No, we’re not talking about father/daughter, mother/son, and wedding-party-conga-line. So if we aren’t talking traditional reception dances that follow the first one, where are we going with this? Well, where does your life go after your wedding? Onward – except now as a pair. So instead of seeing your moment in the ballroom spotlight as simply the first dance of the evening, see it for what it really is: the first dance of your married lives. And if there’s a first, that means there are supposed to be more. You can dance anywhere – and you should. Even the grocery store, should you happen to hear an elevator version of your wedding song. But any song will do. Just don’t save it for other weddings. Be that couple everybody yearns to be – the ones who create romance out of thin air. It doesn’t matter if no one else joins in, like they say – dance like nobody’s watching. Pretty much the polar opposite of that first time, but more romantic without Uncle Sheldon and his giant Nikon.
So stay connected by having a second dance. And a third. And definitely jump on the occasional conga line.
Oh the immortal “Wouldn’t It Be Cool If.” Sometimes the ideas are old as the hills, and some are genuinely unique and fun. Then there is one last category: I call it “teetering.” These are the ideas that given a slight nudge with a bendy straw would fall into the chasm of “over my dead body.” But there’s a voice in my ear: done right, it could be utterly breathtaking/incredible/unforgettable.
In the end, it is not the planner who decides. If the bride and groom love the idea, it grows wings. So, bride and groom. How do you decide if your grand vision will be a rousing success, like this wedding entrance routine that went viral, warming hearts across the globe, or squirm inducing either now, or in ten years when you look back on this, the biggest moment of your life as a couple?
Things to think through / Questions to ask yourself:
1. Check the health of your motive. Is the amazing idea designed with the aim of becoming a viral video sensation? Some media pundits are starting to find this trend really tiresome, but that’s neither here nor there. Back to you. Is You-Tube fame-seeking really the right frame of mind for beginning your marriage? Don’t turn your rite of passage into a flash mob. Let it be meaningful.
2. Are you really and truly equally committed to the grand entrance via trapeze? Or is one partner Barnum and Bailey bound and the other donning the sequins to be agreeable? Talk to each others’ family and friends to get honest answers. You need to be a team.
3. Will your ‘Big Idea’ upset anyone in either of your families? Yes – it’s your day and all that, but weddings are intense moments as far as family dynamics go – and you are laying the groundwork for relationships that are yours to have and to hold, for better and for worse. Let’s keep them for better by not ticking off your Mother In Law (on film no less) on day one.
4. Try to fast forward 5, 10, 15 years. Are you going to regret it? Weddings, at their essence, are timeless. Fashion can date them (<cough> Princess Di) and so can gimmicky touches. Like having a computer for an officiant. When you reminisce about your wedding through the years, let it be “wasn’t it wonderful?” not “what were we thinking?”
5. Keep in mind what everyone’s there for and KISS. That stands for Keep It Simple, Silly! Everyone is coming to your wedding to share an important moment in your lives. The “wow” factor really isn’t that crucial. If you relax, and enjoy each other, everyone present will follow suit. No bells, whistles or computer generated officiants required
Avoiding the rogue place card shuffler in a pretty way? Really! Check out this idea from Emmaline Bride – a blog I follow on Networked Blogs – they handles this quite brilliantly with wonderful pics of their offerings. Had to share. (BTW Networked Blogs is a terrific way to have all your blog fun delivered straight to your Facebook page. Check it out!)
Emmeline Brides is a fun source of pretty DIY inspiration and a sort of Mini-Etsy: curated handmade wedding related items. Etsy can be super overwhelming so it’s great to have someone pick out the good stuff. On to Seating Chart Wisdom!
Let’s face it: guests like to have a seat, and not just to have a place to sit down for dinner. Since each guest invited is special to you, he or she should have a seat set aside just for them. Going to a wedding with free-for-all seating makes guests anxious. It reminds me of grade school when teachers have you pick a seat in the cafeteria, so everyone rushes to grab a seat by his or her best friend before the good seats are taken. 😉 Guests will be forced to tackle the same task if you eliminate a valuable wedding day resource: the wedding seating chart.
A wedding seating chart is similar to escort cards but requires less work on your behalf. All you need to do is finalize where each guest will sit based on your floor plan. Then, the seating chart is printed onto one page to be framed or placed onto an easel for easy viewing by guests. This eliminates the task of hand-writing or printing each guest’s name (and his or her guest) onto a card, folding it, and placing onto a table in alphabetical order. Instead, this easy peasy alternative keeps things simple and gives guests an easy-to-spot seating chart to take their seats quickly. We love these custom seating charts by The Seating Chart Boutique, featured artisan in The Marketplace! Just order your seating chart and frame! Here are a few of our favorite designs…
Thanks bloggers @ Emmaline!
These seating charts are available through Emmaline Bride’s Marketplace. Pick one, take your seat, and get planning!
