Anniversary Dance

A fun alternative to the bouquet toss? An anniversary dance. Married couples join on the dance floor and are eliminated by the number of years they're been married (from fewest to most). The last couple standing shares their secrets to marital success; in return, they get the bride's bouquet.

Award Miles

Ask your bandleader to inquire who's traveled the farthest to reach your wedding. Once you uncover the person who's racked up the most miles, present him or her with your bouquet.

Doggy Reception

How to make your pooches part of the celebration? Head to the Fairmont Washington, DC, where dogs have their own private space with sparkling water and bone-shaped pastries.

Flag It

Deck hard-to-find sites with flags bearing your names or initials, which will signal to your guests that they've arrived at the right place.

Frame It

How to honor your parents on your big day: Display framed photos of both sets on their wedding day in a prominent place at your reception.

Gift Guardian

Ask your Mom to help you make sure all of your gifts and personal items make it home from the reception.

Handy Helpers

Enlist attendants to help decorate your venue. String votives from trees, frame windows with tiny white lights―anything to give your site extra flair.

Hue Knew?

Crayola's Color Wonder Products offers markers and finger paints that appear colorless—until they're used on a special type of paper. So children are sure to stay entertained, without the mess.

Irish Affair

How to pull off an Irish-themed event: carry a green bouquet, wear emeralds, name tables after Irish castles, and serve individual See's Irish Potatoes for dessert.

Project Memento

Ask a friend to save memorabilia from your wedding that you can turn into meaningful mementos. Dried flowers from your bouquet, for example, make beautiful wall hangings.

Monochromatic Fete

Keep things simple by using one hue for every part of your wedding decor—you won't waste time obsessing over which shade of pink to choose or having to coordinate every element.

Punchy Place Cards

Reflect your wedding-day theme in your place cards. Bottles of maple syrup are perfect for Vermont weddings, as are flower-decked frames for Hawaiian luaus.

Spanish Flair

Give your wedding a touch of Spanish culture by serving tapas and sangria, hiring flamenco dancers to perform during dinner, or incorporating Spanish fans into your centerpieces.

Tented Affair

If you've discovered the perfect reception site but it's not quite big enough to hold all of your guests, increase its size with a tent.

Fiesta Favorites

Create the perfect Mexican fiesta by giving guests sombreros, serving guacamole and margaritas, breaking a piñata during dancing, and hiring a mariachi band.