When I was a kid most of my friends’ dads had party shirts that they wore to formal events that would end up being a big party and I’d like one for my wedding. What is a party shirt, you ask, it is a formal shirt designed so that when a jacket is worn over the shirt it is the perfect image what a dress shirt should be but once the formal part of the evening is over and the jacket is removed the parts that were covered are a Hawaiian shirt.
Ideally I’d like myself and the entire groom’s party to have one. We can look great in all of the photos, during the ceremony and during the initial portion of the reception. Then once it’s time to cut loose we can remove the jackets and vest and be dressed to party. I’ve got two problems with the idea the first is getting the shirts made. I’ve talked to a couple of custom shirt places here in Denver and they have ranged from saying “No”, Brooks Brothers, to saying ‘sure, but I have to pay $350/shirt and come up with the fabric”. There has got to be a better way to get this done. Any ideas? If this is my only option any ideas where I can get good quality floral prints?
Secondly, is this a good idea? Back in the 80s on an Air Force base it was the coolest thing ever and has stuck in my mind as such. As I’ve grown up I’m learning that not everything I think is cool is universally well received, my idea for my bride and I to enter the reception to confetti cannons for instance. I’d like this to be a surprise to everyone not in the groom’s party but there is definitely some risk involved there. So what says the Dope?
Personally I think it is silly and I’d be embarrassed to wear one, but I guess if four of my friends were doing so - I’d go along with it.
Custom made shirts aren’t cheap. Maybe you could get two shirts and have a tailor sew the sleeves onto the normal shirt. Seems like a lot of effort for an only slightly amusing gag and will look ridiculous on every picture taken with your jackets off.
It’s your wedding, not clown college graduation. Wear a classic, well tailored white shirt. If you must have some hawaiian themed thing, I’m sure you can find ugly suspenders to put on later. But I don’t advise that either.
It seems somehow easier, if somewhat less flamboyant, to just bring a few Hawaiian shirts along and change during the reception. And this lessens the chance that some unnoticed vividly colored bit of fabric spoils the wedding picture and puts you in the doghouse with your wife for the next fifty or sixty years.
I am as laid back as they come, but if you pulled this* on me without prior approval, I would kill you in front of all our friends and family. There are some things that are nice to be surprised by; this is not one of them.
Also, I second the idea of just bringing an extra change of shirt.
OK, so terrible idea. That is why I wanted to double check it before I started spending money. The confetti cannons were purposed by the wedding planner after my idea of some flashpots was over ruled. My fiancé was there and she was very clear about me possibly burring down the building or creating a mess.
Still I hate wedding and receptions and I’m trying to come up with something that will make it interesting and suck less. Just to totally change the thread topic what can I do to make the reception memorable but not get me killed?
I’ve got both good band and open bar actually 6 hr of top shelf all you can drink, we got a screaming deal.
As far as what I don’t like generally all of the parts before it turns in a giant party. I dislike all of the ceremony and rituals. One thing we’re working on is choreography to make the dance sequence less boring. Nothing sucks more than watching 10 minutes of various people do the high school spin. Still not going to be great since we’re no good dancers and our parents are worse. I’d love some ideas to punch this up a bit
Entrance of the wedding party in generally as exciting as a high school graduation which is why I was more thinking super bowl entrance. There has got to be something better here but no indoor pyro or confetti cannons.
Cake cutting is a fun as watching people cut cake until they at least get into a food fight, we’re doing that but I can’t mess up the dress or her hair, which is fair enough.
Bouquet/garter tossing sucks none of the guys or girls really want to catch it their just standing around because there supposed to. Again there has got to be something better.
We’ve eliminated the speech portion of the event, aside from the best man/ matron of honor, since my fiancé is worried about what people will say. It’s unfortunate because those awkward moments are one of the high lights of the reception.
I’m not looking forward to having to spend time shaking hands with all of the relatives that neither of us has seen for 15 years and at least on my side I declined to invite anyone I didn’t want to party with. I don’t see any way to improve this portion but I’m open for suggestions.
I think that about covers it. Oh and I hate getting my picture taken.
YOU DON’T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING YOU DON’T WANT TO DO.
If you don’t want to toss the bouquet or garter, DON’T. You don’t have to. No one will care and most guests are not going to give a shit either way. You don’t have to replace it with anything.
What of the ceremony and ritual don’t you like? The actual wedding ceremony? Because that’s really between your fiance, your officiant, and you.
But here is the thing: Your guests ARE NOT GOING TO REMEMBER. They’re not going to care. 99% of the guests at your wedding will remember one thing–usually the food or the bar or a really good band. Three or four friends will remember two things. Your fiance and her mother are the only ones who are going to remember more than three things about the wedding. So decide what you want people to remember, and spend money on that.
I promise you no one will give two shits if you have a “Super Bowl entrance of the wedding party” or confetti cannons or choreographed dances or don’t have a bouquet toss. No one will remember. Is it really worth it to spend time and money and energy on stuff that no one will really care about? Decide what you really want the wedding to stand out for (awesome food/top shelf booze/rocking band/gorgeous venue/whatever) and work on that.
Expert Suggestion - don’t do the “first dance” thing. Or, if you absolutely must for some reason outside your control, tell the MC that you are to dance for no more than 30 seconds before he invites everyone to “join the happy couple”.
Expert Suggestion - Don’t do an entrance.
Expert Suggestion - Hold your wife’s hand, take 10 seconds to get a picture of you “cutting the cake” then let the staff cut the cake and distribute pieces, food fights are for 8th grade.
Expert Suggestion - Don’t do the garter/bouquet thing. don’t do the Chicken Dance, don’t do the Electric Slide, or the Macarena, or any other stupid Wedding Cliche activity.
Expert Comment- If awkward moments are “highlights” of your wedding reception, your reception sucked ass.
Expert Comment - If these people are taking their entire day to go to your wedding, THAT YOU INVITED THEM TO, you don’t get to bitch about taking 5 seconds to shake their hand and say “thank you for coming.”
Expert Suggestion - Don’t get a standard package of pictures, just have a pro photographer there to capture the event, and suck it up to spend 15 minutes getting a few shots of you and the wife/close family. Tell the pro in advance that you don’t want a fancy setup, get the photos done and out of the way so everyone can enjoy the reception.
You know what I remember most about my friend Chris’s wedding ceremony? That it was 15 minutes long. It was in a church, the church was beautiful, the wedding party and the bride and groom were beautiful, there was a minister, it was 15 minutes long.
If you and your bride don’t like stupid long boring wedding ceremonies then don’t have one. You can still have flowers, dresses, photos, tuxes and memories oh and an actual marriage in 15 minutes.
Here is the best idea available: If YOU have an idea for entertainment at the wedding, throw it out. If you want to spice up things, have the cannon/flashpots/etc…at the bachelor party. At the wedding, you will just come off as a tool.
I guess I’m the only one who doesn’t see what’s so terrible about a confetti cannon. In any case, it’s not what you wear that will make the party fun. Remember that it’s just a party, but you are not 12 years old. That means skip the food fights and crazy clothes and embarrasing toasts and go for good food, liquor and music. Play music people want to dance to, serve them good food and skip the rest if you find it boring.
A lot of brides dislike confetti cannons because you know all those elements that make a wedding dress so pretty? Lace and sparkly things and tulle and gathered skirts and pickups and stuff? It is nearly IMPOSSIBLE to get confetti off of that. And have you ever tried to get confetti out of an elaborate hairdo, especially one that’s been hairsprayed into place? So, many women don’t want to spend their reception looking like they’ve just been to a 12-year-old’s party or a New Year’s Eve ball drop, and a lot of bridesmaids will concur. And many venues (especially historical ones, museums, and other nontraditional venues) will forbid the use of confetti because again, it’s damn near impossible to totally eradicate. As a rule, it’s better suited to outdoor or more casual receptions. But a lot of people don’t want to track confetti (or god forbid, glitter) everywhere for an entire night for the sake of a couple cool pictures.
I echo the parts about doing what you want to do at your wedding, whether it is skipping the terrible DJ icebreakers, or if that involves wearing a shirt that really makes a statement. But seriously, forget the confetti cannons. You obviously need to hire cheerleaders as a total surprise to everyone.
If you want to be happily married, I suggest you do what your fiancé and her mother are going to remember for the rest of your natural born days.
I get it—you’re a fun guy. But this isn’t a “party” per se. Think of it as a corporate Christmas party where, if you’re wise, you want to rein it in; people have been fired afterwards, you know?
Or, why not just go to the courthouse and get it over with quick? Then throw a bash.
(If this isn’t feasible it may be because your bride-to-be wants a real wedding and you Better-Not-Mess-It-Up.)
Yes. I’ve heard of brides bringing dresses to wear to the reception. Why can the groom, and bridal party bring a change also?
My niece and her husband did a really cool thing with the cake cutting at her reception. They cut out 2 pieces of cake, each on a little plate. They stood there waiting while everyone else was watching and waiting to see what they’d do, then together, they each forked off a bite of cake from their respective plate and she put her piece in her mouth and he put his in his mouth. Good laughs.
What everyone remembers from the reception was the dance performance put on by the grooms 5 year old nephew. He was a dancing machine!!
