Reception Games

Anton and Kayla were playing the shoe game Saturday night at their engagement party. During the game, the betrothed (or newly-marrieds if played at a wedding reception) hold their own shoe in one hand and their beloved's shoe in the other. They sit back to back and answer questions about each other. The questions include:

Who is the messier?
Who said 'I love you first?
Who is the better driver?
Who spend the most money?
Who's the more likely to be running late?

It is a sweet game for guests to get to know the couple better and to see how well the couple knows one another. Anton and Kayla did pretty well and agreed on many of the questions. One they disagreed on - and the one that got the most "awww"s - was "Who is the better looking?" Without hesitation they both put up their betrothed's shoe. It didn't even look like they thought about it. It was a sweet selfless response and showed the love they had for one another. Ayla said during the game, "I wonder how Rob and I would do at that game?" And plans were made to have them possibly play it at the rehearsal dinner.

When you get a group of folks together who may not know one another at an engagement party or reception, having fun games like this can liven up the party, get folks to mix and mingle and keep guests entertained. Your typical reception has the same elements: dinner, toast, dancing, cake cutting and bouquet/garter toss. So to have other things for guests to do makes the evening memorable. Ayla and Rob will be having several activities available for guests to do, like table games, guest book signings and the selfie station.

Here are some entertaining ideas for the reception:

1. Mad Libs or in this case, Wed Libs. Create your love story and eliminate names, verbs, nouns, adjectives and adverbs. Let guests ask other guests at their table for suggestions for the blanks, fill out the Mad Lib and place it in a box for you to read later.
2. If there is room, corn hole or the bean bag toss. It keeps folks busy and is a hit at any party. You can even special make the game in wedding colors or each representing the bride or groom.
3. Giant games like Checkers, Jenga, Kerplunk, Yahtzee, Scrabble and Connect Four. Again you need room for games like these.
4. Photo I Spy. Give guests a list of things to get pictures of: the cake cutting, first dance, table guests, the couple kissing or even specific things like a picture of someone you've never met, the youngest guest, the oldest guest, etc. Then give your guest a hashtag to link their photos so you can view them later. You may get good pictures of different events with a unique angle or perspective.
5. Questions. Leave blank cards on the dinner tables and ask guests to name your first child, create bucket list items for you and suggest date ideas. The cards can then be placed it the same place as wedding cards for you to read later.
6. We talked about the piñata Daddy and I had at the wedding on Feb. 10 of this blog. It was a fun diversion for children.
7. For a destination wedding or wedding where folks are coming from all over, put a US or world map on the wall and ask guests to put a pin in the location they are visiting the wedding from. It will be fun for them to see where guest are from and give you a nice remembrance.
8. Who said what? Get interesting sayings from the bride and groom and have guests try to guess who said the quote by circling the bride or groom's name. Have guests turn the cards in where weddings cards go.
9. A dance off or sing off - girls against the boys. For the sing off, come up with themes each team will sing a song about until one cannot come up with an idea. Love songs, for example.
10. A dance chain. Like any game where one person starts and each subsequent guest adds something after repeating the items already said. You get an original dance by the end.

There are many other party games played for different holidays or birthdays which can be tweaked to make them about the couple or weddings. Find ways to keep the guests entertained, make a new memory and have fun!

Discussion: What is your favorite party game? What is the most unusual thing you've seen played at a wedding reception? What is one of the most fun things you have done at a wedding reception?

Prayer: Thank you, Father, for the guests who will attend these weddings. We pray we can perhaps have something uniquely fun for our guests to learn, do and enjoy. We thank you for the precious memories to be made. In Christ, Amen.

Feast & Merriment

Check one: __ Steak __ Chicken __ Vegetarian Option
You'll see them on RSVP cards for wedding guests so that caterers will have an accurate count for meals at the reception. You don't necessarily know what kind of steak or chicken or vegetarian option you will have, but you check your preference, nonetheless. Sometimes you get lucky and sometimes you wished you checked something else. Honestly you never know how the food is going to be at a reception when you are the guest. I have watched many a "Four Weddings" show on TV where brides are ranked on various aspects of their wedding and reception, including the food. If there is one thing I noticed, people like comfort foods ...  you know, fried chicken, macaroni and cheese. They are always huge hits on that show.

Both couples will have the opportunity to choose menu items for their reception. Ayla and Rob, with their background in the culinary arts, put great emphasis on what food will be offered at the reception and how it will be presented. That was top priority when selecting a venue for them. The food had to be not just good, but excellent. After trying out the restaurant below the venue they selected at Christmas, I think they are in good hands. They plan on having a "feast and merriment" following their wedding. The feast will be food stations of various appetizers. When I first heard about this, I wondered how "feast"y it was, but after attending a wedding last week with tasty and healthy bite-sized options which filled me right up, now I'm excited to see what they select and know I'll be feasting.

At the wedding last week, sliced turkey and ham, cocktail weinies, meatballs, shrimp, raw veggies and fruits, breads and cheeses (even a bowl of Sixlets) were part of the buffet. Then, of course, everyone got cake. It was a wonderful meal and there was plenty for everyone. I've been to weddings where you get a huge plated meal, where much is wasted on each plate. In this situation, people took what they wanted, so there was far less waste. I've also been to a wedding where there was no meal, just mints, nuts and wedding cake. Daddy and I hit a McDonald's after the reception. We felt kinda chinced, honestly.

In Biblical times, wedding feasts lasted a week and included "oxen and butchered fattened livestock" (Matthew 22:4). Imagine feeding your guests for that long instead of one evening! Receptions today can have sit down dinners, buffets, cocktail party appetizers and BBQ. When The Knot asked caterers around the country to share their most popular wedding dishes, items like sushi, tartlets, salads and unique appetizers made the list. Of course it is always cheaper when you can provide your own food and servers. At the wedding reception last week, family members filled empty trays and poured wine for guests. Another option is having family-style serving (bowls and trays of food at each table sharing just like a family) verses plated meals, which can save on costs. Food stations allow for speed in serving and more mingling, so there are all kinds of way to feed the masses.

So have fun creating within budget. I think as long as bellies are full and folks are energized enough to dance, all will be fine. Getting ready for the feast and merriment!

Discussion: What is the worst wedding reception meal you've ever had? The best? What kinds of food would you like at your wedding? How would you like it served?

Prayer: Lord God, to celebrate a union before you with a wedding feast is such a joy. We pray for the finances to hold these parties and guidance on the most tasty foods to serve. In Christ we pray, Amen.

A Hole In The Middle Of Your Heart

Some have candy bars. Some have make-your-own sundae bars. It's Pittsburgh it's the ever popular cookie table. But for Ayla and Rob it will be a donut and coffee bar. An extra little snack for the reception - or in Ayla and Rob's case, during the "feast and merriment." Rob loves donuts. Ayla loves coffee. Thankfully the two go together beautifully. In honor of that perfect combo, a donut/coffee bar will be available for all the guests at the celebration of their marriage. And as all the Zimanek's love donuts, this will be a fun bar to have. Sprinkled, cinnamon, custard-filled, frosted, peanut-covered, glazed, fruity, dusted with powdered sugar (how a wish a Manderfield's turtle) ... doesn't matter what kind of donut, just a bunch of them.

You know when Ayla was a little girl she loved a different kind of donut. He was the Donut Man. His real name is Rob Evans. Dressed in overalls and a newsboy cap and hanging around with a cake donut named Duncan, he wrote and sang songs to help children learn the Bible. Ask Ayla to recite Philippians 4:13 and she will sing, ♫ I can do all things, all things, all things. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13. How many things can you do? All things! ♫ She can recite the first verse of the Bible to the dribble of a basketball thanks to the Donut Man. All his cassettes - yes, that's how long ago we listened to him - were fun and catchy. The Donut Man taught us that we were just like donuts, with a hole in the middle of our heart that only Christ could fill. Ayla got to meet him in 1994 and was thrilled to win a music cassette from him. I don't know if Rob Evans continues in his appearances as the Donut Man, but I am grateful for his ministry in that he knew just how to reach children for Christ.

So when we attend the "feast and merriment" after Ayla and Rob's wedding, it is appropriate that we celebrate by eating donuts. We do have a hole in our hearts that only Christ can fill. Symbolic and delicious, like donuts and coffee, a perfect blend.

Discussion: Do you know a Donut Man song? What is your favorite donut?

Prayer: Father, we thank You for Rob Evan's ministry. We thank You for songs that help us learn Scripture and Biblical principles. And we thank You for donuts. Lord Jesus, we also thank you for filling our hearts. We love you. In Jesus name, Amen.

Request The Honor Of Your Presence

Now that the Save the Dates have gone out, Ayla and Rob are in the process of searching for the perfect wedding invitation. They want one that reflects the theme and colors of their wedding, incorporates their personalities and is, of course, informative about the event, location, times, etc. In our day, invitations were pretty simple - white with words printed in the color of your event. We had RSVP cards with self-addressed stamped envelopes included and the ever present tissue paper (not quite sure what that was for). Nowadays, invitations are original and clever, depending on how much money you want to sink into them. I've seen invitations sent in bottles, engraved in wood, in a hardback book, as a box of chocolates, in a viewfinder and many more. And RSVP cards are not mandatory as people can respond via the couple's website. So there are all kinds of ways to invite folks to the wedding.

But if you want to know what you need to have on your invites, here's the scoop:

• The name of the hosts of the wedding goes at the top
• Date, day, time and location
• If there is a reception, indicate as such
• How to RSVP - card or online?

You can also include your information on your website, attire, maps, accommodations and menu choices for the reception.

You don't have to spell out everything ("two thousand fifteen") just as long as everything is consistent with words, numbers and abbreviations. You can "request the honor of your presence" or "invite you to the celebration of the marriage" or "request the pleasure of your company" ... whatever you like.

As for how to address them:

• Mr. and Mrs. for married couples. If their family is included ... "and family."
• For singles: Miss So-And-So and Guest
• For couples you know who aren't married, one after the other with an ampersand or stack the names.

Depending on the guest, you can also include activity information with the invitation such as - rehearsal dinner, bridal tea, farewell brunch or gift opening.

Keep in mind that if you have an invitation that is extra large, square or contains any envelope embellishments, you will need to pay extra postage.

Praying as you make your decision!

Discussion: What are some ideas you have for your invitations? What is important to be included?

Prayer: Father, you already know what the invitations will look like and who all will come. We give you glory and thank you in advance for all your blessings and the sweet souls who will participate! In Jesus, Amen.

Venue Sweet Venue

We have a venue! Praise the Lord! What a load off that is! To know that you have found a beautiful location on the Manatee River not far from your apartment where you can have both your wedding and reception in the same place is convenient and comforting. It incorporates what you both love: Ayla near the water and Rob near the boats in the marina. With gulls and pelicans flying by, this will be a lovely place to stand before our Lord and say your vows, then celebrate as the sun sets behind.

There is lots to love about this location aside from its proximity to your home and the beautiful riverside location. There is also the organization of the banquet hall, its layout designed to accommodate weddings, nice-sized dance floor, bride's dressing room, excellent food (very important to you both) and large deck for an outdoor ceremony (not to mention a Plan B location indoors if it rains). And the fact that it comes with a wedding coordinator! Ahhhh, I know you both as full-time employees and your parents who are far away are grateful to God that we have found such a perfect full-service place.

There may be some folks who say, "But it's not a church." To that we would ask, "What is the church?" If the church is not a building, but rather a gathering of souls who love and worship the Father, then we should have the church covered. Plus with your Daddy doing the ceremony, God will be all over this. We will praise His name and lift Him high. If there are folks there who do not have a relationship with Christ, they will certainly hear about Him that day.

May this location be a holy place where God blesses your union, where He will be glorified, where you will have a sweet celebration and precious memories. Add where you can come back and reminisce and celebrate future anniversaries. 

Discussion: What are some hopes you have for your wedding/reception location? What are ways you planning to make this location a holy place for your nuptials?

Prayer: Father, we thank you for this beautiful place where in less than 10 months, Rob and Ayla will be united together in You. We pray for your Holy Spirit to be present and to bless not only Rob and Ayla but all who attend and the location itself. We also ask for prayers for those who will set up, prepare food, clean up, decorate and the coordinator who pulls it all together. In Jesus, Amen.

Poured Out

Did you know that Jesus' first miracle was at a wedding? Recorded by John in the second chapter of the gospel, he tells of his first-hand observance where Jesus turns water into wine at a wedding reception. Everyone is having a grand time drinking wine at the wedding feast, and it runs out. His mom, Mary, sees that there's no more wine and goes to her son, whom she knows is God, to tell Him about it. And Christ's response is classic. He says in verse 4, "What concern is that to you and me? My hour has not yet come." It's like He's saying, "Seriously, you are asking Me to do a miracle for this? I am just starting this ministry, just now gathering disciples and you want Me to get more wine or even make it? That is not why I'm here. It's not my job. It's not my time." (Makes you wonder what she observed Him do prior to this event.) But here's the beautiful part. This story is bathed in symbolism, literally. First, the jars Christ asks the servants to fill with water are stone jars used in ritual washing for the Jews. This ceremonial washing was to cleanse and purify the Jews prior to meals and worship. And these jars were big, holding upwards of 30 gallons of

water. Christ asks for six of these to be filled. Then He just asks the servant to draw some out and take it to the chief steward. Imagine the bravery of the servant carrying a cup of what was originally water to his boss for a taste. Then imagine his surprise that is was the best wine ever. Think about the number of people that day who learned what happened there. You can hear the whispers: "Psst, I heard Mary's son, the carpenter, magically transformed this water into wine. Not even kidding." Christ, in this one act, was announcing to all the people at that wedding (many who were probably drunk with wine at this point), "Hey, look what I can do" with a more poignant "See Who I Am." The fact that He used jars for ritual cleansing and changed it into wine, you can see the symbolism and preview of His saying at the Last Supper (recorded in Luke 22:20), "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for many." They would not need stone jars for ritual cleansing anymore. Christ had it covered.

We know you both love wine (and have the cork collection to prove it). As cuisiniers, you know what wines enhance other foods to make them taste even better. And obviously Christ loved it, too, enough to make it an example and symbol of His great sacrifice for all time. We love that Christ chose (even if his mom nudged Him to do it) a wedding, a sacred event and union symbolic of His marriage to the church, to introduce Himself as Savior. And it was this first miracle that convinced the men who recently decided to follow him (John, Andrew, Peter, Nathaniel and Phillip in John 1) that they were following the right Rabbi. John 2:11 says, "Jesus did this, the first of His signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed His glory; and His disciples believed in Him."

Christ has revealed His glory, and we believe. Pouring His life out for ours and rising from the dead, glory to Him.

Now don't count on Christ changing any water into wine at your wedding reception. But you can count on this: no matter what you do in this life, no matter what mistakes you make in your relationship together, He has it covered.

Discussion: What impresses you most about this first miracle at the wedding in Cana? Just for fun, what kind of wine do you think Christ turned it into? How important is the symbolism of wine to Christ's blood to you? Is communion a possibility at your wedding? What kinds of wine will you have at your reception?

Prayer: Father, we thank you for your Son, for His sacrifice for us and most importantly that He conquered death that we can be brought to you pure and holy. Thank you for Him and the beautiful symbol of the wine at the wedding in Cana. In name of the True Vine (John 15:5), Amen.