With iPods, who needs a DJ?? Make a wedding list with tons of songs on it (both languages, but starting with fun music to get people started), make sure you have at least one backup iPod, and get/rent some good speakers. Voila! No DJ needed.
Or... at two weddings, there have been dance lessons first. One was swing, the other was Irish ceilidh dancing. Everyone who would have felt foolish without the lessons really got into it.
Or, if you have kids invited, let them do the dirty work of warming people up. Doesn't matter who you are, you smile at little kids. Have a chicken dance/hokie pokie competition for kids, or a hula hoop competition. Or give kids a treasure hunt: every person is given a word on the back of their name marker, and the first kid to get X number of words translated (or have bingo boards, so they don't have to translate, since some may be english and other french) gets a prize.
The great thing about letting kids do the work is that sometimes people at weddings just want to talk with the people they know, since it's one of the only times they get to. But kids help draw you out.
Or make a table for making little fairy crowns for the little girls (out of that sparkly wire and plastic curling ribbon), just cuz giggling puts everyone in a good mood.
MELINAKELLY 4/12/06 5:42 P
Yes, I love Canon in D. It's one of the possibilities. I like your idea of having some cards with wedding related words in both languages. I should take advantage of the uniqueness of the situation really...I'm just not coming up with anything. Both our families like to sing so hopefully we'll have fun with that. The problem is that my family is coming from Canada so they won't be as many of them.I'm putting together a list of fun party songs (if anyone has any in mind feel free to let me know) so hopefully we'll dance a lot too...that doesn't require speaking the same language:) and ofcourse there'll be a some wine to loosen people up. It's stressful because I want everyone to have a good time! what a lot of work for one day... but hopefully the prep will pay off in the end. Good luck with your planning. The 3rd is coming quickly isn't it?
TEACHERINPINK 4/12/06 8:11 A
Cannon in D is beautiful. That's what I'm walking down the aisle to. For games--this is a tough one. You could have something on the table with common wedding words in french and english-like love, flowers, wedding, etc. That would give guests a little "common ground" to stand on. I can't think of much more than that right now, but I will keep thinking =) I'm getting married June 3 as well! Yippee!
MELINAKELLY 4/11/06 4:07 P
Hello all other brides to be. I'm getting married June 3rd...in France of all places. We don't have a lot of money so we are having a simple wedding...and we can't afford to hire a DJ or someone to host our reception. Does anyone have any funny/fun games that would be appropriate? To make things even more complicated half the guests only speak french and the other only speak English. I'm starting to stress that it might be kind of segregated which is why some good activities could come in handy. Any ideas for a wedding shower/low key bachelorette party would be welcome as well. I'm also looking into what music to choose for the ceremony...I don't want the wedding march. Anyone care to share what they have chosen? Happy planning! MK
