You may know the members of your wedding party better than anyone else, but they may not know each other. Some may be your buddies from college, while others you’ve been friends with since elementary school. You want them to get along with each other just as you get along with them. With all of the pre-wedding get togethers (I’m finding out that there are quite a few) like showers, parties and dinners, your wedding party is going to be spending a lot of time with one another, whether they like it or not. You don’t want them feeling uncomfortable because they don’t know one another. Here are a few ways to make your wedding party feel less like a seventh grade dance and more like a true wedding family :
Games
Keeping up conversations with the wedding party is essential to keep the momentum going and assure that there are no awkward silences. But of course when people don’t know each other very well, conversations can be hard to come by and there’s only so much you can say about the weather. This is where the fun part comes in.
Games are the perfect way to get people talking so they gradually become more comfortable with one another and create an upbeat environment suitable for all the wedding get togethers. And no, I’m not talking about awkward games like pin the tail on the donkey or musical chairs (although I’m stellar at both games, for any of you who are wondering). For a more modern flair, try a video scavenger hunt. Squidoo said to divide your wedding party into different groups and send them out with a video camera and a list of activities they must perform and tape. Ideas could include getting a complete stranger to sing the national anthem or having a member of the wedding party sing the Oscar Meyer hot dog song in the middle of the meat section at a grocery store. When you get back from the scavenger hunt, watch the ridiculousness unfold on the television. This is a unique way to get everyone laughing and quickly build rapport among even the quietest of party members.
Keep the fun going
You don’t want the good times and comfortable environment to vanish after one party. Keep the momentum going by providing ways for the wedding party to keep in contact with one another. This could mean grabbing lunch or a few drinks together every once in awhile in between wedding events or even just emailing back and forth if everyone’s schedules don’t allow them free time. With the digital age we live in, staying in contact with one another is simple. Skype is a great way for everyone to see and talk to each other without leaving their house, even if it’s only for a few minutes. The more the group is in contact with one another, the less uncomfortable they may be the next time they see each other.
