From betting slips to slow motion videobooths and candy carts to sparklers, here are 10 ideas your wedding guests will LOVE!
Photobooth
Give your guests a few wigs, some funny props and watch them run amok. Having a photobooth is a sure-fire way to get the party started – it’s an ice-breaker and people only love posing for a few snaps or selfies. There are lots of great Irish companies offering Photobooth services such as DigiCreativ, Photobooth Occasions and Shoot Booth – guests get to take away a fun memory from your celebration and you get a copy for your own little album too! Another option for those of you that love the idea of gathering as many images as possible from the festivities is to get guests to Instagram their snaps or you could invest in a photo sharing wedding app like Snappy Ever After, a private space guests can upload images to for your viewing pleasure. It means more fun photos and it gets guests involved to boot.
To find Photobooth Suppliers in Ireland click here!
Slow Motion Video Booth
If you’re glued to youtube on your lunch break and can’t get enough of the likes of Ebaumsworld, you will love the latest wedding craze – the slow motion videobooth from Vivid Eye Video. Catching peoples silly faces or seeing them strum their hearts out on air guitar – you’re guaranteed to have some priceless footage you’ll watch over and over again.
Betting Slips
The wedding speeches tend to get a lot of hype with guests often doing a whip around and hedging bets on how long they are going to go on for. If you want to make things official, print up some sweepstake betting cards (Appleberry Press stock them) with blank spaces so guests can fill in their name and how long they think they’ll go on for! It will get people chatting and there’s nothing quite like friendly competition. Another option is to have some advice slips on the tables for guests to fill in – questions can range from ‘where do you see us in 10 years time’ to ‘the best bit of advice for the newlyweds’. For more inspiring question ideas, see our article 10 Fun Questions to Ask Your Wedding Guests!
Candy Cart
Left: Fererro Rocher Heart via Carolyn’s Sweets | Right: Candy Cart via Karen Ball Events
There’s something about paper bags and sweets that brings that big kid out in you which is why the candy cart trend has been and continues to be amazingly popular at weddings – what’s not love about scooping jellies in to paper bags 10p bag style?! The other option is to have a giant Ferrero Rocher Love Heart Display Stand (or pyramid) from Carolyn’s Sweets waiting for guests when they arrive as a little treat with a cuppa (we want one for our desks here in WOL!) – they rotate for that extra wow factor and is sure to be a bit of a hotspot… while they last.
Find Candy Buffet Suppliers in Ireland!
Games
If you’re eager to keep guests entertained during the drinks reception you can hire games like croquet, giant Jenga and Connect 4 (or invest in a few frisbees – Tiger has some great party supplies) that will pass time and be a bit of fun. Or if you’re looking for some serious entertainment options like jugglers and stilt walkers to create a fun carnival vibe, be sure to check out entertainers.ie who can source everything form fire breathers to acrobats! If you’ve little guys that are sure to get restless during the speeches, you might like the idea of Jeca the Clown and other entertainers that can make your life that little bit easier – keeping the kids occupied while you enjoy your grub and the festivities in peace.
Live Caricatures
Left: Image by Ken Coogan Caricatures | Right: Image by Anita’s Caricatures
Combine your favours with a bit of creative entertainment and hire a caricature artist to sketch your guests on the go. Guests will walk away with a comical little piece of art that they can hang at home afterwards and a reminder of your wonderful wedding celebrations!
Sparklers
Let the inner child out with some sparklers! Whether you choose to use sparklers as part of your wedding send off, give them to guests to wave for an alfresco first dance like one of the weddingsonline gal’s did at her wedding or just have them on hand for a bit of late time entertainment when night-time falls, sparklers get people in a giddy mood and the snaps are just gorgeous. You can buy sparklers in Ireland on Glowsticks.ie – as always, play with caution (Glowticks.ie also have glow stick bracelets available to purchase – so guests can light up the dance floor later in the evening)! Or if you’re looking for big and bold, why not wow guests with an amazing firework display through Nationwide Fireworks, the perfect ending to a magical day.
Chip Van
If you fancy something more substantial than samobos or sausies come midnight, you will be oh-so tempted by The Chip Van – this cute little mobile rolls up late in the evening when guests have danced their hearts out and may be in need of some soakage with fish, chippies and lots of other treats to tempt them with. It’s also perfect for day after celebrations! For more info on this fun service, click here.
Magic Show
Shows like Derren Brown have made people look at magic it a new way – gone are the cheesy tricks and rabbits out of hats, instead charismatic entertainers like Blacktie Magician and Nemo le Magician are wowing guests with cool illusion tricks that will leave guests either giggling hilariously or gob-smacked. Another option guaranteed to get guests laughing is having a comedian on hand – they can even make it that bit more personal and have funny spiels about your unsuspecting guests! To find a comedian or magician for your wedding see our supplier directory.
Ice Cream Van
Image courtesy of Smith’s Ice Cream Van, Photo by Will O’ Reilly Photography
We all have fond childhood memories of hearing the ice cream van’s jingle in the distance as you beg your mam for some change and we don’t know about you but we still have cravings even now when we hear that familiar tune! We bet your wedding cake most of your guests will be the same – give them a nostalgic trip down memory lane by having Smith’s Ice Cream Van pull up at the kerb outside your ceremony venue or as an after dinner treat and watch the queue form. No one will be able to resist a Mr Whippy!
Main Images: Photo Props by Rima Brindamour | Candy Cart via Karen Ball Events
