Seamless Ways to Blend Formality and Fun in Your Wedding

Your wedding is naturally one of the most important days of your life, and whilst there’s no escaping the officiality of the occasion, the best weddings always manage to strike a balance between formality and unforgettable fun, right? So, how do you create a celebration that honours tradition whilst still feeling lighthearted and full of joy? Well, with a bit of creativity during the wedding planning process and a few thoughtful touches, your big day can feel just formal enough and still have a party to remember!

Set the tone with your wedding invitations

Ahead of the big day, your wedding invites are about more than simply sharing your wedding date and meal choices; they're the first hint your guests get about what to expect from your upcoming event, so make sure they reflect the vibe of your special day, from the off! Unless you’re going for a super traditional wedding, avoid using overly formal language on your wedding invitation. To let your friends and family know they’re in for a good time, inject a bit of personality by using more informal, engaging language like “Get ready to eat, drink, and dance the night away!”.

Ditch the RSVP cards

Have a bit of fun with the RSVP process, save paper and stay organised while you're at it! A wedding website with RSVP isn't just a place for guests to RSVP online; it's also a personalised guidebook for your wedding day. Why not personalise your wedding website with your love story and photos? You can even collect song requests and meal selections when guests RSVP!

Choose a venue that sets the mood

Your wedding venue plays a huge role in how your wedding looks and feels, so make sure that your choice can accommodate a balance of both formality and fun. Look for event spaces that offer both style and comfort, making sure they can accommodate all your party needs. Remember that a city venue might be subject to stricter curfews than a country estate or winery, so if you want to party all night long, choose accordingly!

It’s worth booking a wedding venue with distinct spaces for different vibes and using them to blend formality and fun seamlessly throughout your wedding day. For example, you could contrast a laid-back outdoor ceremony with a lively indoor reception or opt for a multi-level inner-city venue to allow for a seamless, natural flow to your day.

Personalise your ceremony

The ceremony is probably going to be the most formal part of your wedding day, but that doesn’t mean it has to be overly traditional or stuffy. Therefore, don’t be afraid to put your own stamp on the ceremony—heartfelt vows are a must, but adding a bit of humour can lighten the mood, break the ice, and make the ceremony more uniquely yours. Ideally, you’ll have your guests belly laughing one minute and drying their tears the next!

To contrast with the humour, make sure you incorporate some touching moments or memories that reflect your relationship. That could be a candle-lighting ceremony, a poem written by a friend, or a reading from your favourite book or film; this is what will make the event feel intimate, personal, and yours.

Have fun with your wedding attire

Your wedding attire is a super easy way of blending the two vibes together, and believe us; there are so many ways to get creative with your wedding outfit! For the groom, a colourful suit lining or a jazzy tie would be a cool, subtle break from tradition, and for the bride, bold accessories or kick-ass sparkly trainers under your dress are all great ideas. Have you also considered switching things up for the evening and bringing out a showstopper of a party dress? Sequins, feathers, glitter—this is your opportunity to have a lot of fun and inject some serious personality into the evening’s festivities!

Get creative with your dress code for guests

However, you two don’t have to have all the fun! Why not invite your guests to get creative with their outfits, too? If you want your wedding photos to be a riot of colour, then ask them to dress colourfully or with extra flair. And if you’re hosting a weekend wedding, then why not have part of the celebration in fancy dress?

Design a wedding reception that’s fun for everyone

A great wedding reception isn't just about good food and drink (although it is a big part of it!). To make it a night to remember, you’ll want to design a reception that keeps everyone entertained and dancing into the small hours! Here are some ideas to ensure your guests have a blast all night long.

Have fun with your wedding soundtrack

Your wedding playlist will form the musical backdrop to your big day, so make sure you’ve got all bases covered, from sophisticated background music during dinner to high-energy tunes for dancing later on. If you want to get everyone on the dance floor, you could always ask your guests for song requests for your playlist or DJ when they RSVP.

Add interactive elements to your big day

Photo booths, game stations, or even a fun trivia game about the couple can be a brilliant icebreaker for wedding guests. If you’re throwing a child-friendly celebration, then make sure you provide things to keep your younger guests busy: colouring books, pens, maybe even a disposable camera, each with a list of fun ‘shots’ to capture. If you want to bring in more formal entertainment for all your guests, then a tarot reader, magician, or live illustrator are all super fun ideas and encourage your guests to interact with them and each other.

Plan a formal but fun wedding feast

Food and drink are central to your celebration, and your choice of menu is an easy way to balance formality and fun! To do this, offer a gourmet dining experience for your main meal but add a playful touch to the rest of the day. For example, you could serve mini comfort foods such as hors d’oeuvres (think macaroni cheese arancini) or put on a late-night snack bar featuring sliders, loaded fries, or tacos.

For a touch of class, we love it when couples create a signature cocktail or mocktails (or two) that reflect their personalities and draw on their travels as a couple. To make it even more fun, you could also have guests vote for their winner.

Infuse your wedding decor with personality

Curating your wedding decor can feel a little overwhelming at the start, but platforms such as Pinterest are invaluable and the perfect starting point. Classic staples such as white tablecloths and gold accents never go out of fashion, then simply add pops of personality. Think quirky centrepieces, colourful table runners and napkins, a custom-made seating chart or table names that nod to your shared history with your guests.

Whether you choose a muted sage green or a soft blush peach colour scheme for your wedding, choosing a bold accent colour is a great way to add some fun to the formality. Did someone say hot pinks and bright oranges?!

Blending formality and fun in your wedding isn’t about choosing between elegance and playfulness; it’s about bringing them together in a way that feels true to you as a couple. Now, what are you waiting for? Go and plan the wedding of your dreams - a little bit formal, a LOT of fun and 100% you!