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10 Jul |
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5:07 pm Posted by Nicola |
The most fun weddings are those at which the dance floor is hopping from the bride and groom’s first dance until the final song of the event. Whether it is young kids twirling with their parents, older married couples swaying, or friends showing off their latest moves – dancing brightens the mood of every party.
Among the dozens of checklists that a bride and groom may have before their big day, it is likely that a music playlist is one of them. Most DJs and bands offer a list of their most commonly-requested tunes from which the married couple can make their selections. This is particularly helpful if the bride and groom have yet to select music for their special dances (bride and groom, bride and her father, groom and his mother, etc.) The playlist is also helpful to choose songs that may entice the more mature guests onto the dance floor (mixing in some oldies also adds nice variety rather than just picking contemporary songs).
A pre-planned playlist will ensure your favorite and most meaningful songs are played, but adding the option for guests to requests their own favorites is a great way to keep the dance floor lively. Place a stack of request cards and pencils next to the band or DJ table and ask your band singer/DJ to invite guests to fill them in. Templates for the cute cards shown here can be downloaded from The Knot and are available in 10 different colors to match your reception decor [credit: Amy Eisinger].
Keep checking our blogs for more wedding ideas and party planning tips. If you’re getting married and have yet to pick your wedding invitations, checkout our growing selection of beautiful designs at LookLoveSend.com. Join our mailing list to receive 20% off your first order with us.
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10 Jul |
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1:53 am Posted by Nicola |
Is it time to go home yet? We’ve all been to that summer block party or family gathering where the kids are lurking around the dessert table, wandering around bored, or begging their parents to go home. Not fun. It can be a challenge to amuse kids of different ages or simply to break the ice between them. How many times have you been to a party only to have your child finally make a friend in the last 15 minutes before you are about to leave?
One way to amuse younger party guests and encourage their interaction early on is to setup a simple activity for them to do, such as bubbles. Direct younger party guests to a table setup with items to make bubble mixture, blow bubbles, and create bubble art. It might sound a little hokey, but it’s a guarantee that most kids would rather be doing something with other kids instead of standing around listening to adult conversation.
Ask the older kids to measure and mix the bubble mixture. A recommended recipe is below (in researching this, I found that Dawn and Joy dishwashing liquid brands are considered to be the best bubble-makers!)
Bubble recipe: Dawn Ultra or Joy Ultra – 1 part Distilled Water – 15 parts White Karo Syrup – 1/4 part
Offer a variety of objects for kids to make creative bubble-blowing tools. Here are a few suggestions.
- bend chenille stems into fun-shaped looks and attach to a stick
- tie string into a loop
- bend a metal coat hanger into a shape (for older kids)
Provide materials for kids to make bubble art. Add 4 or 5 drops of food coloring to a small cup of bubble solution then blow tinted bubbles onto white paper. When the bubbles pop on the paper they will make cool designs. These make colorful art pieces for kids to take home, or you could setup a contest and judge the coolest / most colorful / most creative designs.
Sure, the bubble table won’t hold kids’ interest for the duration of your party, but it is simple and cheap to setup and will offer your younger guests a fun activity to do. Best of all, it’ll give kids a chance to occupy themselves and mingle…and maybe it’ll give you more time to enjoy the party before they start asking “Is it time to go home yet?”
Bubble table or not, if you are planning a summer bash and are looking for party invitations, checkout the growing selection available at LookLoveSend.com. Join us to receive our newsletter and receive 20% off your first order.
