Riddle Me This: Our Puzzle Challenge Success!

Though different couples have varying views about whether or not to include games during the wedding reception, our crossword puzzle challenge was a big hit with guests of all ages!

As you may recall from my pre-wedding post, Hannah from A Very Gator Wedding inspired me to use Discovery Education’s free template to put together a twelve-question crossword, with questions involving fun facts about Stephen and I, our relationship, and our wedding. The guest at each table who finished first had the option of taking home the centerpiece, or giving it away to someone else who wanted it.

Not knowing beforehand just how popular these would be, I was beyond thrilled to see and hear our guests chatting and laughing as they worked to complete their puzzles throughout the dinner hour. A few who got stumped even asked us for hints as we made the rounds! All in all, this was one DIY project that was definitely worth the time and effort, both of which were minimal.

LESSON LEARNED: If it meshes with your theme and vibe, a low-key game like this can be a great way to keep guests entertained and get them interacting. Plus, since participation is not mandatory and doesn’t demand everyone’s attention, guests are still free to spend their time however they wish. Thinking about creating a word game, like we did? Don't forget to provide small pencils or pens, since most guests won't already have them on hand!

Will games be a part of your reception?

(Photo Credit: Alex Neumann Photography)

A Wedding Day Puzzle Challenge

With our big DIY projects now out of the way, Stephen and I have been brainstorming creative ways to entertain our guests during dinner, plus give away our centerpieces at the end of the night. The solution we came up with? A fun word-puzzle game!

Inspired by Hannah at A Very Gator Wedding, I used Discovery Education to put together a 12-question crossword about our relationship and wedding. The online template was easy to use, and afterward, I copied the puzzle onto a separate sheet of paper, where I created my own layout, including the questions and instructions.

Before the reception starts, our coordinator will help us out by leaving a puzzle sheet at each guest’s table setting. Then, during the meal, guests can enjoy answering questions about our hometown, jobs and honeymoon spot.

The questions will also test how much they’ve paid attention during the wedding so far, with questions about the theme, wedding party, signature drink and first dance. I’m really excited about this game, and hope our guests will be, too!

But what if someone doesn’t want to play, or doesn’t want the centerpiece? That’s totally fine. They can either give the centerpiece to someone else at the table who does want it, or just leave it with us at the end of the night.

Or, suppose someone gets stumped on a question? That’s OK, too. They can easily hit us up for a clue as we make the rounds during dinner. All in all, this is designed to be lighthearted and laid-back.

What do you think? Will you include any games or contests at your wedding?

(Photo & Graphic Credits: Stephen Walrath & Google Images)

A Reception Sing-Off

So far, it’s been fantastic working with our DJ to put together the timeline and reception music picks, especially since he has a fun personality and tons of great ideas. One of his thoughts to help keep the party rolling? A classic sing-off, pitting the guys against the girls!

At our last meeting, he explained that during past receptions and parties, if the crowd started to tire of dancing or needed a little pick-me-up, he often brought out large poster-sized cards listing the lyrics to a popular song that most people love, like Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing.” He then called everyone out on the floor for the competition.

Will it work at our party? We’ll see. Sizing up our crowd, I know we’ll definitely have a handful of guests who will sit this one out. On the other hand, I do think we’ll also have plenty who are willing to go for it!

What do you think? Would you do something like this at a wedding, or would you rather watch on the sidelines?

(Graphic Credit: Google Images)

Disney Daze Bachelorette

I may in many ways be a classic bride, but when it came to my bachelorette party, things were about as non-traditional as you can get! As I mentioned in my sneak peak a few weeks back, five of my bridesmaids treated me to a fun day at Disneyland, followed by an Easter brunch the next morning. Here, the highlights of the celebration!

Here I am, decked out in my Minnie Mouse ears and bride sash, which was created by bridesmaid Bridget.

All five of us on Thunder Mountain. Bridget made sashes for the girls, too, and we got lots of attention throughout the day, including shout-outs from ride operators and permission to skip a line or two!

Bridesmaid Pooneh also created a fun game where we were given a series of riddles about different Disney rides, and had to try solving them throughout the day. Some of the questions were hard, even for a Disney buff like me!

We ate dinner at the Blue Bayou, which is located inside the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, and has a great New Orleans vibe. Our waiter even ended the meal by bringing me a special treat since I was the bride-to-be!

Our Easter brunch the next morning included a delicious meal of waffles and fresh strawberries, plus games. First, Bridget asked us each a series of questions about me and Stephen's relationship, and the girls had to answer the way they thought I would. It was fun to hear their responses!

After breakfast, we hunted eggs, which each contained candy and a question about the groom. To my surprise, Bridget had already asked Stephen the questions, and we “tested” how many I got right. The results? I didn’t know all of the answers, but overall, I know my groom very well!

Thanks for a wonderful time, girls! What are your bachelorette plans?

(Photo Credits: Pooneh Nasrollahnia)

It’s Tea Time!

As I’ve mentioned before, I’m a big Disney fan, and even held my bachelorette bash at Disneyland earlier this month. (Stay tuned for recaps soon!) So, you can imagine my excitement when my mom, sister and bridesmaids surprised me with an Alice in Wonderland tea party bridal shower during my recent visit to California!

Though I did know ahead of time which day the shower was planned for, I had no idea what the theme would be or how our friends’ home would be decorated for the party. Well, I can now say that the decorations were too cute, the iced and hot teas served were fabulous, and the games were lots of fun!

Kellie, my sister, MOH and master party planner, dressed things up with a photo of she and I posing with Alice at Disneyland as kids, mini flower pots filled with jelly beans, and bags of floral seeds for guests to take home as favors. She also planned two fun games, the first of which involved everyone getting two playing cards at the start of the party, along with a list of “off limits” words. Get caught saying one of the words? Whoever caught you got to keep your cards, and the person with the most cards at the end of the party won a set of pomegranate sugar stirrers.

The second game, of the “get-to-know-the-bride” variety, involved a series of questions about my life, which everyone had to answer. I then responded to the questions myself, and we tallied who got the most right. (My mom and sister weren’t allowed to play.) Guess who won? My mother-in-law-to-be!

Here, a few more fun highlights from the day.

Check out these cute tea cups, just waiting to be filled.

Arrangements of stuffed animals helped set the stage.

A lovely lace parasol hung from the ceiling, and streamers “showered” me with rain!

This creative wreath of kitchen goodies made an amazing gift.

I got many generous presents, including table settings, kitchen gadgets, gift cards, and even a few honeymoon surprises for the groom!

I’m a happy bride-to-bride, posing with my cake.

Did you or will you have a bridal shower? What are some of your favorite themes?

(Photo Credits: Pooneh Nasrollahnia)

Sure, You Know Your Groom, But Just How Well?

Searching for a fun way to kill time during our holiday trips, I picked up the silly-but-cute Do You Know Your Bride? and Do You Know Your Groom? quiz books I’ve seen a couple other bloggers recommend.

Filled with some semiserious questions (Which older couple does your bride look to as a role model for your marriage?) and some totally wacky ones (Does she ever eat something straight from the freezer that should be defrosted?), these quizzes will test just how many random facts you and your husband-to-be know about each other.

And for only about $6 per book, they’re a pretty inexpensive way to have fun and get a laugh. The only problem? We’ll probably go through all the questions before it’s even time for our trips!

Have you played these or any other fun bride and groom games?

(Photo Credits: Barnes & Noble)