Author: Broc Barton

There’s many ways to kick off your reception Selfie Mirror style, but our favorite is to have a bangin’ cocktail hour. We’re going to give you the ins and outs of a cocktail hour that gets you for lack of a better term…chocolate wasted.

1. Boozy Popsicles
   1. Popsicles have a nostalgic feel to them. It gives you those coming in after a hot summer afternoon vibes. Why not give your guests that nostalgia with an adult twist! These are sure to get your guest talking. 
2.  Adult Lemonade Stand
   1. While we’re on the subject of nostalgia, how freaking fun would it be to have a lemonade stand serving spiked lemonade. Depending on your budget, you could build the whole stand, or just serve the drink. Either way if you decide to add this you definitely won’t be a regular mom…you’ll be a cool mom! 
3. Dedicate Your Drinks to Your Pets
   1. Who doesn’t love Fluffy and Spot. After all, they’re a part of the family too so why not include them in your big day?! Your guests will absolutely love this personal touch and like your pets, it will make them feel all warm and fuzzy! 
4. Don’t Forget about the Kiddos
   1. One thing that we see often at receptions is that kids are often forgotten during the cocktail hour. Make sure to include kid-friendly food and drinks and don’t be afraid to make them fun! If you are having an adult only reception, make sure that you have a few non-alcoholic options for those who choose not to drink.

Cocktail hour isn’t all about the eating and drinking though! I mean let’s be real, who wants to stand around and make small talk with strangers…amirite? Including entertainment or games is a dope way to keep your guests engaged.

1. Lawn Games
   1. Giant chess boards, croquet and cornhole are all rad ways to get the party started. Guests love to get involved and lawn games are a sweet way to achieve that. 
2. Transitions can be Fun
   1. The party don’t start till you walk in! A definite transition between cocktail hour and the reception is good because it lets your guests know it’s time to find their seats, but it doesn’t mean it has to be boring! Ushers to guide people to their seat, dancers to lead the way or heck even a marching band! Make it personal to you, but make the transition known. You’ll thank us later. 
3. Artists 
   1. Artists can be a super unique and fun addition to cocktail hour! Maybe a cartoonist to draw your guests, a violinist to walk around, or a painter to paint the room during cocktail hour that way you’ll have a memento to take home and remember the best day ever. 

Whatever you decide to do, just remember that your guests are going to be stoked about all the work that you put into the cocktail hour for them. If you’re having fun planning the cocktail hour, chances are your guests are going to have a good time attending the cocktail hour. Don’t stress. You got this!

The Showstopper 360 is one of our most unique mirrors! It takes a 360-degree video of you and up to 4 people living in the moment and celebrating the event. Our Showstopper comes with an amazing table full of props, signs, and confetti to use while the camera is spinning around you! We’ve brought the 360 to weddings, corporate events, open houses, and wedding shows all around Missouri, and every time it comes out, we hear how much fun guests have.

While having the 360 at an event is exciting, adding the cold spark boxes to it changes the game.

In 2021, the Elevate team added the legendary cold spark machines to their wedding services. The cold spark boxes from Elevate shoot a special pyrotechnic up 10 to 15 feet in the air and are cool to the touch. The sparks are able to be shot off throughout the evening and can even be used indoors! There are a limited amount of times it can be shot before the powder runs out, so make sure to use it for special moments!

We recommend using the Showstopper Spark Box combo to capture these awesome moments at weddings:

We were so excited to celebrate the Mawhorr Wedding at Sycamore Creek in Branson, MO!

Josh and Lindsay are directors for Kanakuk Camps. Their wedding, held at the one-of-a-kind Sycamore Creek Family Ranch in Branson, was one of the most exciting and electric nights for Elevate and Selfie Mirror! This was no small wedding either! Because of their roles with Kanakuk Camps, over 350 guests came to celebrate their love and get down on the dance floor! Josh and Lindsay went all out for this wedding, from having an Elevate event host to 5 – 3 gallon tubs of Blur Bell Ice Cream (Lindsay’s favorite), custom uplighting, and a crew that was ready to get down; it’s safe to say that Josh and Lindsay were ready to celebrate!

2 days before the event, Lindsay called our office to ask if she could add the Mini-Mirror to their DJ package. Now typically, we need some extra time getting that set and ready to go, but with only 48 hours until guests started arriving, the Selfie Mirror team jumped into action! They were able to create the customized selfie frame and get the Mini-Mirror secured for their event in no time!

As soon as the Mini-Mirror was set up, guests started snapping pics! It was an instant hit! From grandparents to ring bearers, everyone was lining up to grab a photo! Throughout the evening, Josh and Lindsay’s guests were able to break away from talking or waiting around for dessert to take a quick selfie and share the bride and grooms big day with all their friends and family!

We were so honored to be a part of the Mawhorr’s big day and celebrate their exciting next chapter!

Here are some of our favorite shots from the night!

How do you throw an exciting wedding reception that’s not boring, doesn’t cost too much money, and has memorable moments? It’s not as hard as you would think! Follow along as we provide tips on how to throw an exciting wedding reception, including photo booths, wedding games, and other activities you can do with your guests to keep them engaged.

Engage your guests

There are lots of ways you can engage your guests, so don’t worry if you don’t have a big budget for entertainment. Take advantage of today’s technology and stream your ceremony online with a site like WeddingVibe (starting at $450) or showcase moments on your wedding app. This way, friends and family who couldn’t be there will feel like they were!

Use Photobooths

If you’re trying to throw a party that will keep your guests engaged and entertained, it’s best to have a selfie mirror at your event. Selfie Mirrors provide everyone with something they can do on their own, but which also encourages conversation between guests; that way, if your guests get bored with what else is going on around them (and trust us, they will), they’ll still be able to create memories with friends and family.

Play fun games

There are two things you’ll need for a fun wedding reception: wedding games and a photo booth. Wedding games can range from silly to serious, but there’s one thing that all great wedding games have in common: they get your guests involved. That said, don’t feel like you need to spend hours planning them out—pick some online or use cards like never have I ever or how well do you know the bride and groom? You can either write down responses on pieces of paper beforehand or ask guests to answer with something quick (like a thumbs up) at key points during dinner.

Find unique photo opportunities

No two weddings are alike, and there are many ways you can make your wedding unique. For example, a fun idea is to plan a mission impossible-style photo game! With your photographer, the bride and groom run from table to table grabbing 2 photos with only 3 minutes to get through everyone!  Not only does it provide fun photos for all of your guests, but it helps you commemorate your day with professional-quality photography that everyone can enjoy for years after your special day.

Be playful with the decor

Playing with wedding decor can make your reception feel less like a stuffy affair and more like an exciting party for everyone. Just don’t go overboard—no one wants to end up dancing on tables. Keeping your reception low-key but fun is easier than you think: Don’t be afraid to play with the aesthetic of your wedding decor, whether it’s through fun centerpieces or bright tableware that complements your color scheme.