Planning Tips :: The Wedding Exit & Rice Toss Tradition

Ever wonder why people throw rice at weddings? It's a tradition that dates back to ancient Roman times and symbolizes "showering" the bride and groom with fertility and good fotrune. These days rice isn't used as much as it once was (for many reasons), but the toss tradition itself is still going strong!

Be sure to check with your venue for any rules and regulations about what you can and can't use for your exit toss. Some require that you don't use anything that needs clean up, some don't allow fire or open flames, and some don't have any restrictions at all. No matter the rules, below is a list of exit ideas and toss ideas that are sure to wow!

Toss Ideas

Petals

Paper Airplanes

Lavender or Herbs

Popcorn

Feathers

Paper Streamers

Large Rainbow Confetti

Birdseed

Toss Alternatives

Ribbon Wands

Sparklers

Fireworks

Lighted Balloons

Lanterns

SmokeBombs

Light Sabers

Bubbles

Flags

Maracas

Bells

Getaway Car

Golf Cart

Antique Car

Luxury Car

Horse & Carriage

Specialty Bus

Rickshaw

Happy Anniversary :: Christina + Brian

Christina + Brian

July 5

Christina + Brian had an elegant Catholic church ceremony followed by a red and black reception. They included a Mexican lasso tradition as part of the wedding ceremony, as a nod to Christina's heritage. Beautiful ceremony to see! The day was topped off with the best finale of all....after dark, everyone stepped outside the reception venue to see fireworks! We provided day-of coordination and flowers for this amazing event...permanently in the memory books as a magical day! Congrats on your beautiful family Christina + Brian, and best wishes for many more years of happiness! 

 

 

6 Things Sure to Create a Blow Your Mind Event

1. A Blow Your Mind Bar
One of the things always provided at weddings is an open bar, but that doesn't mean it has to be unlimited and out of this world expensive. One idea is to concentrate on one type of liquor, such as a whiskey bar. Serve Whiskey Sours, Manhattans, Old Fashioned's, or other drinks that are whiskey based. If your area of town accommodates, you can serve local beer, wine or spirits and focus on the local attractions! Or, you could choose to serve signature cocktails along with beer and wine. A specialty drink that coincides with the theme and colors of the wedding is always noticed, and you can select one for the bride and one for the groom! Spice up the look of the bar with flowers, lighting, amazing signs, and decoration of some sort....make it the focal point so guests can appreciate your one of a kind specialty bar!

Photo by Woodard Photographic

2. Surprise!
Guests at an event love to be surprised and caught off guard with something amazing happening. Some of our weddings have seen the bride & groom arrive at the ceremony by yacht, a serenade to the bride from the groom and groomsmen, a surprise fireworks show at dusk, a late night surprise donut station for a little sugar rush to keep the party going...the possibilities are endless when the goal is to take your guests by surprise! Small touches will go a very long way!

Photo by Trejo Photography

3. Hands-On Experiences
Guests love to be part of the experience versus feeling like they're just sitting on the sidelines observing. It makes for a much more memorable event for them that way! Whether it's a video booth with fun props and signs...a finger painting style guestbook for them to get creative....a scavenger hunt printed on the cocktail hour napkins with a prize for the winners...a candy station or dessert station where guests can concoct their own delicious creation...there are so many ways to involve your guests in a fun and memorable way!

Photo by Michéll Events

4. Great Music
It's widely known that music can make or break an event. A great DJ is always a safe avenue to pursue when you want a way to keep the party going and an MC for announcements. You can also go for live music instead, which provides double duty - - music and MC for the event, along with a live show! I've seen some really incredible bands of all genres performing at weddings and events. A great band can make the evening unforgettable! You can also incorporate solo musicians through the event for the wow-factor - - a harpist welcoming guests as they arrive at the ceremony...a trumpet as the bride walks down the aisle...an acoustic guitar as the guests sip champagne at cocktail hour...

Photo by Z Media

5. Take-Home Reminders
Guests always like to take home a reminder of how wonderful your event was! It's a wonderful thank you gift to receive from the bride and groom (or the host/hostess of the party) and it gives them something to remember the special day by! They can be beautiful pre-packaged edibles that can be saved for later, or something eco-friendly such as seeds to plant and grow beautiful flowers or plants, or a photo/video booth to provide fun mementos are always popular!

Photo by Woodard Photographic

6. An Amazing Décor Focal Point
Choose one aspect of the event and make it so amazing that it takes their breath away at first glance! Make a fabulous archway or structure for the wedding ceremony. It will be center stage for all the guests to see so it's the perfect place to create an eye-catching décor statement. Old rustic doors, archways of branches and flowers, crystals and florals hanging from a tree are all great options! Choose something from the reception to grab their attention as well. A fabulously decorated over the top background for the photo booth, a gorgeous lighted backdrop for the head table or sweetheart table, even the signature bar could be the center of attention from a design stand point...whatever part of the reception is most important to you, make it amazing!

Photo by Michéll Events

5 Things Your Guests Will Love

As the hostess or host of any event, you always want to be sure to leave a wonderful lasting impression with your guests...so give them something they'll be sure to remember! There are a few things that are sure to get the guest's attention and create a lasting memory they will cherish!


Photo & Video Booth
Photo and video booths are an all-time favorite with the guests! They have tons of fun playing with the props and posing with friends, plus they get to take home a printed photo as a souvenir of the shenanigans! The bride and groom also get copies of the photos and videos, so it's fun for them to look back and watch everyone having such a great time!

Photo by EM's Event Photography

Late Night Food Surprises
Dinner is always fabulous, but it's a great idea to have some late night snacks for several reasons. Not only does it help with some of the alcohol consumed, but the guests just love a delicious surprise to give them their second wind! Food trucks, dessert stations, passed mini foods, a taco bar, a donut table, ice cream cakes....there are all sorts of options for surprising your guests with a delicious treat before they go home!

Photo by Michéll Events

Specialty Entertainment
Interactive entertainment for the guests is always something they will ooh and aah over! I've seen caricature artists and painters, cigar rollers, acrobats, tarot card readers, steel drums, live tables cruising the room, fireworks displays...think outside of the box and give your guests some entertainment that is sure to catch their eye!

Child Care
Onsite child care is a fabulous addition to be able to offer your guests. Some guests aren't able to make the event because they can't find child care, so this will take care of that problem from the beginning! I've seen the child care two ways - - same room as the reception, children had their own table / entertainment / supervision - - or a different room nearby with the same options where they could still be included in the event. Either way, parents can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that child care is available so they can relax and enjoy the event even more!

Anniversary Dance
The Anniversary Dance is a tradition that is still predominantly upheld at weddings. All married couples are invited to dance, and as the songs plays they are excused as their years of marriage pass...5 years...10 years...until the last couple dancing is the longest married couple. It's a beautiful thing to see all the married couples, and an even more beautiful thing to see the longest married couple beam as everyone cheers. They can be given a prize, or sometimes the bride chooses to give them a bouquet rather than tossing it to the single ladies.