Your wedding day is a unique moment in time that celebrates the unbreakable bond between you and your betrothed. The love you’ve found is unique and beautiful, and your wedding should reflect who you both are. Don’t settle for a predictable, run-of-the-mill celebration. Make your wedding memorable with these 10 bright ideas:

Choose a Menu Everyone Will Remember

The food at weddings tends to be forgettable. Choose a menu that your guests will rave about for years to come! For instance, if you decide to hold your special day at Chaumette, you can select from a variety of menus made by Executive Chef Rob Beasley, who creates decadent, handcrafted meals and desserts that everyone will love. From family-style and plated dinners to a variety of enchanting themed meals, the options at Chaumette are practically limitless. You won’t want to overlook the desserts either; with scrumptious choices like Amaretto cheesecake, Grand Marnier carrot cake, gourmet cookies, an ice cream bar, and more, your guests will be amazed and delighted!

Spend Time With Your Guests

On your special day, take the time to personally greet each of your invited guests. Hug them after your wedding ceremony, and spend even just a few minutes with each of them at your reception. Lingering over dessert with them, sharing a drink, visiting their table briefly at dinner, or kicking up your heels on the dance floor together can mean the world to your guests!

Give Traveling Guests Welcome Baskets

Have you invited relatives or friends from far-flung reaches across the country? Are you planning a destination wedding? If so, prepare a welcome basket of goodies for your weary guests to enjoy in their hotel rooms! Doing so shows your guests how much you appreciate their effort in attending your big day. Include your favorite snacks, a few bottles of water (or perhaps a refillable tumbler), a map of the area, sunscreen, and a personalized handwritten note.

Curate Your Playlist

Break away from the staid reception playlists and customize your mix of tunes! Make sure your DJ informs your guests that they can make song requests throughout the evening. Better yet, get a few steps ahead of the game before the ceremony. When you send out your RSVP card, ask your invitees to write down their favorite song or email it to you. Add it to the playlist for a pleasant surprise that’ll keep everyone dancing!

Include Entertaining Reception Games

If you have more than half an hour of downtime between your wedding ceremony and the reception, you’ll want to keep your guests busy. Encourage mingling and fun by including entertaining games! Jumbo Jenga, bocce ball, and badminton are all excellent choices. Celebrating your big day with us at Chaumette? Your guests can lounge and enjoy a glass of award-winning wine while drinking in the gorgeous scenery!

Get Creative With the Guest Book

While well-intentioned and simple, traditional guest books often languish in a hidden corner of a closet for years. Choose something more meaningful and interesting that better reflects who you are as a couple instead! Love being out on the water? Ask guests to sign a boat paddle. Are you two jet-setting travelers or have an unquenchable wanderlust? Leave a globe or a glass bowl of postcards for guests to sign or leave behind pieces of advice. Are you both musicians? Choose an instrument like a guitar as your nontraditional guest book. Think outside the box and choose something you’ll want to display for years!

Give Meaningful or Useful Wedding Favors to Your Guests

We hate to be the bearers of bad news, but your guests probably won’t want any monogrammed coasters or paperweights from your big day. If you’re spending money on favors, put in extra effort by selecting something your guests won’t want to leave on the table. Useful items like themed measuring spoons, tiny potted succulents, mini salt and pepper shakers, or bottle openers are sure to be a hit. When in doubt, food is always a winner. Include small containers of your favorite treats in your wedding colors, delectable cookies, tiny jars of jam or honey, or savory popcorn on your tables!

Set Up a Photo Booth

For those who love hamming it up in front of the camera, a photo booth on your special day is bound to please. Ensure that your booth comes equipped with an array of fun props and costume pieces for your guests to use in their photos. You can even send them their photos in their thank-you cards as a delightful surprise after the event!

Include Your Furry Friend on the Festivities

Your four-legged best friend is always there for you, so be sure to include them on your big day! Dress them up with a bow tie in your wedding colors or adorn them with a gorgeous flower crown. We at Chaumette love dogs and welcome leashed pooches to join in on the celebration. Some of our villas are also dog-friendly, so if you choose to stay in our villas, your pet will have their own special home away from home, too!

Choose a Unique Venue

Want to really up the wow factor? Make your wedding absolutely unforgettable by saying “I do” at a beautiful venue like Chaumette! For couples who want to be wed in rustic elegance, desire to tie the knot outdoors, or simply wish to make their nuptials official in an enchanting chapel, there’s something for everyone at Chaumette Vineyards & Winery!

Rely on Chaumette to Make Your Wedding Unforgettable

On your big day, allow the experts at Chaumette Vineyards & Winery to take the stress off your shoulders and help you have a remarkable wedding you’ll remember and cherish always. We are dedicated to helping you enjoy an unforgettable, stress-free day in the jaw-dropping beauty of the Saline Creek River Valley. To learn more or schedule a tour, please call us at (573) 747-1000 or email us at events@chaumette.com!