Family Ties

Incorporate family talent into your big day. If your aunt is a poet, ask her to read one of her works during your ceremony. Or ask your pint-sized family members to sing a sweet song.

Ties that Bind

Thank your mother and your (future) mother-in-law for their wedding-planning help by treating them to lunch. Take the grandmas along too.

The Royal Treatment

Give your little-girl guests the royal treatment with Disney's Perfectly Princess Fashion Playsets as their favors. Each features princess figurines with numerous ensembles and accessories, all zipped up in a clear plastic tote.

Baggage Check

Give destination-wedding guests ID tags for their luggage. Write your wedding information on one side so airlines will know where to deliver lost bags.

Starring Role

Artistic Impressions

Instead of using a traditional guestbook, ask guests to sign a platter with a ceramic pencil. Glaze and fire the piece and use it as a serving dish for years to come.

Wing It

The Klutz Book of Paper Airplanes entertains boys with ten amazing planes, plus 40 sheets of paper in cool colors and patterns that they can use to make their own.

Where the Wild Things Are

It's a jungle out there―and an ocean and a zoo, too. With Mary Meyer's Knuckleheads finger puppets, kids can create any of these play scenarios, and more, with ease.

Lost Cause

Post your engagement party or wedding on DialDirections.com, and guests who dial 347-328-4667 (DIR-ECT-IONS) and state the event’s name will have a turn-by-turn driving route texted directly to their cell phones. We took the brand-new service for a “text-drive” and found it effective and easy to use. Available in every major city in the continental U.S., it’s free except for the cost of receiving text messages.

Family Attire

Incorporate your family history into your ensemble: Wear your mom's earrings, use the fabric from her dress, wrap your grandma's lace hankerchief around your bouquet, don your sister's veil.

Dance Fever

Since Ol' Blue Eyes isn't likely to appeal to the under-12 set, arrange for a dance party of their own. Hire a budding DJ and set up a playlist of PG-rated songs.

Daddy's Girl

Make your dad feel appreciated during the wedding-planning process by asking his opinion on topics that he might be interested in, such as the menu, limo, or bar.

Smarty Pants

Keep kids entertained for hours with Hasbro's new Trivial Pursuit Disney Edition. It's played just like the original version, but the game's 1,800 questions center on children's characters.

Creature Comforts

Entertain the younger set with Wild Planet's Aquapets―six characters, individually encased in water-filled chambers, that respond to their owners' voices. Offer a selection so kids can pick their favorites.

Scrapbook Special

Don't let the guestbook distract you on your big day. Mail guests heavy-stock paper and ask them to write a special message. Assemble the cards into a one-of-a-kind scrapbook.