Unique and Special Ways to Include Family and Friends in your Sunshine Coast Wedding
However big or small your wedding will be, friends and family LOVE to be involved and to share in the planning + preparation.
However big or small your wedding on the Sunshine Coast turns out to be, friends and family LOVE to be involved and share in your happiness and the planning + preparation. There are so many ways to do this whether you are eloping and it’s just the two of you or you are having an ‘everything’ wedding with 100+ guests and of course anything in-between, your Noosa Wedding Celebrant will be able to give you many tips and ideas to take the stress away and help you to include those loved ones who are hanging out to be given responsibility for a job no matter how small. Here are some suggestions:
Being a Witness
Every wedding requires you to choose 2 witnesses over the age of 18 to witness and sign the 3 official certificates with you straight after the wedding, they may be family members, friends or any guest in attendance. I recently heard a marvellous idea from fellow wedding celebrant the very lovely Kath Tilly, that is the ultimate solution for those torn between who exactly to choose and that is for each invitee to write their name on a piece of paper and place it into a stylish box which is kept by the celebrant until the end when 2 names of lucky witnesses are pulled out and revealed to all!
Writing/Reading or Choosing a Poem
Reading a poem at the ceremony or even writing a few personal words to the couple is a lovely way to include a guest who is comfortable with doing a public reading. It's even more special if the family member can choose a reading on behalf of the couple and email the celebrant directly, so making it a surprise on the day. Particularly lovely way to include those from afar or who may not be able to attend.
MC
If you’re not having a professional MC you will need a lively super-charismatic friend who is comfortable with a mike and can start off your party off with a bang! They’ll need to liaise with reception suppliers, introduce the speeches and generally be able to ad-lib if necessary as well as co-ordinate and announce the reception festivities.
Looking After the Flower Girls/Ring Bearers
Little ones who walk with or just ahead of the bride whose parents may be bridesmaid and groom's-men standing with the couple, will need a familiar and special person to take care of them during the ceremony.
Looking after Pet Ring Bearers
We all LOVE pets at Weddings, particularly ones that bound down the aisle bearing the rings but to endure that they have the best time doing it, have a trusted animal lover friend who the pet is familiar with, to be on hand at all times to take care of the pet’s needs and return them safely home soon after the ceremony ends.
At this stunning
Maleny Manor wedding a beautiful lady who specialises in just this, was on hand to look after 'Bailey' after his mum and dad were married and he had delivered the rings to them!
Contact Me Now for an Entirely Personal Experience Involving Your Family & Friends for Your Amazing Sunshine Coast Wedding!
Handing out Bubbles or Petals for Guests to Throw
If you’ve arranged one of the amazing Wedding Stylists they will likely place a basket with cones of petals at the end of each row or at the end of the aisle for the guests to collect but having a friend in charge of handing them out to guests ready to throw as you walk back down the aisle after the signing is a nice touch!
Holding the Rings
So many choices for this one, traditionally the Best Man but these days can be any special person, page boy, child, parent, pet! Even taped under the seat of an unsuspecting parent or guest as a wonderful surprise!
Holding Your Bouquet While You Join Hands for The Vows
One of the beautiful Wedding Florists will design and lovingly create beautiful bouquets for you and the bridal party which you will hold until the middle of the ceremony. When you turn to face each other to join both hands as you take your wedding vows, this is the time to pass your bouquet to someone you love; sister, maid of honour, bridesmaid, BFF, mum, auntie, grandma etc. and they can hand it back to you to take with you to the signing table.
Being in Charge of Music During and After Ceremony
Not everyone is lucky enough to have a BFF who is an opera singer or musician, but this has happened at a couple of recent weddings, this takes the entire feelings to another level! If you are having live music, great choice but if not, a playlist of songs is a must with one special song for the walk down the aisle. These need to be downloaded onto a device with a person in charge of operating the device, knowing the password and pressing play at the correct time. As your celebrant I always liaise and assist this person.
Below is the lovely Rebecca and Shane just married at Noosa's Iconic 'Maison la Plage' with their very own BFF the Opera Singer Stefanie Jones who sang so beautifully for them during their wedding!
Bringing the Couple a Drink While Sitting at the Signing Table
A beautiful time for the couple to exhale and relax together while they sign the certificates in the presence of their witnesses. What better time to have a quick toast together before the celebrations with everyone get underway? Guests can come to the couple at the table and hug and congratulate them or take a quick snap on their phone at this time if they wish to.
Photo Wrangler
So you’ve booked an amazing Sunshine Coast Wedding Photographer but there may be only one of them, and given them a list of who you would like in family groups but rather than their trying to balance their photographic equipment with a piece of paper or phone with your list on, it’s far better to have a close friend or family who knows most of the guests and can round them up for the photos they will be appearing in.
Taking Charge of the Presentation Certificate/Ceremony Copy
Your Celebrant will present you with a certificate an likely a copy of your ceremony, this needs to be given to someone for safe keeping and transported to the reception and couple’s accommodation.
Holding Couples’ Sunnies/Phones/Purse/Wallets/Make-UpKit etc.
You still need your some of your all-important stuff with you on the day: phone, wallet, keys, make up kit etc, but having these in your pockets (guys especially) does not look good in photos and girls just won’t have anywhere suitable to carry them. Hand them over to a special person for safe keeping and easy access during the day.
Helping Elderly Guests to Seats
Know who you want to be seated in the first couple or rows and assign a person who knows these people to assist them to their seats. The Celebrant will always encourage the remaining seats to be filled as guests are sometime s reluctant to sit until asked to do so as they think others may require the seats more than they do. Don’t worry I always make sure each seat has a person sitting on it!
Ensuring Guests Know Where to Go After the Ceremony While the Couple Is Having Photos
So you’ve booked the Noosa Ferry the Catalina or a river cruise to take everyone to the reception venue but please enlist one of your local guest who knows the area to lead/direct everyone to the boarding point, the out of towners especially may not be aware.
Assist with Interstate/Overseas Guests Arriving Who May Not Know the Area/Location
Have a friend meet and greet guests arriving at the airport, car hire or air bnb.
Moving Bar Items, Flowers and Styling Items from Ceremony to Reception
If you have done your own styling, bar and flowers for the ceremony, these will need to be moved to decorate the reception venue. Arrange a few people to take care of this as well as transport to carry the flowers and styling and bar items. They will also need to tidy the ceremony area afterwards, particularly if it is a public area; this will be specific council requirement within a timeframe as well.
Instant Photo Guestbook
Photographing each guest with an instamatic camera as they arrive at the ceremony as a unique and fun alternative to a written guest book.
Receive and Collect Cards & Gifts on Behalf of the Couple
Many guests bring gifts and cards to the ceremony which need to be retrieved and kept for safe keeping until the couple can take them home.
Contact Philippa Holness Today for many more ideas that will work for you!
With grateful thanks to these amazing Sunshine Coast Wedding Photographer friends for the use of their images:
