How to make it fun?!

embm

My fiances biggest concern is that people don't like weddings and they won't have fun. Well, I believe there are people out there who enjoy weddings and its fun if your willing to have a good time. What suggestions do you ladies have to make the reception fun and exciting for all the guests?

ETA: We are planning to have music and a dance floor, plenty of food and alcohol. 

courtski2004

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_how-to-make-it-fun?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:5Discussion:78c6f66e-43fd-444e-8ee9-05f4cf221c30Post:235fb309-744c-4ae4-85c9-76858e4e8f3c">How to make it fun?!</a>:
[QUOTE]My fiances biggest concern is that people don't like weddings and they won't have fun. Well, I believe there are people out there who enjoy weddings and its fun if your willing to have a good time. What suggestions do you ladies have to make the reception fun and exciting for all the guests? ETA: We are planning to have music and a dance floor, plenty of food and alcohol. 
Posted by embm[/QUOTE]

If this is his fear, maybe put him in charge of finding the DJ. We interviewed a few DJ's and based on their personality chose who would bring the most of what we wanted to our reception. This was the most important part of our wedding for my H, and he had enough confidence in his choice to know without a doubt that our guests would have a blast!

GoodLuckBear14

Good music, good food, good bar.  Ask your FI specifically what he thinks people do not like about weddings.  I happen to love them.

cwaggoner07

I LOVE weddings. Usually to make it a good party (if that's what you're looking for, some people aren't) all you need is plenty of alcohol, food to soak up that alcohol so things don't get messy, and a good dj/band.
Our focus was definitely on having fun and getting our party on. We found a beautiful venue that needed basically zero decor, because we wanted to spend our money on the three things mentioned above. We splurged for a band, and they made it a GREAT evening.

Avion22

I agree about talking with your fiancé about what he thinks people usually dislike about weddings. For my H and I, we always hated the weird ceremonial parts of the reception (cake cutting, bouquet/garter toss, bridal party introductions, "grand exit", etc) so we just skipped those. We did a first dance, a joint father-daughter/mother-son dance, and the rest was fun, food, and dancing. People complimented our choices and even thanked us for skipping those things.

embm

He thinks that people only go to weddings out of obligation. Not to have funI know it's a stigma in his brain from having been to so many boring weddings. I've explained to him that people will come because they love us and want to support us. But I want it to be a good time for us and our guests. I really like the idea of cutting out the cake cutting and bouquet/garter toss. I've never liked those traditions anyways and I think he'll like that too. Definitely planning on food alcohol and dancing. The jury is out on how to do the music. I'll have to see if we can afford to do a dj.

OwningAHome1981

Well I would say a wedding with a band or DJ would be more fun than music being played from like an iPod or something. Of course, do what you can afford, but DJ's & bands know how to get crowds going.

I think a lot of men hate weddings. My fiance hates them too.. free booze helps, but he doesn't love them.

embm

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_how-to-make-it-fun?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:5Discussion:78c6f66e-43fd-444e-8ee9-05f4cf221c30Post:3810266a-e52c-4905-81ba-b7c95e13d29e">Re: How to make it fun?!</a>:
[QUOTE]Well I would say a wedding with a band or DJ would be more fun than music being played from like an iPod or something. Of course, do what you can afford, but DJ's & bands know how to get crowds going. I think a lot of men hate weddings. My fiance hates them too.. free booze helps, but he doesn't love them.
Posted by OwningAHome1981[/QUOTE]

<div>I'm glad theirs someone else with a fiance that hates them. I mean I never expected to hear about a lot of guys who liked them and then a bunch of girls on here were talking about their fiances and it sounded like they were really getting into the wedding stuff. I'm good with him not liking them...I just want to know I do everything I can for him to enjoy it. </div>

anssett

I dislike hyper structured weddings (this is cocktail hour, this is wait half an hour for dinner, this is watch the bride/groom do stuff, etc). I prefer when the couple thinks about what makes them happy, and what makes their friends/family happy, and picks things in that vein. I went to a great wedding where the couple (and their family/friends) were either serious board game players or swing dancers. There was a ton of food, a swing dance room & a board game room! I had a blast (dancing and gaming). If the only thing going on is the electric slide & chicken dance I will not have fun, no matter how drunk I am. I also love the ability to get away from the structured table requirement so I can better mingle, socialize, etc. Outdoor/indoor combo spaces have historically been great for that. 

Summary? Um...I think many women enjoy the fantasy/theater aspect of weddings and perhaps many guys just don't care. If you want to engage your fiance, you need to figure out what he likes/dislikes about weddings.