Loads of fun ways to elevate your wedding.

At Umthunzi Hotel we are always looking for fun ways to make your wedding unique – that IT factor that will keep your guests talking for a while. This month we are looking at ideas to make your drinks look next level, cake stacks, weird and wonderful cake toppers, fun activities for your wedding guests and peculiar place cards.

 

1. Next level drinks

Ever felt that you don’t have enough hands when canapes are served at the wedding venue? Then this bubbly with its own little popcorn cone attached to the glass, is a brilliant idea. Want to step it up a little? Personalise the wooden clothing peg with your wedding date or the happy couple’s names.

Add an exotic twist to your wedding with personalised coconuts which can be filled with refreshing coconut water, or add an exotic cocktail mix for fun. This is oh-so-perfect for beach weddings at Umthunzi, radiating tropical vibes.

Transform a cozy nook into a gentleman’s haven or a lush garden retreat. Cap off the evening with a dram of whisky and a fine cigar. And for the ladies who fancy something a tad slimmer, a cherry cigarillo might just do the trick. Now, we’re not ones to advocate for smoking as a habit, but hey, it sure does lend itself to timeless black-and-white wedding snapshots. Cheers to a night filled with class and a hint of rebellion!

 

2. Cake stacks

Cake stack – donuts via hitched  |  cheese stack cake via Cassandralane

The traditional cake has been overtaken by interesting cake stacks and stands, and brides are filling the tiers up with delightful items that they love – anything from cheese to donuts, with bite-size desserts being the norm. Gone are the days of having to choose between vanilla or chocolate filling with a marzipan icing layer. The wedding cake stack can also replace the traditional dessert and is therefore not a bad money-saving idea for budget-conscious brides.

Should you wish to take the traditional wedding cake route, be sure to add a fun element that reflects something about you as a couple – perhaps your fur-kids, maybe your hobbies, or his handsome Harley.

Bike cake topper via etsy | Cake topper – farming bride via EM Designs

 

 

3.Let’s entertain you

Bounce castle via Moonstone  |  Beach oxo

Ask any wedding guest what is the worst part of the wedding and there will be a uniform sigh at the dead space when wedding photos are taken. While the bridal entourage is super-busy saying cheese and other photographic obscenities to guarantee a smile, the wedding guests are often left in the lurch.

The wedding bounce house

This looks like far too much fun to be legal and the photos from these spontaneous moments are priceless. As with all things in life, we encourage a sane adult to oversee this and add some rules. Be careful, be barefoot, no drinking and bouncing, and no sharp objects like stilettos or Grandpa’s walking stick. Your photographer will love the photo opportunities generated by this fun element. A word of advice – deflate your bounce house before the bar bill reaches its limit.

Oxo

Remember this childhood game? It’s certainly making a comeback at weddings! Have fun with a giant version on the beach sand next to your ceremony set up, or opt for a smaller version which can also serve as a sweet keepsake.

 

4.Peculiar place cards

         

Bring on the spray can, the cheap cheap plastic animal farm figurines, or toy cars, and we will show you a genius idea for custom-made place cards. Spray paint your animals or toys in your preferred wedding colours, but keep in mind that metallic gold, silver and white look elegant and expensive. Glue a placeholder wire to the figurine, or cut a sliver into the plastic to place your name card.

We just love all the novel ideas that are entering the wedding market. Chat with your wedding co-ordinator at Umthunzi Hotel to see what is practical and doable within the wedding space, deck, garden and beach. They will be as excited as we are to see the end results of your brilliant wedding ideas.  Don’t forget to tag and share your wedding day photos with us on our social media. Wishing you a wonderful wedding day!

She knows her Merlot from her Mojito, her hotel from her motel. From craft food to caviar, her innate curiosity about life and wanderlust provide inspiration for her blogs, articles and press releases about the travel, wedding and Spa industry. Over twenty years in the hotel marketing & PR arena with impressive hotel groups, from Dubai to Durbanville, has evolved into the pure enjoyment of freelance projects under the banner of About Branding.