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9 Creative Reception Activities Your Guests Will Love

March 30, 2017 | Junebug Weddings

photos by Let’s Frolic Together

We love a wedding that really lets the couple’s personality shine. From hand-written vows to hand-me-down wedding details, there are so many ways to personalize your day! One aspect of the wedding where you can really turn the volume up is your reception. By 2017, we’ve all been to at least one wedding with a photo booth setup. While there are always new, inventive ways to have a photo booth (in a VW bus! with face-in-hole cutouts of the bride and groom! making use of an stylish lounge area!), we started thinking of reception activities beyond the booth. If you’re looking for ideas to entertain your guests between dinner and dancing, these creative reception activities are for you!

Typewriter Poetry

Much like you would book a DJ or emcee to entertain your reception, there are talented typewriter poets for hire! Give your guests the gift of words with a poem written on the spot, just for them. We guarantee your guests will be raving about this wedding take-away for years to come!

P.S. We highly recommend checking out The Haiku Guys + Gals for amazing on-the-spot typewriter haikus at your wedding!

photo by UNIQUE LAPIN Photography; see more from this wedding here!

Live Painting

You’ve obviously got an incredible photographer to capture each little moment throughout your day, but there is another kind of artist that can capture your wedding in a unique way! Hiring a live artist to paint or draw a scene from your reception is impossibly classy. Not only will your guests be wowed as they sneak peeks at the masterpiece throughout your affair, but you receive a one-of-a-kind canvas to display in your home that was created in full during your wedding.

photo by Dan Stewart Photography, live watercolor artist Lisa Flahive Fine Art; see more from this wedding here!

Synchronized Swimmers

Does your reception venue come with a pool? String lights and colorful floaties are eye-catching, but you’ll really turn heads with a team of synchronized swimmers! Words can’t really express the delight of seeing a group of brightly-suited dancers take on the water in sync, so we’ll let these Palm Springs wedding photos below do the talking!

photos by Let’s Frolic Together

Karaoke

Confession time: we are huge fans of karaoke here at Junebug Weddings. That said, we’re dying for an invite to a wedding reception with karaoke! What better way to get guests involved in the fun than belting out “Don’t Stop Believing” as one massive group?

photo by Sam Hurd Photography; see more from this wedding here!

Tattoo Station (Temporary or Real!)

Whether your guests are a heavily tattooed crowd or don’t mind a little temporary body art, a tattoo station is an activity guests won’t soon forget! Give your guests something they can take home with them to remember your day by. The quickly fading temporary tattoos may not last as long as a permanent one, but your guests are sure to remember either experience as creative and totally YOU!

photos by Alixann Loosle Photography, event planning by Bella and Co.; see more from this wedding here!

photos by Bruno Rezza, tattoo artist Slim Brown; see more from this wedding here!

S’mores

When it comes to DIY dessert, there’s no option more delicious than s’mores! From roasting marshmallows together over an open fire pit to crafting their perfect treat, guests will have way more fun with dessert when they get to play with their food. Step up the s’mores game with Reese’s, cinnamon sugar graham crackers, and flavored marshmallows.

photo by Jamie Jones Photography; see more from this wedding here!

Mixologist Lessons

Having a signature cocktail is always a lovely personal touch to add to your reception. Now, imagine that all of your wedding guests left the party knowing how to recreate it at home? Rather than simply hiring a bartender for your event, consider booking a mixologist to provide craft cocktail lessons on the spot. Who doesn’t love a little learning with their liquor?

photo by Myles Katherine, styling by CK Wedding and Event Design, cocktails by Mint & Mirth; see more from this feature here!

Tarot Reading

Weddings are all about celebrating the next chapter in your life. Having a tarot card reader at your reception fits in perfectly, getting your guests in the mindset of thinking ahead to what their own future holds. Especially if your wedding reception has a bohemian or eclectic aesthetic, a tarot reading could be your perfect reception activity!

photo by Peyton Rainey Photography and Chelsea Denise Photography; see more from this wedding inspiration shoot here!

Cigar Lounge

A cigar lounge during your reception provides a perfectly relaxing getaway for guests from the strobe lights of the dance floor. Many guests may have never experienced a cigar before, making this both a unique wedding activity and a crossed-off bucket list item.

photo by The Schultzes; see more from this wedding here!

Looking for more wedding reception ideas? Check out these wedding planning inspiration posts:

Quiz: Which First Dance Song Should You Choose?

8 Ways to Make Time for Yourselves in Your Wedding Day Timeline

Use This Wedding Decor Checklist to Help You Nail Every Detail

How Not to Get Sucked Into a Pinterest Wedding

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Eco-Friendly Wedding in Australia’s Blue Mountains

March 30, 2017 | Junebug Weddings

If there’s one thing we love more than weddings, it’s saving the earth – and this couple’s big day combines both! Sophie and Matt always suspected a large wedding was in the books for them, but they also wanted to be environmentally conscious about the materials they used. The couple thoughtfully incorporated locally sourced décor materials and opted to compost and repurpose as many items as they could once the wedding was over. Zoe Morley Photography captured every stunning detail moment of this eco-friendly wedding, including the elegant hanging chandelier planters that Sophie collaborated on with her florist!

The Couple:

Sophie and Matt

The Wedding:

St. Gregory’s Church & Chapel Hill Retreat, New South Wales, Australia

My brother (the Bridesman), played the organ as I walked down the aisle which was very special. He also played while one of my Bridesmaids sung ‘Make You Feel My Love’, while we signed the register.

Our ‘Ecofetti’ was so much fun! We had no idea it was going to have such an impact on us and our guests. Definitely one of the most excitable parts of the day!

I bought my dress about 10 months before the wedding – it was one of the first things I did for the wedding. The dress was very me – a vintage feel with lots of embellishment, but also quite understated at the same time. I hadn’t seen many dresses like it and all I knew was that I wanted to wear something unique! It didn’t have much of a train so I decided to buy the overskirt to wear to the ceremony, and I felt like a traditional bride and then enjoyed my sassy wedding dress post ceremony. It was perfect!

I had been recommended Zoe Morley Photography and looked her up straight away. I had never seen photos like Zoe’s – there’s many fantastic photographers out there and I looked at a lot of them, however no photos spoke to me like hers did! They have a certain feeling to them; with each photo its like you’re there in the moment. She has an incredible ability to capture each moment naturally and a lot of the time we didn’t even know she was there with us! We couldn’t be happier with our photos.

From the groom: The venue was close to home, and had the ‘Australian bush’ feel (Soph grew up in the Blue Mountains, and I grew up in the country), so it was very ‘us’. It also had accommodation on site for my interstate family. It was the first of only a few we looked at and it ticked all our boxes.

Growing up in the lower Blue Mountains, we had a big backyard, full of Australian natives. My dad used to pick a selection for my Mum and she’d always have them on our dining table. Native flowers have always reminded me of their love for one another and I always knew they would make an appearance on our big day. I also love the way they look. But I wanted to do something I had never seen before. So I experimented by teaming them with a Moroccan bohemian feel, through the lanterns, candlesticks, vases, and glassware. I loved the patterns on these, which I hired from Penny Lane Studio. I knew it could be risky if these two elements clashed, but I think they worked well together! I then chose a colour palette of burgundy, blue, and gold.

One of the most unique aspects of our wedding was that almost everything was hired locally or made by creative friends and family. It was virtually waste-free! A few examples are as follows: The florist is a friend of mine. Matt and I bought structures to hang from the ceiling from Bunnings to give to her. We had seen photos of hanging floral installations and wondered if they would work. They were actually just hanging planters (baskets) that the florist filled with foliage. Matt and the groomsmen then measured some chain and hung them up on hooks around the chandelier! Now that the wedding is over we will use them again for plants in our backyard!

Gum leaves were hand selected from my Aunty’s backyard for the place cards – she is my godmother and I grew up across the road from her in the Blue Mountains, so it was so lovely to involve her in the process. Her calligraphy skills on each setting was a beautiful touch for each of the 140 guests. Of course these were composted after, to reduce waste!

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Zoe Morley Photography
Event Planning – Penny Lane Studio
Ceremony Venue – St. Gregory’s Church
Reception Venue – Chapel Hill Retreat
Floral Design – Jessica Grace Flowers
Cake & Accessories – Gracious Honey, Kate Spade
Live Music – Sydney Jazz Collective
Stationary – Pixels & Print Design, Springwood Printing, DREAMinCASTLE
Makeup & Hair Artist – Makeup Artistry by Rebekah Foxe
Wedding Dress – Rachel Gilbert
Bridal Accessories – Bride La Boheme, Homebodii, Steve Madden
Bridesmaids’ Apparel – Rodeo Show, Shilla the Label, Silk and More
Groom’s & Groomsmen’s Apparel – David Jones, Myer
Rings – York Jewellers
Rentals – Taluhla’s Event Hire
Favors – Bilpin Bush Honey

 

Congratulations to Sophie and Matt, and a huge thanks to Junebug member Zoe Morley Photography for sharing their wedding with us. Want more Australian wedding inspiration? Then you’ve got to see this multicultural Pemberton wedding in the Australian bush!

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Relaxed Yarramalong Valley Wedding with a Touch of Hollywood Glamour

March 29, 2017 | Junebug Weddings

Bridie and Matt’s Yarramalong Valley wedding was a gorgeous blend of low-key outdoor vibes and old Hollywood glam! Between Bridie’s beaded Karen Willis Holmes gown, Matt’s classic black tux and bowtie, and the classic black and white color palette, we love how this couple’s wedding style felt glamorous, yet totally at home, in their relaxed outdoor venues. From the couple’s ceremony outside the quaint St. Barnabas Church to their totally classic getaway car (complete with tin cans trailing it!), Jason Corroto Photo masterfully captured every detail of this Australian wedding.

The Couple:

Bridie and Matt

The Wedding:

St. Barnabas Church & Private Residence, New South Wales, Australia

We weren’t supposed to, but as usual I bought Matt a present anyway. He loves watches and so I found a beautiful watch from Norway that I knew would go perfectly with his suit.

The bridesmaids wore white. This was chosen mostly because it goes with everything and trying to pick another colour was too hard. Plus it suited the rest of the vibe really well. The groomsmen wore suits almost the same as Matt, with slight variations such as their shirts and pocket squares.

So much DIY! Signs and shepherd hooks were made by Matt‘s dad, Paul. They were then painted by me, Jackie (bridesmaid) and Matt‘s cousin Mitchell, I made my own wedding cake, and my sister-in-law Erica is a florist and so we all went to the flower markets together and under her guidance, helped to arrange all of the greenery.

We were lucky enough to have two friends perform our ceremony. Claire and Meg are sisters and both celebrants. It was Meg’s first ceremony and she did such a good job. We were very lucky to have them both on the day. We asked Matt‘s grandmother Barbara to say a few words throughout the ceremony. The only guidelines we gave her were that it should be something she wants to say or pass on to us. We didn’t mind if it was a reading, bible verse or poem. She ended up writing her own words and they were very beautiful and special. My sister also did a reading during the ceremony. What made it even more special was that we asked not to see or hear the readings before the ceremony.

The ceremony was perfectly suited for us. Informal, relaxed, short and sweet. Our celebrants, Claire and Meg are so good at what they do. And it was Meg’s first ceremony so it was really special in lots of ways.

Processional: Kiss Me – Ed Sheeran (Lisa Castelli cover)
Recessional: Is This Love – Bob Marley (Corinne Bailey Rae cover)
First Dance: Into the Mystic – Van Morrison

We accidentally ended up looking very old Hollywood glam. Matt‘s suit was a classic black suit with a bowtie. His sister, Shani, actually picked my dress. It was the complete opposite of what I had imagined, which was hard to let go of at first, but I am so glad I did.

Our planning advice: Don’t over search!! Once you find something that you would be happy with, stop looking. It just creates stress and confusion and you will end up overwhelmed with too many choices.

Our photographer Jason was absolute magic. My favourite thing about the photos is that half the time we didn’t even know he was taking them. He is so good at taking candid shots and capturing fleeting moments.

Some of the best photos are of the bridal party playing a game of Chinese whispers. It was such a clever idea. We just spent about 20 minutes laughing.

We had our reception at Matt‘s grandparent’s property. We love going and spending time there and usually, it is a place for family get together’s so there are a lot of fun memories there. It is such a beautiful pocket of the world so we wanted to share that with everyone.

We aren’t very formal people so we just wanted something pretty chilled. The styling was fairly simple because the property is already gorgeous and doesn’t really need anything else adding to it (or taking away from it!!).

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Jason Corroto Photo
Event Coordinator – Days Like These Events
Ceremony Venue – St. Barnabas Church
Reception Venue – Private Residence
Floral Design – Erica Anderson Florals
Catering – D’Vine Catering
Officiants – Claire Belford & Meg Cockle
Live Music – Baker Boys Band
Videography – Five Peas
Invitations – Madison Woodhouse
Makeup & Hair Artist – Beck Carroll
Wedding Dress – Karen Willis Holmes
Groom’s & Groomsmen’s Apparel – Rembrandt
Rings – Ryan Label, Natalie Marie Jewellery
Tent Rentals – KataLane, Wow Tents

 

Congratulations to Bridie and Matt, and a huge thanks to Junebug member Jason Corroto Photo for sharing their gorgeous wedding with us! Can’t get enough of this wedding’s glam-yet-relaxed vibes? Then you’ve got to see this glamorous upstate New York barn wedding at Handsome Hollow!

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