What was a "WOW" factor for you at the best wedding you've ever been to?

I just worked a wedding for a wedding planning company in Oregon where there were literal fucking TREES in the reception. Guests were WOWED.

@ana g I love Mexican corn....

I might just order a bunch of pizzas as a late night snack.....

I was floored by my cousin's wedding in Lousiville. There were so many delicious a la minute buffet stations, including handrolled sushi with actual Japanese chefs preparing it to order. They also had a gorgeous art deco building for the venue and top shelf open bar. To top it off they had a cigar station where a man discussed different types of tobaccos; it was so memorable to smoke a cigar with my dad and we went home with quite a few extra ones.

The day after the wedding was almost better though. The couple hosted close family and friends, about 75 people, to a chartered bus tour to see Woodford Reserve distillery and walk around a horse farm before eating the most fabulous 4 course meal at a lovely antebellum manor.

The first moment you walk into an amazing venue is usually the wow moment for me. I don't personally care for additional "entertainment" at a wedding. Something just seems cheesy to me about having belly dancers or something at such an elegant affair.

@celia I need to know more about a bacon station, my FH would love that!

We plan on greeting guests' arrival with cocktails

Having a flaming rum-donut bar as a late night snack

and IMO our venue is stunning, it's the only building built over water in Florida in the past 100 years.

ETA: I wow moment for me is the venue, I like unique venues with history, or venues that tell a story. Not a conference room at a holiday inn. (No offense to anyone having a wedding at a Holiday inn)

@celia what on earth is a man cave station?? That sounds like something this lady and her friends would love!

I was at a wedding that had a mashed potato bar at 10:30pm. They had mashed potatoes in plastic martini glasses with all the toppings! Bacon, Chives, Butter, everything! It was amazing.

Man, I can't say I have a "best" or "favorite' wedding I've been to. Generally, some things I've enjoyed:

-Hoppin' dance floor (which is not really in the couples' control)

-Great appetizers: lamb shanks, sesame chicken on a stick, mini beef Wellingtons...

-Donut truck

-Short ceremonies

-One bride's beautiful satin ball gown!

-Picking a couple to kiss instead of the bride and groom when glasses were clinked.

My cousin's wedding had a carving station with prime rib all evening. *Drool* I went back for seconds, and thirds!

I went to a latin wedding with a carnaval that started after midnight (i think some people call it hora loca) where they had drummers, glowsticks, shot stations, props, the works. it was so much fun.

A chocolate fondue fountain always wows me.. I'm hoping to have one at my wedding!

My cousin had a zombie themed wedding (done tastefully) and they had a thriller flash mob. It was super cool. Her & her wife were actually featured on OffBeatBride

@Olivia, you could have a Champagne is mason jar station and I"d be a happy camper,lol.....

The bacon station (at Rock Island Lake Club, to give credit where credit is due).....Bourbon shots with bacon garnishes, bacon sliders with all kinds of toppings, bacon mac and cheese, bacon wrapped scallops and I'm sure some other things that I've forgotten, but the smell when you enter the cocktail patio is like WHAMMO!!!!

The man cave station was from the Sterling Ballroom, in Tinton Falls; a giant hero, sliced into thin slices, poppers, fries, and a kegerator. I think it's genius, frankly!

@Miranda - LOVE the popcorn station idea! Was there someone to man the station though to refill the popcorn machine, or were they all in premade baggies/cups?

A champagne tower would stop me dead in my tracks. I would be in a trance. Yes, that would very much be the WOW factor for me.

This may seem simple but transportation to and from the venue to the hotel. It meant a lot that we could safely travel to and from and party the night away with no worries.

One of my favorite things was when a particularly long ceremony was broken up by servers who went around serving the guests milkshakes! Note that this could only be done because the ceremony was in a hotel not a place of worship, but it was still awesome! Everyone was so excited because it was an unexpected delight and it broke up the monotony of a long ceremony (which they weren't able to make shorter due to religious aspects that take some time).

A WOW factor was at one of the weddings I was shooting. It was a cupcake tower. I took like 100 pics of just that. Every angle shot, every lens used, every light gadget was pulled out for that tower. I was in love.

The FOG came up to me towards the end of the night, while I taking a sunset shot of the cupcake tower, and said I could have one. He got a hug.

Sos- not for nothing- but that's something that's very cultural. It's quiet normal in Egypt/Turkey to have dancers - traditionally it's called the Zaffa- they lead the bridal party into the reception- where is music drums dancing and all sorts of wonderful carrying on.

Just because it is not custom for YOU does not mean it is not normal somewhere else.

Being said- I had a dancer- I married into a Syrian family- and I am a bellydancer. I felt it was cheesy for ME to perform- so I hired the best I knew. (one of my few friendors)

I don't care about "wow" it's a wedding- not entertainment- so to me- I'm there to support my friends- and then eat decent food and drink good booze. or any booze.

My standards are remarkably low. Every event I've ever attended that tried to be "extra" was disappointing.