Best thing you've seen at a wedding

Wesser · 07-09-2017 12:57PM

Crepe cart with all the ingredients arrived at midnight. Mmmmmmm. You could as much nutella as you wanted on.

_Dara_ · 07-09-2017 01:10PM

BetsyEllen wrote: »

Something else that went down well was the inflatable instruments! I thought they were absolute cheese and cringed when she told me she wanted some. However I have to admit they were brilliant and the guests just loved them.

These can be hit and miss. I've been at weddings where they were pretty much ignored by guests.

LirW · 07-09-2017 01:13PM

Having the drink reception in Bison Bar. Beside it being nice we all had the chance to get over the long wait with some food there (no offense but sometimes the wait between ceremony and food is incredibly long). Food always keeps people entertained.

Gleisweiler · 07-09-2017 01:22PM

Its an oldie but still draws laughs.
Select 6 guests and give them two cards each with numbers 1 to 8. After the groom or best mans speech get them to hold them high as if it were a result as seen on ice skating competitions.

allybhoy · 07-09-2017 02:20PM

Of all the things we done at our wedding or seen at other peoples weddings the one that got the most compliments was I had a cigar and whiskey bar straight after my meal, bought few bottles of whiskey , bushmills \ jameson \ paddys \etc. Hotel graciously set up a table with tumblers and ice and everyone just helped themselves, they charged me 100 euro for the glasses and corkage and i bought the cigars myself... quick announcement after the meal, everyone went outside whilst the band were setting up etc.

Whatever you do, try to make sure it doesnt impact people on the dancefloor, i was at a wedding last week where there was a huge queue to use a photobooth whilst the band were on and there was nobody on the dancefloor except the bride and her mates..

BailMeOut · 07-09-2017 02:27PM

After the meal everyone was asked to go outside (venue had terraces looking over the grounds) where there was a fireworks display.

Sunny Dayz · 07-09-2017 05:09PM

Was at a wedding a few years ago when some of the guests were really good dancers. Accordingly the band played good dancing music and there were plenty of people up waltzing, jiving, Seige of Ennis etc.

gabsdot40 · 07-09-2017 07:22PM

I went to a wedding that had fireworks at the end of the night. Brilliant. Fantastic ending to the night.

MAJJ · 09-09-2017 08:03PM

Innocent123 wrote: »

Simple one but a postbox, saved chasing down a best man or groomsman with a card.
Also I second the short /no speech advice, we did this and people barely noticed

Saw a restored whisky barrel used for this also.

John_Rambo · 09-09-2017 08:07PM

Braziers with turf & wood burning away in them.

TheRiverman · 09-09-2017 09:02PM

Sunny Dayz wrote: »

Was at a wedding a few years ago when some of the guests were really good dancers. Accordingly the band played good dancing music and there were plenty of people up waltzing, jiving, Seige of Ennis etc.

Everyone to their taste,but if I was at a wedding and the Seige Of Ennis started I would be out of there fast.

fima · 09-09-2017 09:14PM

The best thing I've seen at a wedding was really simple but the brides mother had crocheted blankets and they were left outside and around the venue. It was a winter wedding in the middle of a storm so they were very welcome and I still have one.

At my own wedding everyone loved the music which was about 5 different bands along with more solo singers ... all friends, all free and the live music went on till 6 am, or so I'm told.

noel100 · 09-09-2017 09:14PM

During the summer we were at a wedding and they had an icecream van outside the church giving 99's. Nicest icecream ive had this year and nice touch. Ive never seen it done before.

Candlemania · 10-09-2017 11:58AM

I was at a wedding, where the bride was asking every man guest to dance and the groom likewise - every lady guest. I think it was a nice touch, because sometimes there are guests who never get to dance at a wedding... But I suppose it won't suit every bride and groom - you would have to be really comfortable about doing this.

I like when the band entertains the guests with different funny games/ competitions, which is a great way to make both families interact. Things like the musical chairs, etc. It's always a great laugh.

dudara · 10-09-2017 12:05PM

TheRiverman wrote: »

Everyone to their taste,but if I was at a wedding and the Seige Of Ennis started I would be out of there fast.

It's not a wedding where I'm from unless there's been a Siege of Ennis death match!

I went to a wedding in East Germany (Irish man marrying German woman) which was great fun as the Germans had all these little party games throughout, plus we all took part in the Polterabend, which was immense fun. The German contingent had all bought their own plates, but the Irish had to buy them when in Germany. I'd say we cleaned out every shop in town

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polterabend

scarepanda · 10-09-2017 12:10PM

Candlemania wrote:

I like when the band entertains the guests with different funny games/ competitions, which is a great way to make both families interact. Things like the musical chairs, etc. It's always a great laugh.

This is great craic once the band are not harassing guests to join in.

Greybottle · 10-09-2017 12:14PM

Best thing I ever saw was a fight. No ordinary fight, but one between the brides father, mother and some members of their side of the family. Happened at about 3 am, bride and groom had hit the hay an hour earlier.

Background is that the brides family are some of the most contemptible people on this island. Big farmers who made a killing selling land during the boom and rubbed their new gained wealth into everybody's faces. Awful people who reckon the county and country owes them a living and that we should all bow before them.

Showed themselves up for what they are at the wedding, a couple of people got the fight on camera (smartphone a novelty back then) and the whole parish has seen it.

Thing is the bride is a lovely woman, nothing like her parents, groom thought it hilarious.

Mint Sauce · 10-09-2017 12:19PM

One of the most recent wedding I was at, the reception was in a pub. The couple had booked it for the entire day, so just the wedding party there. Musicians prior to the meal, meal its self was a carvery style, free seating, band/DJ afterwards, pool table out the back, with a licence extension till about 1.30/2am.

Another wedding, as well as the wedding photographer, disposable cameras on each table.

Candlemania · 10-09-2017 12:22PM

scarepanda wrote: »

This is great craic once the band are not harassing guests to join in.

Of course.

The weddings I was at, it was all voluntary and usually there are always some family members / friends who are up for the craic, especially when the atmosphere becomes more relaxed after a few drinks

scarepanda · 10-09-2017 12:37PM

Candlemania wrote:

The weddings I was at, it was all voluntary and usually there are always some family members / friends who are up for the craic, especially when the atmosphere becomes more relaxed after a few drinks

That's ok so

One thing that drives me absolutely mad is the band spending 10minutes trying to get the guests to form the 'perfect' circle around the dancefloor for the first dance..... To usually fail in their attempts.

pwurple · 10-09-2017 07:05PM

There a few very memorable ones... keeping us fed and watered always impresses me. I've probably spent the morning in a hairdressers, and zoomed to whereever the wedding is. As soon as the ceremony is over, outside, and taadaa, food/drinks! yay!

PhoenixParker · 11-09-2017 09:08PM

One thing that worked well at our wedding was a pile of stupid costume props.

The sort you get in dealz and Euro shops and that sort. Big glasses, feather boas, silly hats, hula skirts . . . I bought about €50 worth and piled them in a corner. About two hours into the dancing, as it was starting to flag a little, we pulled them up and people went to town.

We got great photos without the expense or distraction of a photo booth. It moved the party up a level but at the same time if someone thought it was stupid or tacky they could just ignore it.

SarahS2013 · 13-09-2017 01:36PM

Hey guys!
Thanks for all your lovely replies

To answer the question as to what we're planning?
So 90% of our wedding party will be coming from Dublin. Therefore we're keeping it local so if people want to stay with us they can, if people want to taxi (or even walk home in some cases) they can. I didn't want to put any financial pressure on people to take a day off work and pay stupid accommodation costs for a room they won't even get to enjoy.

In essence, we're having a party! We want a chilled out relaxed day; no seating plan and 5 course Christmas dinner here! We want our guests to have fun!

So...
Ceremony in City Hall followed by champagne and canapes in City Hall itself.
We'll sneak off half way through the champagne and canapes to start getting our photos taken so we'll arrive at the venue only shortly after the guests.

Next, everyone off to the Dylan hotel. (I've a bit of a fear here that some people will pub crawl their way through town

)
Here we're going to do a Prosecco and Beer reception with a couple of rounds of h'orderves....thinking a Barbershop Quartet singing in the background.
Fire up the BBQ out on the terrace, no seating plan, everyone can eat what they want, when they want and as much or little of it as they want. Plenty of wine and beer served on us right through to the late evening.

There will be speeches because our Dads are pretty traditional but they will be on strict orders to keep them super short and quick and they'll be peppered throughout the afternoon.

Afterwards some sort of music act (NOT a traditional wedding band) and a DJ into the small hours.

Love the idea of the cigar & whiskey table...definitely going on my list!

Any feedback welcome....just make it constructive!

justback83 · 13-09-2017 01:55PM

SarahS2013 wrote: »

Hey guys!
Thanks for all your lovely replies

To answer the question as to what we're planning?
So 90% of our wedding party will be coming from Dublin. Therefore we're keeping it local so if people want to stay with us they can, if people want to taxi (or even walk home in some cases) they can. I didn't want to put any financial pressure on people to take a day off work and pay stupid accommodation costs for a room they won't even get to enjoy.

In essence, we're having a party! We want a chilled out relaxed day; no seating plan and 5 course Christmas dinner here! We want our guests to have fun!

So...
Ceremony in City Hall followed by champagne and canapes in City Hall itself.
We'll sneak off half way through the champagne and canapes to start getting our photos taken so we'll arrive at the venue only shortly after the guests.

Next, everyone off to the Dylan hotel. (I've a bit of a fear here that some people will pub crawl their way through town )
Here we're going to do a Prosecco and Beer reception with a couple of rounds of h'orderves....thinking a Barbershop Quartet singing in the background.
Fire up the BBQ out on the terrace, no seating plan, everyone can eat what they want, when they want and as much or little of it as they want. Plenty of wine and beer served on us right through to the late evening.

There will be speeches because our Dads are pretty traditional but they will be on strict orders to keep them super short and quick and they'll be peppered throughout the afternoon.

Afterwards some sort of music act (NOT a traditional wedding band) and a DJ into the small hours.

Love the idea of the cigar & whiskey table...definitely going on my list!

Any feedback welcome....just make it constructive!

Can I come?!

Cunning Stunt · 13-09-2017 02:23PM

I was at a wedding once here in Denmark, where the tables were arranged in rows, kind of like a church layout, so a couple of rows of rectangular tables on the left and same on the right. The bride and groom sat at the top table, kind of in the middle, if you can imagine where the altar would be in a church - with their other top-table guests on either side of them.

During the evening, they 'disconnected' their middle part of the top table and moved it down row by row, so making up the gap between the left and the right tables, each time - so that they got to sit at every row and have a drink with the guests there.

I probably explained it a#rseways, but I thought it was a really nice idea!

EDIT - probably works better in the DK weddings because they basically sit and eat for HOURS

smallgarden · 13-09-2017 03:51PM

silent disco, I love them! more people stayed around later in the night as they didn't have to try talk over a dj. also could run later without disturbing other guests

razorblunt · 14-09-2017 09:25AM

Any wedding that offers an alternative to Processo or Champage when you arrive at the venue is ok in my book.

I've seen glasses of beer, bottles of beer, Jameson and Ginger all offered and greatly received. My wife is disgusted by this as she doesn't get a second of fizz from me!

I've also seen the GoPro on a bottle of whiskey, enjoyed that. Pretty soon I'd say everyone will do it.

SarahS2013 · 14-09-2017 09:45AM

Thanks guys.

Silent disco really not our thing, thanks though!

pooch90 · 14-09-2017 02:55PM

If you're not set on the barbershop quartet, have a look at the Kooky Ukes, members of Best Men band and are great. Big talking point at our wedding.

dancingqueen · 14-09-2017 03:07PM

scarepanda wrote: »

That's ok so

One thing that drives me absolutely mad is the band spending 10minutes trying to get the guests to form the 'perfect' circle around the dancefloor for the first dance..... To usually fail in their attempts.

Unfortunately bands tend to take instruction from their employer.. either the venue or the bride and groom.

Best thing you've seen at a wedding

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