Beyond joining your family and friends to celebrate your love, weddings are an opportunity to infuse your big day with moments of humor that show off your sense of fun.
Incorporating humor into your wedding can add an extra layer, but it’s extremely important that you’re able to do so thoughtfully and tastefully without it being at someone else’s expense. We rounded up some wedding experts to help walk you through adding tasteful humor into every aspect of your wedding, from the ceremony to the reception and everything in between.
Photo: Mandee Johnson Photography
"Couples can use their stationery to show off their fun and playful side! Using imagery that might give the guests a chuckle or wording that will result in giggles are two ways that will take away any sort of stuffy wedding vibe. Over the years, we have had couples feature their pets on the stationery dressed up in everything from beach outfits to black tie formal attire, definitely a sight to see. Some couples have used language on their RSVP cards that listed excuses for not attending the wedding that were both clever and funny. The paper goods for the wedding are a great avenue for a fun-loving couple to infuse their personality and sprinkle in some humor!" —Kelley Nudo, Momental Designs
"Make it personal but not so niche that only one person will understand the inside joke. You can do this through décor and invitations. I had a couple ask us to hide mini Shrek figurines around the venue. If a guest found one, they could bring it to the couple and spend some one-on-one time with them! We would then re-hide the figurine and wait to see who found one next!" —Loni Peterson, LP Creative Events
"A delightful way to infuse humor into your wedding is by incorporating a personality quiz game into the reception dinner. This game, designed to let guests in on the couple's unique traits, adds a layer of fun without interrupting the meal. An engaging emcee can pose a series of pre-approved questions, and guests can raise their hand if they think it applies to one person of the couple. This interactive game fosters a jovial atmosphere, sparks camaraderie among the dinner guests, and elicits laughter throughout. It's crucial that the emcee's voice is pleasant and the questions are delivered in a fun and intriguing manner, all while respecting the guests' dining experience." —Sarah Chianese, Mangia and Enjoy!
"Add quotes and one-liners into your reception décor and table settings! Everyone can sit at a silly table with a fun back story on why you both find it funny, and you can sprinkle things into your digital displays with slideshows and projections as well!" —Jen Sulak, Weirdo Weddings
"When we're interviewing people, we're looking for that story or aspect that has a comic angle but won't be something that brings up a sore subject or could be potentially embarrassing. It's important to make sure that the humor doesn't create discomfort or damage — and ultimately is connected to some point about the health of your relationship or their good qualities as a person. For example, if you're joking about something you didn't learn until you moved in together or some hobby or habit of theirs that is unusual, it should be in the context of how well you work despite the differences between you both, or counter-balanced with how much you admire their way of being, even if it's not your own." —Brian Franklin, Vows & Speeches
"Cocktail napkins are a great place to include your favorite funny TV or movie quote. Guests love this little nod to something you all enjoy! Photo booth props are another great place to include something funny, like a giant cutout of a photo of the couple's heads with eyes cut out for guests to look through. Or a large photo of a family pet that guests can take pictures with. They love these fun details!" —Wendy Kidd, Each & Every Detail
"One of the best benefits of getting married in a tropical oasis is having the beach and/or pool just steps away. It should be no surprise that many destination wedding parties end up ending their celebration in the water! Couples and their guests have the freedom to jump in the pool or run into the ocean for an incredibly hilarious and memorable end to the evening. Make sure your photographer is around to capture the shots, and you can have a tasteful 'trash the dress' photoshoot as newlyweds." —Jen Avey, Destination Weddings Travel Group
"Have fun with your vows! Sure, you can incorporate the sappy, tear-jerker lines, but if you're a couple that likes to poke fun at one another, why would you hold that back when expressing what the other means to you? Obviously, this should be done tastefully and in jest, but why not sing your partner a little song you made up to show them how much you care in a more personalized manner!" —Michelle Vining, LOLA Event Productions
Incorporating something clever in your vows, a funny photo booth, or a nod to an inside joke adds a nice touch of authenticity amid all of your other wedding traditions. Try your hand at embracing your playful side and let your personalities shine!
Meghan Ely is the owner of wedding PR and wedding marketing firm OFD Consulting. Ely is a sought-after speaker, adjunct professor in the field of public relations, and a self-professed royal wedding enthusiast.
