Weddings are always beautiful events that brides, grooms, and their families plan for months—sometimes years—before the big day. Every couple wants their day to be memorable for everyone. In addition to the pageantry of the ceremony and a wonderful dinner and dance party, couples and wedding planners are continually searching for new and exciting guest experiences at weddings.
Jason Simonette, tattoo artist and owner of Torch and Dagger Tattoo, has provided flash tattoos at 13 weddings across Pittsburgh in 2024. Simonette has become known as the “I DO Tattooer” on Instagram. He believes that tattoos symbolize the story of love and represent a timeless tradition that will live forever on your wedding guests.
“The experience of getting inked at a wedding reception transforms guests into participants of the celebration in a way that is both intimate and artistic,” said Simonette. “It also makes the day even more unforgettable.” Guests are given a few simple tattoo images to choose from, which are selected in advance by the bride and groom. This allows Simonette to give as many guests as possible a special way to commemorate the day.
Cookie tables are a Pittsburgh wedding staple. Becca Battista, owner of Becca Bakes Cookies, has raised the bar for cookie tables everywhere with her business, Sweet Snap—Pennsylvania’s first traveling, full-service, edible cookie photo booth. “This is such a fun way to have cookies at your wedding,” said Battista. Guests can don various props, such as feather boas, hats, glasses, and signs, before having their photo snapped. Battista immediately prints that photo on one of her delicious cookies and also provides a clear container to save the cookie in case guests prefer to eat theirs later. “I have had brides use my cookies as name plates or table markers, in addition to having the Sweet Snap booth,” added Battista. Couples have used the cookies as statement pieces on the cookie table, with everything from their pets’ photos to photos of where they will be honeymooning. Some even showcase the entire bridal party. “I love workshopping ideas with brides. Every idea is so unique and fun and can easily be tailored to fit each couple’s personality,” said Battista.
A less hands-on way for guests to be entertained is to have an artist painting as the wedding or reception unfolds. Live Painting PGH has been professionally bringing fine art to weddings in Pittsburgh and surrounding areas since 2015. Having an artist create a work of fine art during a wedding reception allows guests to watch the process from beginning to end throughout the evening. The couple will then have a piece of art to forever remember their day. Co-owners Jaison Schafer and Stephanie Cassidy paint anywhere from five to six hours on the wedding day, which affords them plenty of time to interact and chat with guests. This helps them capture the mood of the wedding. “When we set up our easel on your wedding day, everything around us becomes art,” said Cassidy. “The scent of the flowers, the music, and even the sense of anticipation in the air all add to the spirit of the final piece.”
After the wedding, the painting is taken back to the studio, where more time and energy is spent putting on the finishing touches. It can take six to eight weeks to complete the painting process and do the custom framing. Each painting also comes with prints of the artwork. Schafer coined their style of painting as “precise ambiguity,” which realistically portrays the couple while also adding a dreamy quality to each work. Couples can also have Live Painting PGH create paintings from their completed wedding photographs, which make perfect anniversary gifts.
Madison Beels, owner of Madison Beels Events, has planned many Western Pennsylvania weddings and events. Beels explains that there are numerous fun ways to engage guests and enhance their experience at a wedding. “If budget is a concern, another way to approach enhancing your guests’ experience is to be thoughtful about every single detail. Offer a special welcome cocktail upon arrival at the reception or even champagne to sip during the ceremony,” suggested Beels. “One of my couples put a handwritten note on the back of each guest’s menu, expressing the importance of their attendance to them—even the plus-ones!”
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