Planning the big day can sometimes seem like a veritable deluge of to-do lists. Venue! Cake! Beverages! Dishes! Dresses! Tuxes! Flowers! Invitations! Seating! And all of the other things!! It’s enough to make a couple throw their hands in the air, pull out the doughnuts and go watch reruns of Seinfeld for the rest of their natural-born days.
Well, don’t do that. Instead, start checking items off your list. Tackle the big ones first, then winnow your way down to the more nitpicky ones, adding extra tasks to your list along the way. Such a systematic approach can really save your sanity … not to mention your DVR.
So what’s the very biggest decision you need to make, right from the get-go? Why, where to host the wedding and rehearsal dinner, of course. The good news? This is actually a pretty easy issue to solve. If you love shimmering lakes and rivers, there’s no better backdrop than a pleasure cruise to really set your wedding and rehearsal dinner apart. Still need convincing? Here are five reasons to stage your event on the water.
1.Water is the Perfect Backdrop for Any Wedding Color Scheme
For most brides and particularly style-conscious grooms, one of the biggest questions right from the outset is which colors to go with. Black, white and a metallic color hue – most commonly gold or silver – are usually present, but typically the happy couple chooses another color or several to complement the overall look.
Popular hues these days include burgundy, cherry red, lime, navy, sunshine yellow, cobalt blue, apricot and amethyst. Of course, any color well-paired with those surrounding it will look lovely, especially if dresses, vests and ties, flowers, tablecloths, food and stationary are all coordinated. But more importantly, water matches all. Much like a field of grass, water in all its hues and moods adds to the color scheme rather than detracting, so no matter what you choose, you can feel confident that your special day will have the perfect backdrop.
Most brides and grooms, moreover, are concerned that the rehearsal dinner come off well too. Luckily, water is just a lovely a backdrop against fine dining and the more muted decorations involved here. Just give it a try and see!
2. Water Symbolizes Life and Freedom
Traditionally, water has symbolized both life and freedom. It’s easy to see why. Life cannot exist without water, which is why it is frequently showcased in gardens or courtyards in the form of fountains, pools or burbling brooks. Moreover, it features centrally in ceremonies the world over. It is symbolic of cleansing, renewal and introspection as well as the human spirit. Rivers typically represent the flow of life, its tendency to move onward and find new channels. Lakes, on the other hand, represent contentment and fulfillment, wonderful qualities for a celebration of love.
Freedom, of course, is easy to explain. Nowhere can a person be more free than on a delightfully sedate river or in the middle of a sparkling lake. While marital union is meant to bind two people together for life, it in some ways frees them as well – alleviating loneliness, providing support and freeing each member of the couple to become who they truly are.
Uh oh, you’re thinking. Isn’t this a bit much to include in my wedding or rehearsal dinner?
Honestly, we don’t think so. Invoking the collective memory of humankind is something most couples do on their special day, in the form of vows, readings and symbolic gestures (think rings and bouquet tosses). So throwing a little more happiness, life and freedom into the mix can’t really help but send you off in style.
3. Boat Rides Make Guests Feel Like They’re on Vacation
Who doesn’t love a vacation? The short answer is no one. The long answer is no one. Weddings and rehearsal dinners are already halfway there, what with dressy attire, free dinners and flowing drinks. But if you want to truly take it up a notch and show your guests the time of their lives, you should make it feel as much like a vacation as possible … and nothing could be easier than throwing a beautiful water setting into the mix.
Whether you prefer the stunning city skyline of the Mississippi River or the more pastoral tree-lined waterways of Lake Minnetonka, your guests will appreciate the hours-long escape from reality while they drink, dine and dance to their hearts’ content. Plus, it’s so much more cost-effective than throwing a destination wedding. All you have to do is set foot on board and you’re on your way.
4. Boats Have Many Different “Venues” to Encourage Celebration
A good wedding keeps the party moving. From vows to cocktail hour to toasts to dinner to dancing to cake to the real party, the schedule of events should progress throughout the evening. Otherwise guests can get a little bored, and no one wants a boring wedding. For the rehearsal dinner, a progression of events is less important, but a setting becomes even more important; choosing the perfect place can encourage the love and familiarity you’re encouraging in this exclusive gathering.
As for weddings, it’s fun to have different venues for each segment of the evening. You might say “I do” in the bow of the boat or on land before boarding (like in one of our lovely, specialty gazebos). Once the ceremony is behind you, it can be fun to have cocktails al fresco or in a dining room on top of the boat for more spectacular views. Dinner, usually the most dignified affair of the evening, works well in formal dining rooms with a panorama of windows to let in the liquid views.
Dancing usually requires a large, open floor space, while it’s always fun to cut the cake in ancillary areas, such as the roof of the boat or a back deck. Whichever venues you choose for each event, just make sure there’s enough room for all of your guests to be there at the same time. Gotta keep that party feel going!
5. Water Settings Are Perfect for Gatherings Large and Small
Whether you’re cultivating an intimate feel or getting a large group of people together for a good old-fashioned hoedown, a water setting has you covered. For small groups, being surrounded by the soft splashing of waves and lit by the glow of candles creates a perfectly intimate feel. For large groups, the play of moonlight on water or shining lights along a riverbank set an ideal backdrop for loud chatter, raucous dancing and laughter aplenty.
Still wondering about what size wedding or rehearsal dinner you should have? Not sure how to choose a venue until you decide? Try taking the following questions into account:
- Who is an absolute necessity? This usually includes parents, grandparents and siblings as well as close friends.
- Who would you like to have there? This may include coworkers or acquaintances.
- What kind of service staff or entertainment will you have? If you want servers, a five-person band and a minister to be present, you should likely invite more than 20 people, otherwise the ratio of guests to support personnel will likely be a little awkward.
- Who will be offended if they aren’t invited? While this might seem like a crummy reason to issue an invitation, it may just save you heartache in the long run.
Checking off the list (twice!) of guests you’re likely to invite can help you choose both a venue for the wedding itself, as well as for the more select rehearsal dinner. Once you do, you can choose which water setting works best for you – river or lake – for each occasion.
Truly, nothing beats water for a gorgeous setting. As for venues, you really can’t top the novelty and open-air freedom of a boat. If you’re still stuck on where to host your wedding, rehearsal dinner or both, don’t wait any longer to learn more about Paradise Charter Cruises. Our elegant SkipperLiner vessels serve more than 50,000 passengers per year on Lake Minnetonka and the Mississippi River, two of the most popular and well-known American waterways.
Let your special event be the next to shine on this storied river or beautiful, peninsula-decorated lake. You won’t regret the views, the service or the experience, so get in touch today.