BANQUETS, RECEPTIONS, SHOWERS & PARTIES
18 | SPRING 2018
CHICAGO WEDDING & PARTY RESOURCE
CHICAGOWEDDINGRESOURCE.COMBy Jill Jaracz, CTW Features
Your wedding is the biggest party you’ll ever
throw, but for family and friends, it might be
just one of several weddings they’re attending
this year. Make yours stand out from the
crowd with these memorable tips.
1. CEREMONIAL TOUCHES
If you have a flexible venue, try a different
configuration for your ceremony than the
traditional bride’s side, groom’s side and a
center aisle. Positioning your ceremony in
the round can make it more intimate.
Instead of having designated speakers come
to the front for their reading, have them
stand up from their seat and read from the
audience. It creates an impromptu-like
feeling and allows you to involve a handful
of people to be involved in your marital
exchange.
2. DAZZLING DESIGN
When you and your groom have a definitive
design and know how you want the day
to look, pay close attention to details like
napkins, chairs, flowers and vases to really set
the scene.
When a bride and groom pay attention to
those details and are cohesive in their design,
that’s when a venue really shines beyond its
capabilities.
Don’t limit yourselves to one big guest area.
Create your own personal nightclub with
a lounge area, couches and tables that’s
separate and distinct from the main dining
room.
3. CUSTOMIZE THE MENU
Food is so important. It’s the way to
everyone’s mind. While many venues have
packaged menus, skilled chefs can do custom
menus. If you want to recreate a favorite
meal, consult with your chef to see if it’s
doable.
Don’t be afraid to steer away from typical
wedding entrees, such as filet mignonl.
Consider serving something like gourmet
cheeseburgers and sweet potato fries for your
main course. These are unexpected comfort
foods that will make everyone talk and
definitely satisfy your crowd.
The menu itself can literally stand out if you
use a material other than traditional paper.
5 simple tips to make your wedding
the one everyone can’t stop talking about
Party
of the Year
Think about interesting textiles and materials
like wood, metal or acrylic.
4. NEXT-LEVEL DÉCOR
Take your centerpieces up a notch by
incorporating creative materials that invoke
your theme. For example, summertime-
themed centerpieces can include water beads
and sand, as opposed to the played-out trend
of burlap-wrapped mason jars.
5. KICK UP THE BEAT
You don’t have to wait until after the meal to
start jamming. Get your band or DJ to play
dance music in between courses to build
the energy at your reception. Once dinner
service is complete, everyone will then be
that much more excited to continue the party
on the dance floor.
Include all types of music during the night,
not just what you and your friends like. Make
sure your DJ plays tunes all generations will
enjoy and dance to; otherwise they might
remember that the DJ wouldn’t play anything
they wanted to hear.
5. FAREWELL SURPRISE
Send your guests off with an unexpected
treat. When they leave, at shuttle boarding
or the valet stand, have offer fun favors
like cookies and mini milk jars. The sweet
surprise will make for a great end to the
evening!.
Or give out $5 to $10 gift cards to places
such as Starbucks or a burger joint so guests
can use them as they travel home. It’s a nice
gesture to send your guests on their way and
say thank you for attending your wedding.
© CTW Features