Mechanical bull alternatives?

Knottie1469114458 · July 2016

Hi all,

This is my first post! Excited to be here with you.

We are getting married on June 10, 2017, at Convict Lake Resort, near Mammoth, California. It's going to be country themed.

I *really* want to have a mechanical bull at the reception, but the price I was quoted by the most legit vendor is $4000. GULP.

Can anyone suggest any fun alternatives--games or other activities--that I could do in place of the mechanical bull? I was thinking lawn games like corn hole...

Thank you!

ernursej · July 2016

You can have lawn games like giant chess/checkers and corn hole but I would encourage you to make them optional and on the side of your reception venue.

InLoveInQueens · July 2016

Whatever you do, try and think of things people can easily do in their wedding clothes.

Knottie1469114458 · July 2016

Oh yes good point. For the mechanical bull I was going to order shorts for everyone...and of course that would increase the price tag by at least another $1000.

But you're right. Lawn games like twister would be totally fun but totally not doable for most people unless everyone had a change of clothes.

OurWildKingdom · July 2016

helluvajoy said:

Oh yes good point. For the mechanical bull I was going to order shorts for everyone...and of course that would increase the price tag by at least another $1000.

But you're right. Lawn games like twister would be totally fun but totally not doable for most people unless everyone had a change of clothes.

Usually when I hear "lawn games," I think of things like horseshoes and cornhole. That would fit with your theme, and so would giant checkers.

Are you going to have music and dancing?

charlotte989875 · July 2016

Giant Jenga.

But yah there's no way I'd be riding a mechanical bull in wedding attire, even if you provided shorts.

ILoveBeachMusic · July 2016

Personally, I wouldn't change into "provided shorts" if I'm all dressed up for a wedding. I'd have to wear them under my dress since I wouldn't have brought a shirt to wear with the shorts.

southernbelle0915 · July 2016

helluvajoy said:

Oh yes good point. For the mechanical bull I was going to order shorts for everyone...and of course that would increase the price tag by at least another $1000.

But you're right. Lawn games like twister would be totally fun but totally not doable for most people unless everyone had a change of clothes.

Even if you end up being able to afford the bull, I think the bolded is a huge waste of money. It's an interesting idea in theory and a thoughtful way to get people to participate, but I think VERY few people would actually use it.

I would have to be hella drunk to think that was a good idea...and then obviously it probably wouldn't be.

Knottie1469114458 · July 2016

southernbelle0915 said:

helluvajoy said:

Oh yes good point. For the mechanical bull I was going to order shorts for everyone...and of course that would increase the price tag by at least another $1000.

But you're right. Lawn games like twister would be totally fun but totally not doable for most people unless everyone had a change of clothes.

Even if you end up being able to afford the bull, I think the bolded is a huge waste of money. It's an interesting idea in theory and a thoughtful way to get people to participate, but I think VERY few people would actually use it.
I would have to be hella drunk to think that was a good idea...and then obviously it probably wouldn't be.

PrettyGirlLost · July 2016

I don't need anything other than good food, good drinks, and good music to entertain myself at a wedding.

I think you're over thinking this.

Knottie1469114458 · July 2016

What constitutes "good drinks" for you? I am sure there are plenty of threads about this already (going to search now), but we're going back and forth on the wine/beer vs. full bar thing right now. Curious to hear what others think/have done.

ernursej · July 2016

helluvajoy said:

What constitutes "good drinks" for you? I am sure there are plenty of threads about this already (going to search now), but we're going back and forth on the wine/beer vs. full bar thing right now. Curious to hear what others think/have done.

You don't have to offer any alcoholic drinks at a wedding. Beer and wine is perfectly acceptable. Adding in a signature cocktail is fine. Having a full bar is fine. As long as I'm not opening my wallet ... it is a good drink.

madamerwin · July 2016

helluvajoy said:

What constitutes "good drinks" for you? I am sure there are plenty of threads about this already (going to search now), but we're going back and forth on the wine/beer vs. full bar thing right now. Curious to hear what others think/have done.

To me, "good drinks" just means a variety, whether you choose to serve alcohol or not. Multiple non-alcoholic options (water, iced tea, lemonade, something sparkly), and a couple of alcoholic options is my ideal combo.

We had alcohol at our wedding: beer (a hefeweizen and a pale ale), wine (a white, a red, and a rose), and two liquors (bourbon and vodka) plus a variety of mixers. Not quite a full bar, but more like "beer and wine plus." You are completely fine sticking to beer and wine if that's what you want and can afford. If you go that route, I would have at least two beers (one lager and one ale, maybe) and two wines (a red and a white).

ETA to your original question: Corn hole and horse shoes would definitely fit the country theme!

ETA #2: "Good drinks" also = free drinks. Guests should not have to open their wallets for anything at the reception.

SaintPaulGal · July 2016

Agree that "good drinks" are ones I don't have to pay for as a guest. But I also think it is important to offer quality spirits if you are doing a full bar--you don't have to get super high end top shelf stuff, but no rotgut awful rail whisky that's $5.99 a liter.

Also want to chime in that $5k worth of good booze is going to be a lot more appreciated than $5k worth of mechanical bull and shorts.

madamerwin · July 2016

SaintPaulGal said:

Agree that "good drinks" are ones I don't have to pay for as a guest. But I also think it is important to offer quality spirits if you are doing a full bar--you don't have to get super high end top shelf stuff, but no rotgut awful rail whisky that's $5.99 a liter.

Also want to chime in that $5k worth of good booze is going to be a lot more appreciated than $5k worth of mechanical bull and shorts.

Yes, this, 100%.

AddieCake · July 2016

Good drinks for me means I don't pay for them and there's variety, be they alcoholic or non.

Knottie1469114458 · July 2016

OK I think we are all on the same page about the wallet thing--thank you. My mom thinks having beer/wine and then cash bar for the hard stuff is fine and I disagree.

Also 4k for mechanical bull...much better use of that money! For some reason I just loved the idea of it. I think of it was like a 1k thing I might reconsider but at the same time the 1k mechanical bull is going to be the one that probably doesn't actually work and/or will fall on top of my FI's grandma, and then we'd be having a funeral, not a wedding.

PrettyGirlLost · July 2016

madamerwin said:

SaintPaulGal said:

Agree that "good drinks" are ones I don't have to pay for as a guest. But I also think it is important to offer quality spirits if you are doing a full bar--you don't have to get super high end top shelf stuff, but no rotgut awful rail whisky that's $5.99 a liter.

Also want to chime in that $5k worth of good booze is going to be a lot more appreciated than $5k worth of mechanical bull and shorts.

Yes, this, 100%.

This and

AddieCake said:

Good drinks for me means I don't pay for them and there's variety, be they alcoholic or non.

This.

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