5 Ways to Include Friends and Family in Your Wedding!

1 Written by natasha on June 16, 2010 – 5:00 am

While there are some people you want to be in your wedding party, there may be others who you want to be involved, but you’re not sure how to do it. Here are a few ideas:

1. A flower ceremony. Have each important family member/friend pick ONE flower. You can have all different kinds of flowers, or all the same. Each person will carry their flower down the aisle to a vase that sits at the front of the venue. The flowers will come together as a bouquet… symbolizing the coming together of family and friends.
2. Speeches and stories. Ask certain friends or family who are not in the wedding party to share a story at the rehearsal dinner. A tip: don’t do an open mic night — at the rehearsal dinner or at the wedding because it can get out of control! People dont like silence and feel compelled to speak, especially if there is alcohol present. Limit the numbers, and ask specific people to speak. It makes people feel included and incorporated.
3. Candle lighting. Hand out unlit candles at the beginning of the ceremony. During the ceremony, the bride and groom will light the candle of someone in the front row, who, in turn will light the candle of the person next to them… until all the guests’ candles are lit.
4. Readings. Ask certain guests to read selections of poetry or stories. There are great passages in all kinds of storybooks, including Winnie the Pooh. (It’s true, I promise.)
5. Slideshow. Put together a slideshow of your friends and family and incorporate the ones you are closest with. In lieu of the slideshow, you can have a display of photo albums or framed photos… like the photo above!

Do you have any other ideas to include close friends and family?

~ Natasha