If you have a flair for the dramatic, why not throw a surprise wedding? Simply invite all of your guests to attend a party under another pretense, and when they arrive they will discover that they are in fact there to witness a wedding and celebrate with the newlyweds at a reception. These are some tips on how to plan a fabulous surprise wedding that no one will ever forget.
Why throw a surprise wedding? A love of the unexpected is a great reason. For couples who love to make a splash when they entertain, a surprise wedding is a fantastic option. You can be sure that people will be talking about your event for a long, long time afterward! Another reason to plan a surprise wedding is to avoid all the hoopla, opinions, and family drama that comes with planning a traditional wedding. Second time couples may also choose this option as a way to ensure that their friends and family get to join them for the celebration without feeling obligated to give a wedding present.
How do you pull off a surprise wedding? By keeping it a secret from everyone! If a few people start to suspect, the element of suspense will be dashed. This is easier to manage in a big city than a small town. Be sure that all of your vendors understand that your wedding is meant to be a secret, so that the florist or baker does not let something slip to anyone you know. The vendors will be into the excitement of the secret, as it is something fun and different for them too. As important as the element of surprise is, however, it is not more important than the feelings of your parents or children. Before the start of the ceremony and the "big reveal" on the wedding day, do take aside your closest relatives and privately inform share the news of your plans with them so they do not feel blindsided when the bride appears in her gown and pearl earrings as "The Wedding March" begins to play.
The key to making a surprise wedding work is to make the invitation to the cover-up party plausible. It helps if you can come up with a believable reason to host a big bash, such as a milestone birthday. Of course, you also need to have the party in a place that makes sense for the alleged location. Inviting people to a church for a birthday party would probably not be a good cover, but asking them to join you for a private party in a hotel or club would help to maintain your cover story.
As for the actual moment of the big reveal, there are a couple of ways to handle it. If your wedding ceremony will be short enough for everyone to stand, you could have them all in one room for cocktails and appetizers while awaiting the arrival of the guest of honor (actually the bride). The groom and officiant move to the front of the room, music begins to play, and in walks the bride in a fabulous gown, pearl earrings, and perhaps a veil. Once their astonishment begins to fade, people will quickly start to grasp what is going on. Another option, especially if you would like to have rows of seats and a traditional aisle, is for the groom to announce that everyone has been invited there to witness a wedding, and he can have all the guests guided into an adjoining room which is set up for a ceremony.
Once the knot has been tied, the wedding reception can proceed pretty much like any other dinner party or wedding reception. Have a band, a big wedding cake, favors, and all the traditional trimmings. You can be sure that people will be in a festive and excited mood, ready to help the newlyweds celebrate their union at their surprise wedding.
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