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Pre-wedding Parties

Less Creative than I thought :(

So the FI and I are throwing ourselves an Engagement party this Sat.  We are having an off key theme, Sentenced for life.  We have had our pictures taken as if we were arrested and sentenced to life with each other.  We put them on a poster board and wrote out a list of accomplices who were still wanted (our bridal party) as well as what they were most recently seen doing (Funny things).  I also made chain links and attached black balloons to them so they look like a ball and chain to hang from our dining room ceiling.  As for food we are making cheap prison things like hot dogs (chicken slop in casings), tuna salad (Nutraloaf) and ramen salad (The County can only afford Ramen).  We also made dips and such to call them slop and gruel.  To top it off we made a punch called sewer water, to be served from mason jars, that really looks like sewer water but tastes great.

 

In theory it sounded like enough, but once it got put together it looks lacking.  I went and got a black tablecloth for the table and those ugly tin mass serving plates from the dollar store to spruce it up, but it is not helping.  We thought maybe it would be cool to give people prison names as they came in to attach also to their mason jar but we only came up with 2 names and we have 30 people.  Any more ideas?

Re: Less Creative than I thought :(

  • edited December 2011
    Prison numbers would be better than names. Prisoners always have a number, and it's usually sewn onto their jumpsuit. Have you thought about putting "bars" on the windows?
    Amanda and Eric Gettin' married 10/10/10
  • edited December 2011
    I'm with Retread Bride, sorry to say.
  • loop0406loop0406 member
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011



    Since you are throwing your own e party which you shouldn't do in 1st place, to thank the guests for going, how about favors ?

    Also, do carboard prison cell and have guest get behind and take a picture of them.

  • trix1223trix1223 member
    5000 Comments 25 Love Its Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    Wow.  I'm really going to rain on your parade and I apologize in advance.  It is poor form to throw your own engagement party.  And I know I'm biased because my daughter was recently a victim of a violent crime, but I see absolutely nothing amusing about using a crime metaphor for a party that's purpose is to celebrate your decision to share the rest of your lives together.
    "Trix, it's what they/our parents wanted. Why so judgemental? And why is your wedding date over a year and a half ago? And why do you not have a groom's name? And why have you posted over 12,000 posts? And why do you always say mean things to brides?" palegirl146
  • SuMmErKuTiESuMmErKuTiE member
    2500 Comments Fourth Anniversary 5 Love Its Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    Ditto Trix... I don't find anything amusing about getting married equaling a life sentence in prison. Weddings and marriages are a celebration of a beautiful relationship between two people who are excited to spend their lives together. Jokes like "the old ball and chain" or "game over" etc.. are awful and have no place in true love. I understand that you guys are doing this as a joke, but it's kind of tasteless in my opinion and not funny when it comes to a life long comittment.

    I'm not even going to touch on the fact that it's considered very tacky to throw a party in honor of yourself, I think the other ladies have already made that pretty clear.
  • trix1223trix1223 member
    5000 Comments 25 Love Its Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_pre-wedding-parties_less-creative-thought?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:32Discussion:7fd1d613-3c82-4743-8cc2-200cf8a24a2bPost:bb79d820-2854-4349-8769-5966471ee439">Less Creative than I thought :(</a>:
    [QUOTE]So the FI and I are throwing ourselves an Engagement party this Sat.   We are having an off key theme, Sentenced for life.   We have had our pictures taken as if we were arrested and sentenced to life with each other.   We put them on a poster board and wrote out a list of accomplices who were still wanted (our bridal party) as well as what they were most recently seen doing (Funny things).   I also made chain links and attached black balloons to them so they look like a ball and chain to hang from our dining room ceiling.   As for food we are making cheap prison things like hot dogs (chicken slop in casings), tuna salad (Nutraloaf) and ramen salad (The County can only afford Ramen).   We also made dips and such to call them slop and gruel.   To top it off we made a punch called sewer water, to be served from mason jars, that really looks like sewer water but tastes great.   In theory it sounded like enough, but once it got put together it looks lacking.   I went and got a black tablecloth for the table and those ugly tin mass serving plates from the dollar store to spruce it up, but it is not helping.   We thought maybe it would be cool to give people prison names as they came in to attach also to their mason jar but we only came up with 2 names and we have 30 people.   Any more ideas?
    Posted by PookieBurger[/QUOTE]


    JIC
    "Trix, it's what they/our parents wanted. Why so judgemental? And why is your wedding date over a year and a half ago? And why do you not have a groom's name? And why have you posted over 12,000 posts? And why do you always say mean things to brides?" palegirl146
  • edited December 2011
    no offense, but i am also not on the "game over" bandwagon like pp said. thats so weird and distastful. its not even remotely funny. and i think your theme is pretty pathetic and depressing..i would not go to your party. was this your fiance's idea..??
  • McKlickMcKlick member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    I think this is very creative and I just wanted to say that I think it IS funny!  Who are all you other brides to judge what one does and does not do!  Who cares if you want to throw your own engagement party?!?  Maybe they are wanting to do this to thank all the people that will be involved in their wedding.  Maybe they are wanting to do this to just have a nice time with friends.  Frankly, I am appalled at all of the horrible comments posted here. Pookie, good for you and your originality and I hope the party turns out great!
  • edited December 2011
    Trix said what I was thinking but too chicken to say.  I don't think the prison theme is funny at all.
  • trix1223trix1223 member
    5000 Comments 25 Love Its Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_pre-wedding-parties_less-creative-thought?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:32Discussion:7fd1d613-3c82-4743-8cc2-200cf8a24a2bPost:2c7c25a9-fc5b-45b1-b10a-7c06d116e082">Re: Less Creative than I thought :(</a>:
    [QUOTE]I think this is very creative and I just wanted to say that I think it IS funny!  Who are all you other brides to judge what one does and does not do!  Who cares if you want to throw your own engagement party?!?  Maybe they are wanting to do this to thank all the people that will be involved in their wedding.  Maybe they are wanting to do this to just have a nice time with friends.  Frankly, I am appalled at all of the horrible comments posted here. Pookie, good for you and your originality and I hope the party turns out great!
    Posted by McKlick[/QUOTE]

    They CAN throw a party to thank the people who will be involved in their wedding.  The CAN have a nice time with friends.  They just shouldn't call it an engagement party.

    And while I'm fine with the idea of a party, I'm clearly not at all fine with the idea that implying that marriage is a "sentence" to be endured is a good idea. 

    And I think that serving questionable food and a beverage that looks like sewer water is just dreadful.  I would be making my exit as soon as possible.  Not because they're throwing a party, but rather because everything about the theme is in very poor taste.
    "Trix, it's what they/our parents wanted. Why so judgemental? And why is your wedding date over a year and a half ago? And why do you not have a groom's name? And why have you posted over 12,000 posts? And why do you always say mean things to brides?" palegirl146
  • Kristin789Kristin789 member
    Sixth Anniversary 2500 Comments 25 Love Its Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    I call MUD because this post breaks about 50 things we hold very sacred...
  • michelle7102michelle7102 member
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    The idea is amusing, but do you really want to serve your guests chicken slop and ramen noodles?  That may be taking things too far.  Can't you bust out of the slammer and at least get some pizza?  Tongue out

    If you are stuck on having this party theme how about getting some handcuffs for each couple so they can handcuff themselves to their partner in crime? 
  • banana468banana468 member
    Knottie Warrior 25000 Comments 500 Love Its 5 Answers
    edited December 2011
    Aside from the etiquette issues, are you sure that you want to throw a party and serve food that most people eat when they're starving and in college?
  • edited December 2011
    i think this sounds fun and cute!  i am having a non-traditional wedding and i am all for bucking tradition.  i say good for you!  it's your wedding and you can certainly do as you please.  there are no rules.  

    have fun!
  • RebeccaB88RebeccaB88 member
    2500 Comments Fifth Anniversary 500 Love Its 5 Answers
    edited December 2011
    Gotta go with Trix, sorry.  I love my FI and would never dream of thinking of our future together as a 'sentence'.  I just don't see any humor here at all.
  • edited December 2011
    How about a cake with a file or a saw in it.
  • edited December 2011
    I think this idea is HILARIOUS. Its a joke and a couple who has fun together and knows how to laugh will be a couple that lasts.

    I am a psychologist with a speciality in Marriage and couples and being able to laugh is truley a key to any relationship.

    Just because "rules" say you shouldn't throw a party for yourself, who cares? You are celebrating you two as a couple and the journey you're embarking on. Its ridiculous to think you have to follow every rule that comes with a wedding.

    I like the handcuff idea and think your entire party theme is fantastic. i know personally, my fiance and i would have a BLAST at your party.

    Enjoy your engagement party and best of luck to you both!
  • edited December 2011
    I can see why the jail theme might be considered in bad taste, and why you shouldn't throw yourselves an engagement party, but if I was invited to this party I'd think it was a fun idea!  Just be sure not to call it an engagement party, and probably have some sort of favor for guests so it doesn't seem gift-grabby.

    Definitely get some more edible food - I wouldn't want tuna salad and ramen, sorry.  The theme is cute and all, but give people something decent to eat.  Pizza, please!  Or some BBQ chicken or chicken nuggets you can call "Jail Birds" or something!

    To emphasize the theme a bit more, I do like the idea of having handcuffs and suggesting people handcuff themselves to their partner.  And I do like the idea of a cake with a theme - but I'd put a gavel on it and write "Sentenced to A Life Together" on it! And I totally agree with the poster who said that a couple shouldn't take things too seriously, and that it's good to laugh about stuff like "ball and chain" as a joke together - if one person is using it to refer to the other derogatorily (such as calling his wife "the old ball and chain") to others, that's not okay.  But it's healthy to not take life too seriously!

    Here's some inexpensive handcuffs:
    Click Here

    Some police tape:
    Click here

    You could also have a "Most Wanted" wall where you tape pictures of people from one of these (especially if you have a Polaroid camera, or can take it from a computer and print it out):
    Jail Cutoutwww.orientaltrading.com/ui/browse/processRequest.do?demandPrefix=12&sku=70/4398&mode=Searching&erec=3&D=police&Ntt=police&Ntk=all&Dx=mode%2bmatchallpartial&Ntx=mode%2bmatchallpartial&N=0&requestURI=processProductsCatalog&sd=Police+Line+Up+And+Dry+Erase+Board+Set" title="Police Lineup">
    Police Lineup
    Image and video hosting by TinyPic
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