It was a big one and boy was it fun!
I’m not sure there was one picture that was taken that didn’t have Kayla and Nick as well as their friends and family smiling from ear to ear. I’m sure by the end of the night that their grinning cheeks hurt more than their dancing feet.
Here’s little bit about Kayla and Dick….. Kayla grew up in Andover, Ma.. When it was time to go to college, she chose Gonzaga University in Oregon where she met Nick and many of the guests who were present at their wedding. It wasn’t until a week before their wedding that we actually met Kayla and Nick. They were both happy and low key, and you could tell nothing was going to stop them from having the time of their life on their wedding day.
When we sit down with our couples, we always ask them, “What is most important to you in planning your wedding?” It’s an important question and almost all our couple say, “We just want everyone to have fun.”
So, if you want to have a fun wedding, here are a few tips:
1.Keep your guest comfortable and moving.
This starts with the venue. It’s so much nicer for your guest to be able to get up and move around. We have many beautiful spaces around the farm. We encourage guests to walk around the property, to stroll through the gardens and even take a hike down to the Josias River that runs through the property. Some people aren’t crazy about big crowds but they enjoy having an intimate conversation with a new found friend. JRF is perfect for that.
Keeping your guests comfortable also means being gracious. The Walsh’s and the Momolo’s were so welcoming. There wasn’t a guest that didn’t feel welcome and with 200 people, that’s not easy. They loved connecting with their guests and it showed.
2. Make sure there is plenty of food.
Kayla’s dad, Tom owns a café in Andover, Ma called the Village Market. We were a little skeptical in the beginning since it’s unusual for the parents of the bride to caterer their daughter’s wedding. It’s a huge undertaking but Tom and his crew did and AMAZING job not only with the food but also with the presentation. I would highly recommend them to anyone!
3. Add some unexpected entertainment.
It could be as simple as setting up some lawn games or you can get a little more creative if you like. Poke around the internet and you can get plenty of inspiration.
4. Get them out on the dance floor as soon as possible.
We always love listening to the speeches during the reception but, keep them to short and sweet if possible because the real fun begins with dancing. As soon as the first dance is over you want to get everyone up on the dance floor. A good DJ or Band knows exactly how to do get your guest moving.
5. How about a late-night snack?
By the end of the night your guest will have burned a few calories on the dance floor. It’s always nice to send them on their way with a late-night snack. It could be a simple as having a few extra cookies or brownies around or setting up a donut bar. One of our favorite weddings had an ice cream truck arrive at the end of the night.
The best weddings are always those where the couple keeps their guests in mind. Keep them moving and comfortable, have a few surprises here and there and make sure there’s plenty of food and libation to help them dance the night away.
Without these vendors, the wedding wouldn’t have been possible:
Photography: @coleandkiera
Caterer:Village Market, Andover, Ma.
Rentals: @Marshall_Tent_and_Event
Flowers: @_flowersbythesea_
Music: DJ Dan, Scarborough, Maine
Transportation, Ogunquit Trolley
Servers and Bar: @silvertieserversboston
Wedding Coordinator: @withoutahitch