
