We’re having a backyard wedding with immediate family and close friends only. We want to create an intimate, casual vibe and we want everyone to feel like they are a part of our wedding since we are not having a wedding party. Here are some ideas we have so far:

1) Putting a section up on our wedding website so that guests can select a few songs they’d like played at the reception (on our ipod). For the guests that are married, we’re asking them to share their ‘first dance’ song so that we can honor them with it at the reception.

2) Having circular seating during the ceremony as opposed to rows. We think this creates a more inclusive vibe and does away with the hierarchy that row seating can imply. Plus our guests will be encircling us with their support (visually, at least).

3) Passing the rings around to guests during the ceremony so they can hold them in their hands and, if they wish, bless them or silently pray over them. Plus we just think this makes them feel a part of what’s going on.

Do you have any other ideas on how we can make our guests feel a part of things? Please keep in mind our ENTIRE wedding budget is just $1,000 so expensive ideas won’t be doable.

Thank you so much for your ideas! I’m looking forward to seeing what you come up with!
If you don’t have any other IDEAS, please don’t comment. I’m not asking for your opinion on what I have come up with so far. I’m asking for IDEAS, not OPINIONS.
The weddings I’ve enjoyed the most are the ones I’ve felt most included at. Those, for me, are the most memorable too.