We adore the little details and touches that make your day extra special and fun so today we’ve rounded up some of our faves making their mark on the wedding scene – from super cute stickers and stamps to crisp sambo kits and the best entertainment ideas around, here 10 awesome little details and wedding trends we’re loving for 2016/2017 weddings…
1. Send a Digital Thank You (or Invitation!) to the Bridal Party
Any techies out there will love this awesome new way to invite special guests to your Big Day or say thank you! Digital Greetings are an Irish company that design wedding invitations, but with a special multi-media message embedded in them. Invite your parents or sis to your special day with their fab invites complete with picture slideshow to a soundtrack of ‘Here Comes the Bride’ or upload a video of you and your fiancé(e) asking them to join you on your special day. They also make a brilliant thank you gift and keepsake for close family or the bridal party – you could include footage from the day, some photos of you with your maids or even record a thank you video on honeymoon! Check out Digital Greetings designs here.
2. Pop a ‘Love’ Stamp or Personalised Sticker on Your Invites
Personalised stickers available from Azmari on Etsy | Love Stamps available from An Post
We’re stationery geeks so naturally enough get very excited when we see something that resembles a wedding invite come through the letterbox. And something we’re seeing more and more of is the very appropriate ‘love’ stamp – it’s a super cute touch and sets the tone for the celebrations straight away. Check out An Post’s Love stamps here. If you’re looking to get even more personal, you can pick up personalised wedding stamps or stickers on the likes of Etsy that you can use to pretty up your wedding stationery from menus to advice cards.
3. Partake in some Bridal Morning Fun
Photo from Alex & Neil’s real wedding | Photo by Michelle Prunty Photography
Brides and maids are making the most of the wedding morning by filling it with little details that will make the morning super special and we for one love it! Cute PJs, personalised hangers, a playlist full of awesome songs and of course a first look with your ladies – the wedding morning can be all sorts of fun. For more gorge ideas, check out 8 Sweet Ideas for You & Your Bridesmaids.
4. Go for an Upbeat Alternative Ceremony Exit
Photo from Maeve & Dylan’s real wedding by Tomasz Kornas Photography
The iconic confetti shot is amazing but it can be messy and some venues/locations aren’t too keen on it but worry not, there’s lots of other ways to get guests in party mode and capture some brilliant ceremony exit snaps while you’re at it! One of our faves the kids will love (that includes the big ones) are bubbles. Summery and fun, they’ll look awesome in snaps bobbing in the air, plus guests will have great craic with them as well.
11 Creative & Fun Ceremony Exit Ideas
5. Tie Celebratory Ribbons to Guests’ Cars
Photo from Ross & Amy’s real wedding by DKPHOTO
This fun little idea will make sure your guests don’t have to worry about getting lost! Leave out baskets of maps and celebratory ribbons at the back of the ceremony venue so guests can help themselves or if you’ve got some helpers that can sneak out before the ceremony ends, give guests a lovely surprise by tying streamers to their cars! It’s a great way to make everyone feel part of the celebrations and you’ll be able to spot any one going to the wedding by following the ribbons.
6. Make Sure there’s lots of Fun & Games
There can be a bit of a lull after the ceremony and before the band get started so games are the perfect filler. If you’re looking to keep it simple, think board games and some croquet or if you really want to impress/treat guests, you can hire your very own Crazy Golf course so guests can tackle this nostalgic challenge over a couple of drinks while you’re off getting snapped! Irish company Crazy Golf Hire can come to you with this totally mobile, 9 hole crazy golf course and as it works both indoors and outdoors, it’s perfect for weddings all year round. Find out more here.
7. Have Awesome Entertainment in lieu of Favours
Photo of Mark Heng Carciature Artist from Rachel & Robert’s real wedding by David Maury Photography
If you’re currently in the midst of the favours debate (will we, won’t we), you might like the idea of pooling the money you would have spent on individual thank you gifts and putting it towards something fun and entertaining like a photo booth or caricature artist. It’s a great way to keep guests entertained, and if you go the caricature route, they get a hilarious memento to take home to remember the day by. Other brilliant ideas include:
Magicians | Comedians | Singing Waiters | Irish Dancers | Ice Cream Vans
8. Honour Family with Coat of Arms
Top photo by Jess & Nate Studios | Coat of Arms Plague available from Heraldic Gifts
It’s a big day for you and your families – it’s about two families coming together so it can be nice to acknowledge this in some small way whether you get them involved in readings or include photos of your parents on their own Big Day. Another really sweet way to go about this is to include your family’s coat of arms in your stationery whether it’s a little nod to it on the back page of your ceremony booklet or even a plaque by your guest book. Heraldic Gifts Ireland specialise in high quality brass plaques that displays both family’s coat of arms/family crests and the family’s recorded motto (plus you get the two family name histories on parchment). It would make a gorgeous gift and keepsake and will really add that personal touch on the day.
9. Treat Guests to Crisp Sambo Favours
Photo via Irish Mirror
You’ve probably heard lots about a new little trend taking off – Crisp Sandwich Kits – and for very good reason! They’re a cheap and oh-so-cheerful favour or late night snack idea your guests will go mad for! This nostalgic fave is a hit with kids and adults alike and if you get a bit of a gang together, can be made on the cheap – all you need is some Tayto or King crisps, sachets of butters, wooden/plastic knifes, and some paper or plastic Ziploc style bags if you’re going the favour route (who’d say to no to a crisp sambo the morning after or even as you’re waiting for the taxi to arrive!). Or if you’re doing up batches as late night munchies, leave out a few sliced pans, some crisps, butter and cutlery on trays or in baskets and let guests help themselves. Nom.
10. Leave out Some Handy, Fun Touches for Guests
Photo from Alex & Neil’s real wedding
We love when couples have a bit of fun with their Big Day decor and this little idea is just the tip of the iceberg! Thoughtful couples are making sure guests can party in style with these fun little hangover kits to get them through the post-festivity slump with everything from sweets and coffee sachets to painkillers on hand. Other great ideas for guests includes bathroom baskets so they can help themselves to practical goodies like hairspray on the day and flip-flops/dancing shoes so the ladies can trade their heels for some flats come dance floor time. Check out more fun ideas that will be a big hit with guests here!
