By Simon Daykin

Two things can happen if you clink your glass long and hard enough at a wedding reception. The bride and groom will kiss, or the glass will break. I don’t know about you, but I HATE glass clinking, I mean I cannot even put into words how much I detest this cliché of a tradition. Luckily, a lot of my clients feel the same way and are looking into new ideas for the old kissing game thing.

There are tons of options out there but I’m going to give you the 3 that I like the best. If none of these get you going, feel free to hit the ‘net and look for alternatives to the clinking of glasses (Coz glass clinking sucks!)

This Is How We Do It

At our wedding, we pre-selected a bunch of married couples (letting them know ahead of time of course) and called upon them to show us how it’s done. They would kiss and then my wife and I had to mimic that kiss. It started out pretty simple but as the dinner and speeches progressed and the wine took effect, we had some pretty crazy stuff going on. I suggest spacing out the kissing and having your MC announce the couple, introduce them and then have them kiss. Also, let them know to keep it PG-13 tops, you may have kids there and they don’t need to see your Uncle go all 9 ½ weeks on his wife!

Are You Questioning Me?

Another alternative to the dreaded glass clinking can be asking the couple questions related to their life together so far or questions in general. You can certainly ask trivial pursuit questions, but get a few different editions, add in some cool ones, Lord of the Rings, Movie stuff, Music stuff and the original version as well. If the couple gets the answer right, they are in the clear, if they answer wrong…It’s kissin’ time! I love when relatives and friends get up to the mic, introduce themselves and ask one of the couple a question about the other. These questions can be from their childhood, the time they were dating etc. No questions about how many people the other person has slept with or dated, keep it specifically to the couple. I had a grandfather get up and ask the bride what kind of sandwich the groom used to make every day when he came home from school…and she got it right!!!

Dance Rummy, Dance!

My final suggestion to spare your glassware is this…there is always a dance floor at a wedding, so let’s use it shall we? Sure it gets used later in the night but let’s get people out there sooner. Have the DJ bring a cordless mic (most include this anyway). Have the MC announce that glass clinking will get you nowhere and if you want the couple to kiss you have these options, you can take to the dance floor and show the couple a few fancy moves, you can sing them a love song or you can share a memory you have of the couple (content appropriate of course) What’s great is you can have the videographer record all this and it makes a great addition to the wedding video. At the end of each performance, he couple has to kiss and the glassware is still intact.

Simon’s Gutsy Groom Advice

Some traditions are great, “You may now kiss the bride” should certainly be included in your wedding. But clinking glasses, I don’t think so. The only traditions you should be concerned about are the traditions you are going to start. Don’t include something in your wedding just because the websites or your family says that’s the way it is supposed to be. Don’t be afraid to start new traditions, add new ideas into your wedding. As long as you like them, it’s all good. It is your wedding day after all. I pride myself on working with my couples to get everything they want added into the special day and make sure it is a combination of their personalities and the things they want to bring into the wedding.

Click here to book a free consultation and get started planning your one of a kind wedding, you want your wedding to stand out in the sea of weddings that happen every year. You want your guests walking away from your wedding saying how great and original it was and then next year they will be comparing everyone else’s wedding to yours. And we can make that happen for you.

Sure, everyone has champagne at the cocktail hour…BORING! Add some of your personality by designing your own signature drink for your guests. This is not a scotch bar, or tequila tasting bar, this is drink that you have created (or borrowed) specifically for your wedding. Choosing the drink can be just as much fun as drinking it. If you are a Vodka lover, add some vodka into the mix, maybe you can have the drink match your wedding colours or the theme of the wedding.

Ice, Ice Baby

I like my drinks cold, but I dislike ice in my drink. Martini’s are cold and they have no ice in them, that’s because they are mixed with the ice, then poured out. Well that’s pretty standard fare huh. Let’s take that up a notch. Gentlemen, I present to you the Ice Luge. It’s cooler that a plain ice sculpture and booze comes out of it! Cold booze! Plus you can really get creative with the design, just remember to run it by your fiancé first…she may not appreciate an ice bust of her and the booze comes out of the nose. You can work the design of the luge into your theme, we did a wedding where the couple loved to swing dance and music was a big part of the wedding so we had a saxophone ice luge designed for them.

It’s A Shot, But Now It’s A Cocktail

This is a trick we used at our wedding, we had a shot that both my wife and I loved. But it isn’t too classy to be doing shots at the cocktail hour. So we simply increased the amounts and turned it into a cocktail. It was Jagermeister, peach schnapps and cranberry juice. We had it mixed in a martini shaker (so it’s cold without ice) and served either in a martini glass or a rock glass. It tasted great, was 1 of our signature drinks and we called it the “Groomsman Surprise”. So if there is a mixed shot you like, grab the ingredients and turn it into cocktail…and no, adding 3 ounces to your 1 ounce shot of tequila and putting it in a bigger glass does not make it a cocktail fellas.

His & Hers & Theirs

Now, there is no rule that says you can only have 1 signature drink. You can have as many as you like without it getting out of hand. I would max it out at 4. This way you can have a drink named for the groom, one for the bride and one for each bridal party. You could do 3 and have one for the couple and one for each of the bridal parties. Keep it fun, name them something silly (not vulgar though), maybe have a separate menu printed up to go on the bar stating the name and ingredients of your signature drinks.

Simon’s Gutsy Groom Advice

Signature drinks are great at a cocktail hour, they get people talking, they taste good and they will leave an impression on your guests. I find a lot of people talking about the signature drink and what the name was and did you have one??? Plus with posting your wedding photos on Facebook now, people can tag the drink if they want. It really just opens up a lot of possibilities for fun and adding that little bit of unique to your wedding day.

You could also incorporate this into your “man shower”, have your guys bring their favorite drink recipes with them and then mix the drinks, pick a winner or 2 and hand out the prizes. Just make sure that after you’re done tasting, you have places for the guys to crash, so they don’t drink & drive.

There are few things celebrities can do without the whole world watching.  So, when they get married, we can usually expect their ceremonies and parties to be absolutely extravagant.  Below is a look at some of the recent celebrity marriages and some of the creative things they did to make their occasion extra special.

Timbaland & Monique Idlett  Four-hundred guests attended the ceremony held on a private island off of Aruba.  To add to the “paradise island” effect, the tables at the reception were decorated with vases full of white sand, irises, dendrobium orchids, ranunculus, ginestra and roses in five different colors.

Christina Moore & John Ducey  To make sure their wedding was picture perfect, these two decided to use… pictures!  Simple yet bold, their deep red, black and white color scheme was accented with white phalenopsis orchids, red votive candles and candid photos of the couple, which also served as place cards for their 120 guests.  Instead of the traditional cake, they opted for a dessert bar and placed a digital picture frame on top, which showcased wedding photos of family and friends.  They even used picture frames to display their cocktail menu!

Andrew Firestone & Ivana Bozilovic  Pure elegance emanated form this reception, which was held at Crossroads, the Firestone family home in Los Olivos, California.  Planners and designers worked together to transform a pole barn into a breathtaking indoor/outdoor ballroom.  The tables were all draped in ivory satin linen, and above the head table were five chandeliers, suspended by drop chains that were wrapped in Tiffany blue fabric.  The vases on all of the guest tables were overflowing with hydrangeas, and the perimeter was covered in ivory chiffon fabric, with an opening in one side that led to the outdoor dance, which was overlooked by a 100-year-old tree.  Can you say… romantic?

Source: http://www.instyleweddings.com

When it comes to wedding-day transportation, the options are endless.  So where do you begin?  Well, the key to finding the right transportation is to make it as convenient as possible for everyone involved.  Here are a few fun options to consider:

Horse & Carriage It doesn’t get much more romantic than a horse-drawn vehicle.  Just make sure you won’t be traveling too far to your reception, as this is also one of the slowest options!

Car Not just any car, though.  Get creative and choose one that fits your wedding venue.  Sports cars, vintage autos or town cars may be options you’ll want to consider. 

Limo The most classic of wedding rides may also be one of the most practical.  If you want the whole wedding party involved, limos usually seat 8-10 people, and some have audio players, TVs, stocked bars and even mini refrigerators!  You’ll really feel like a VIP!

Party Bus Take the limo and multiply it by 10 and you have a party bus!  This is the perfect choice for large party crowds, and it can also be great after-party transportation!

Some things to consider: Before you start your transportation search, make sure there are no vehicle restrictions at your wedding ceremony or reception sites, and make a list of how many people you will be needing to transport.  When you get a little closer to the big day, take a test drive on your own to plan the best route.  The day of, make sure you have detailed directions, maps and contact numbers to give to your driver.

Today’s brides have LOTS of choices! Feeling overwhelmed when it comes to picking a reception location? You just need a few pointers to help you choose a reception location that’s perfect for you. Follow these easy steps and you will be well on your way to the wedding of your dreams.

Gosh Mom! How Did You Decide?

Things are a little different now from when your mom got married. With so many choices, even the most decisive of brides can get a little unnerved. Do you have your reception in a hall or hotel? Art gallery or rustic ranch? Outside under a tent or indoors with a tented ceiling?

Ice in Our Drinks Or Ice Sculpture: What Can My Budget Handle?

Start by thinking of your budget. Ladies, keep in mind that while this is an extremely important day, you don’t want to be paying for it (literally) for the next 20 years. Narrow your selections down to ones that will be appropriate to your budget and won’t break the bank.

Express Yourself!

Next, think about what kind of wedding you would like to have. Do you want it to be classic, funky, unique? Don’t choose a reception venue based on your parents’ or your friends’ expectations. Choose a location that reflects the personalities of both you and your husband-to-be. Remember that this is your special day and you need to pick a spot that makes you happy and excited.

Never Judge A Location By Its Cover

With the exception of destination weddings, once you have narrowed down a group of reception venue finalists, you should ALWAYS go for a visit. Don’t just trust the pictures and descriptions from the websites as they do not show every aspect of a venue. It is important to go and see the room, the facilities, the area surrounding, and meet the event manager.

You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling

Don’t feel bad if everything seems perfect but you just don’t get a good “feeling” about the place. If you have a bad feeling, then it is not the right location for you, and don’t let your fiancé tease you about it because a woman’s intuition is never wrong!

Let’s Get Down To Business

You should also feel comfortable with the event manager as you will be working closely with them over the next couple of months. Here are 9 questions to ask a potential venue:

1. Is there a room minimum (a set amount you must spend on food and beverage to use that room) or a room rental charge?
2. What time can you get into the room to decorate?
3. Can you tear down the next day or does it have to be that night?
4. What decorating regulations do they have?
5. What is the room capacity with a dance floor and with buffet tables (these things will change a venue’s room capacity if you plan on having them)?
6. Do you have to use their catering services? Even for the cake?
7. Can you bring in your own liquor? Does that mean there is a corkage fee and/or a bartender charge?
8. Will they provide all of the tables, chairs and linens? What colors are they?
9. What time does your party need to end?

Say It With Chair Covers Or Say It With Open Bar

Sit down with your fiancé and figure out your wedding priorities. Sort out what it is that you absolutely must have on your wedding day and what you can live without. This will not only help you when choosing a reception location but it will help you with all of your other wedding choices as well. Do you really want a plated meal at dinner if it means you can’t afford a champagne toast?

Ciara’s Bridal Advice

Once you have chosen a reception location and booked it, you are well on your way to a wonderful wedding. Just remember ladies, no matter where you have your wedding reception, you will have a fabulous evening with your new husband surrounded by family and friends. So start researching venues now! Make a list of the sites you like and tackle it. The sooner you find a place to get married the sooner that stress will be gone. If you don’t know where to start or don’t even know what options are out there I can help you. I can help you find a venue that you may have never even heard of before that is just perfect for your style and your budget. Click here virginia@fireflyoccasions.com to book a meeting with me. 

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Generally at most weddings there will be a guestbook to sign and write a note to the bride and groom. Instead of having just a guest book to sign try to make things a little fun and incorporate photos with the book. No doubt there will always be a photographer at the wedding but this way it is a little more personal and when you take the pictures there can be a box etc to put them in and when the wedding is over the bride and groom get to see what everyone got up to! The guests can also write a message under the picture they take in case they forget to fill out the guestbook.

Another great idea is disposable cameras placed on each table.. I found a great website that sells cameras and you choose the design on the camera. Best Cameras has a wide range of designs that you can order with specially designed bride and groom cameras. I think this is a great idea and you will have so many memories from all your guests!

Our friends over at The Wedding Lens (put in link) have taken this into the digital age. Your guests can take shots on their digital cameras and then you give them your personal wedding page to upload all their photos. Then you actually get to see your photos rather than hoping that you come across them on facebook.

I coordinated an East Indian wedding reception the other day and I wanted to share with you 2 videos from the event.

The first is this adorable little girl who danced up a storm as one of the singers performed. I really love how she knows all the moves. I think things like this really make weddings so special.

The next video I want to share is a performance by Bhangra Republic. Bhangra is Punjabi dance that is often done at weddings. I believe that Daankara is the specific dance that is done at weddings to celebrate. Although Bhangra started as a folk dance you can see that it has been modernized.