September and October are the peak months of wedding season for their cooler temperatures and gorgeous foliage. It also coincides with football season, which is a bit problematic for diehard fans, especially if the date falls on a Saturday or Sunday. Even though your wedding is the best day of your life and your guests will be more than thrilled to celebrate it with you, it still can cause some drama if the ceremony and game are scheduled at the same time. If planning your wedding on a big day of football is unavoidable, here are some tips on how to pay homage to your favorite football team.
Plan Accordingly
One way to make sure that you won’t miss a minute of the game’s action is by planning your wedding day on the bye week of your team’s schedule. However, since teams have only one or two bye weeks in a season, there’s a strong chance your venue will already be booked for those dates. Football schedules are released a year in advance, so if you plan on tying the knot in the town your team is from, you can bet those dates will be booked almost immediately.
So, if it comes down to booking your wedding on the day of a big game, be sure to plan the ceremony before or after game time. This way you and your guests can stay updated on the score and celebrate a victory along with your marriage.
Tickets to the Big [Game] Day
If you must plan your wedding during a big game and think your guests will be disgruntled about it, address it on the invitation that you do in fact realize the coincidence and it wasn’t a planning mistake. Make it know that, “yes, our wedding day is on gameday, but we’re going to celebrate it in a big way.” This will make guests excited for any surprises that will be coming their way. Instead of traditional invitations, send out “tickets” to the big day that are branded with your team’s logo and colors. This way, you won’t receive any “regretfully declines” RSVPs.
Attention to Detail
There are plenty of ways to incorporate your team into the details of your wedding. When taking photos for your “Save the Date,” wear your team’s jerseys and paint the date on a football to use as a prop during the shoot. Also, the groomsmen can wear team socks that will peak out at random moments of dancing. Or, you can dictate the color palette of your bridesmaid dresses and table decor to match the team’s colors so there will be no denying who you root for.
Change the Channel
If your reception venue has TVs or a projector, request that they put on the game for the party. Keep it on silent so there’s no distraction from the music, speeches or reception’s festivities. However, fans can still stay updated on the play-by-play as they please. When a team does score, have the emcee make a quick announcement, then get right back to the music and dancing.
Incorporate Your Cake
If you and your soon-to-be went to the same university or cheer for the same hometown team, incorporate the colors and logo into your wedding cake. Wedding cakes these days are becoming less traditional and more creative to reflect the bride and groom’s personalities. The icing or cake batter can be dyed to create a masterpiece that will be almost too pretty to eat.
Celebrate with a Toast
When your team wins (or loses), you’ll need to celebrate with a victory toast (or drink away your sorrows). Either way, coordinate with your catering team a special toast at the end of the game. Clearly communicate what you want beforehand, so they’ll have time to pour and serve glasses to the guests by the time the final whistle blows. The toast can be of champagne or a specialty cocktail that reflects your team’s brand.
Do you feel better about hosting your wedding day on game day? We’re here to help. Bradford Catered Events will work with you to customize your wedding cake, menu and plan for the big celebratory victory toast when your team is victorious. Our staff knows that you have carefully thought through the details of your reception, and we will help execute them to perfection to make your vision come to life. To book Knoxville’s ‘Best Wedding Caterer,’ visit us online or give us a call at 865-522-5552.
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