Deck out your space with deck chairs. "Rather then opting for traditional wedding chairs, go for the laidback deck chair option to add colour and a relaxed feel for your guests," suggests wedding planner Sarah Gillett of Perfect Preparation (perfect-preparation.co.uk).
Alan Law
Tell your love story. Use photos or words to share your love story on your table runners for talking-point table decor. You might even incorporate the story on an aisle runner so the stirring memories of your romance literally lead you to the altar.
Bonbon Balloons
Go interactive with your entertainment. Think about novel ways of entertaining guests throughout the party. "You could opt for a guest tombola or raffle instead of favours, and a caricaturist or close-up magician entertaining guests as they arrive," suggests Elle Winsor-Grime of Inspire Hire (inspire-hire.co.uk). "How about surprising them with waiters bursting into song during the wedding breakfast? Or organise a treasure hunt or team games on the lawn."
Bonbon Balloons
Bring balloons to the party. Fill your party space with a carnival of balloons from Bonbon Balloons (bonbonballoons.com). Adorned with decorative handcrafted strings, opt for colour-pop shades, confetti-filled designs or go bespoke for fun vibes and playful photos.
I Do Film Weddings
Enjoy a singalong on film. "A fun memento and memorable alternative to a traditional video, marryoke provides a way for all your guests to get in on the action. Perform an all-time classic singalong or you and your-husband-to-be's favourite song," suggests Vicki DeBlasi from Pocketful of Dreams (pocketfulofdreams.co.uk). Try I Do Film Weddings (idofilmweddings.co.uk).
Secrets of the Heart - Dasha Caffrey
Hide messages in your cake. Wedding planners Knot & Pop (knotandpop.com) and cake designer Sugared Saffron have teamed up to create Secrets of the Heart, a cake filled with sweet surprises. Dig into the sponge centre to reveal hidden heart messages containing secrets written about the couple. Whether you opt for sentimental, silly or saucy, guests are guaranteed a very revealing sweet treat!
Secrets of the Heart - Dasha Caffre
Add a fruity twist to your cocktails. "Add fresh frozen berries on cocktail sticks to your favourite summer cocktail and watch the sun go down," suggests Tracy Edwards of Blue Fizz Events (bluefizzevents.co.uk).
Secrets of the Heart - Dasha Caffre
Serve fun food. Seeking a fun way to eat minus the formality? "Why not choose a hot dog stand or pizza? Ask your guests to pre-order their own pizza toppings on their RSVP and set up a banquet table with the extras, such as hot wings, coleslaws, salads and garlic breads," says Sarah Gillett.
Pile into a photo booth on wheels. Converted London taxi Alfie has a new lease of life as a very cool photo booth complete with fun props and top-notch cameras and printers. He makes a fabulous focal point for a vintage do. (alfietheblackcabbooth.co.uk)
Ask your guests to choose the playlist. "Add a track request for the DJ on your RSVPs - this way everyone will hear at least one song they will want to dance to!" says Jenny Phipps of Jenny Wren Weddings and Events (jennywrenweddingsandevents.co.uk).
Combine your favours and place settings. "Double up your favours and place settings to maximise that budget. For a Gatsby inspired event, we etched names into mini compact mirrors for the ladies and laser cut names onto paper-wrapped cigars for the boys," says Vicki DeBlasi of Pocketful of Dreams.
Pocketful of Dreams, Victoria Grech
Serve lavender champagne. "It's perfect for a toast - an aromatic drink evoking the romance with every sparkling sip and best enjoyed while standing close to your loved one!" comments Tracy Edwards.
Deli Pops
Cool down with an ice lolly. Treat your guests to a refreshing treat on a stick from artisan ice lolly company Deli Pops (deli-pops.co.uk). Blending delicious, natural ingredients - from seasonal fruit and herbs to spices and teas - it's a scrumptious and healthy way to cool down on a summer's day.
Travers and Brown
Wear customised Converse. "Order your very own wedding Converse trainers from converse.co.uk as dancing shoes for the reception, personalised with your new name," suggests Jenny Phipps.
Cake Top Characters
Crown your cake with a personalised topper. Cake Top Characters' (caketopcharacters.com) creations are brilliantly accurate and intricately detailed works of art - they're guaranteed to provide a talking point at your party, not to mention a wonderful keepsake.
Pocketful of Dreams, Rosie Parsons
Get creative with your place settings. "Use your place settings as an opportunity to come up with a unique and personal memento guests will be sure to keep. Paint driftwood pieces in a riot of bold colours, create mini copper sputniks out of foam balls and cocktail sticks or use vinyls to add names to plates," suggests Vicki DeBlasi.
Pocketful of Dreams, Weddings by Nicola and Glen
Encourage your guests to get arty. Ditch the guest book in favour of a more hands-on option. "Get your guests to add a little colour to a huge picture of the happy couple in the form of a custom-made paint by numbers canvas," suggest Sarah Gillett. "This will create a funky art piece, a long-lasting memento for you and a great laugh for guests."
Pocketful of Dreams
Style up your table centrepieces. "Look for more unique vessels than simple vases for your centrepieces. A phrenology head with a crown of textural florals is perfect for a natural, botanicals-inspired event. Match the idea to your respective passions in life so think test tubes for science lovers, old hubcaps for car enthusiasts or a fancy handbag for fashionistas," suggests Vicki DeBlasi.
Serve blueberry mojitos. This fruity potion will go down a treat with guests. "Serve in a rustic style glass with a raffia bow, fresh blueberries on a cocktail stick with a blue striped straw. Just add ice, a slice of lime and enjoy!" says Tracy Edwards.
Caricature by Luke Warm
Replace name places with caricatures. This makes a fun alternative to the traditional name place and a lovely keepsake to boot. "Source images of your guests from Facebook or Instagram and have them pre-drawn by a caricaturist and mounted on card for a unique name place," says Sarah Gillett.
Pocketful of Dreams, Weddings by Nicola and Glen
Treat your guests to tasty, homemade favours. "Keen cook? Create a hot sauce, bottle it, add some pretty ribbon and give them to your guests as wedding favours. Label them as a sauce made with love from the two of you. You can do the same with homemade jam," says Jenny Phipps.
Perfume your invitations. "Scenting your party invitation adds a special touch. For a secret garden themed party, spray the scent of freshly cut grass, which will be released when guests open their invitations," suggests Tracy Edwards.
Sprinkle some theatre into your celebration. "Table magicians, fire dancers, stilt walkers, singing waiters - the options available to surprise and entertain your guests are endless. A theatrical wedding is sure to be a memorable one!" says Jenny Phipps
Hire some wedding crashers. A brilliant new service from The Big Dance Company (thebigdancecompany.com) sees dancers posing as waiters during the wedding breakfast who break into dance mid-way through the reception for guaranteed wow factor.
Sam Gibson
Spoil your guests. Make each person feel special. "Personalise the day for your guests, perhaps by using favourite photos of them as their place settings. Write a little thank you note on the back of each menu to tell that person why you wanted them to be with you on your special day. Instead of favours, opt for little gifts for people to help themselves to, maybe flip-flops for tired dancing feet or pashminas for cold shoulders," says Elle Winsor-Grime.
Pocketful of Dreams, Victoria Grech
Infuse your wedding with fragrance. "Place scented floating candles in water-filled jam jars dressed in ribbons and raffia to match your colour scheme. Position them at random intervals on tables for a visually and fragrantly impacting touch," advises Tracy Edwards.
Deli Pops
Plan fun for your guests outside of the main event. "It might be a boat trip on the morning of the wedding or brunch the day after. At a festival wedding we're planning this year, guests will be invited to a foraging class on the morning of the wedding with their finds then being served as canapes during the drinks reception," comments Vicki DeBlasi.
Use vinyl records. "Music lovers? Use old records as table numbers," suggests Jenny Phipps. "Get your invitation details printed onto the label in the centre of a 7" vinyl record and let the good times roll!" adds Tracy.
PhotoMadly
Flash a splash of colour. "Introduce an explosion of colour by adding a colourful lining fabric or petticoat to the inside of your dress. Make it slightly longer so it just shows at the bottom, teasing your guests; then, when the time is right, lift it up and 'swoosh' it around to reveal!" suggests Jenny Phipps.
Make dinner time social time. "Consider engaging, interactive eating experiences that really get your guests involved; oyster shucking, wine tasting stations and tea parlours are all guaranteed to help create a memorable day," says Vicki DeBlasi.
Bodie & Eowyn
Set up a cocktail bar. "A cocktail bar with personalised drinks will help the party go with a swing. At a wedding later this year, Inspire Hire will be creating a 'Gin Garden', a fabulous terrace bar dedicated to gin cocktails, which are the bride's favourite!" says Elle Winsor-Grime.
Sam Gibson
Celebrate your hobbies. "Incorporate items that reflect your hobbies into your wedding. For example, if you are a keen surfer, use an old surfboard as a backdrop to display your table plan," says Jenny Phipps.
The Cornish Pizza Company
Serve afternoon tea with a difference. "Opt for an individual afternoon tea option of all three courses at once for your guests. Each guest could have a mini three-tier platter containing a warm starter, cold main course and a trio of desserts. Follow with a hot evening option such as a hog roast, fish and chips or pizza vans," suggests Sarah Gillett.
PhotoMadly
ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE
From twinkling lights to shimmering sequins, spread the love with these oh-so cool 'Love' signs
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1. Inspire Hire www.inspire-hire.co.uk
2. Super Duper Vintage Events www.superdupervintageevents.com
3. Pocketful of Dreams www.pocketfulofdreams.co.uk
words Rebecca Matthews
Copyright Wed magazine 2014
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