I always tell couples that guests should walk into your wedding and think “that’s so them.” Your wedding shouldn’t feel like just anyone’s cut & paste. It should feel authentic; visual elements should tell your love story; experiences throughout the day should be things that matter to you. I’m loving the direction weddings have taken over the last few years — out-of-the-box, intentional, & exciting new immersive activities are coming to the forefront, as we are seeing couples prioritizing guest experiences & quality time with their gathered guests. Here’s a few out-of-the-box ideas that are sure to leave your guests talking about your wedding for years to come!
Permanent Jewelry
How fun would it be to know your guests left your wedding with something permanent to remember the day by? Permanent jewelry is usually super thin link bracelets, often in gold, that are sized perfectly for each individual and don’t have a clasp. I see this in a wedding day as a fun cocktail hour activity or late night vibe, think in a gorgeous lounge space set near the bar at your reception.
Guest Portraits
Preferably with a super unique & fun backdrop, courtesy of a pop-up design company like Parlor the Studio. Here’s my key stance on this: How often are any of us dressed to the nines, in full celebration mode? It’s such a nice gesture to acknowledge the effort your guests put into being present for your day – from finding childcare or a petsitter, to traveling from afar to be in attendance – not to mention getting all dressed up. What a gift for your loved ones to walk away with professional portraits, freezing in time the memory of your wedding celebration.
Tiny Tattoos
As an avid tattooed creative, this one is super fun in my eyes. There’s a sidebar to be said for the fact that I’m a big fan of tattoos with meaning, all of mine tell a story from some moment or chapter in my life. But, the same could be said of a tiny tattoo procured at a wedding! Would I do it if I was a guest? Definitely! I’ll also note how incredibly important it would be to find an artist whom you trust to create a safe environment for this! Somewhere, there’s a blurred line of elegance & over the top fun that I think would strike a super cool balance.
Tarot Readings
Just yes. What fun. It’s something so many people can get into, from so many different backgrounds. You can buy in or not, but it’s still a fun experience! Add a craft cocktail (with or without alcohol) of interesting aromatics, and this feels like the ultimate cocktail hour experience, I’m picturing it outside among cushy velvet pillows & ethereal floral arrangements. I could also see this one hit late night vibes.
Culinary Emersions
Here’s just a few we’ve curated lately, or are planning for 2025:
- Oyster bar
- Create your own crab cake
- Cannoli piping on the dance floor
- Late night bites passed on the dance floor (a few recent faves include tot nachos, hot pretzels, ice cream sandwiches, and hush puppies)
- Build your own pasta chef-manned station
- Aperol Spritz bar
Tini Towers
Champagne towers will always be a classic for me–a stack of 30 crystal coupes filled with bubbles is just a yes. But it doesn’t have to stop there! This year we’ve vibed with espresso martini towers, dirty martini towers, and Aperol spritz towers, as well as a few class champagne towers (one with sabered bottles!)
Etched Glass
A favor guests will actually use! Engraved onsite for your guests as a keepsake, whether with your wedding crest, date, names…or whatever your guests choose! Either way, a fun take-home treasure that guests are sure to enjoy!
