Don’t the people in the raft look like they’re having a blast? Don’t you want to have a blast at your next party, too? Then maybe a Kinect is what you’re looking for.

The Kinect motion controller, which connects to the Xbox 360 console and visually tracks your body motions, allows players to easily jump in and out of the action without having to worry about pausing or passing handheld controllers around. Voice commands can be recognized even over a chattering crowd. Games are, for the most part, simple enough to learn that almost anyone can play. And who wouldn’t want to see their best friends flailing around in front of a television (especially when you can check out the highlights afterwards)?

There are tons of great party-specific titles available. For more information, check out this list of the Best Kinect Party Games.

There’s so much to remember when you’re planning a wedding that sometimes it’s nice to have someone help you along and make sure that everything that needs to be done gets done.

Some of us let wedding planners handle all of the details; still, whether you have a planner or not, it’s still good to have an idea of everything that goes into planning a wedding.

That’s where wedding books come in! You’ll find a great list of the top wedding planning books here, that will help you find the one that’s just right for you, whether you want to learn more about everything, you’re specifically interested in etiquette, or you’re looking for something else.

I’m not much of a baker, but I can make a tasty batch of cupcakes from a mix, and I’m pretty decent at whipping up frosting. With a little preparation, you too can make your own cupcakes for a special occasion - like a wedding!

There’s nothing like having the symbolic presence of a wedding bonfire during or after your nuptials. A little planning is required beforehand (ensuring fires are not prohibited by location or current fire risk, making or finding a firepit, gathering wood), and you’ll want to make sure that a responsible person is in charge of the fire at all times. But it’s definitely worth it!

The music that you’ll play if you decide to have an outdoor/backyard wedding isn’t necessarily any different than the music you’ll play for an indoor reception.

However, if you are having a backyard wedding, there’s a good chance that you’ll be DIYing the music, as opposed to hiring a professional to choose and play the music for you. This means, among other things, finding a way to play the music at an appropriate volume, deciding who will be in charge (or if you’ll stick to a predetermined playlist), and what songs you want to have played.

For more thoughts, checkout Outdoor Wedding Music.

Using a tent or marquee in your outdoor space is a great way to give your backyard wedding a special, festive feel. Plus it doubles as a shelter in case of inclement weather - just make sure that you get one that’s watertight!

Did you know? Tent rental companies often rent tables, chairs, linens, and more in addition to tents. Save time and hassle by getting everything in one place!

Modern weddings are all about combining long-standing traditions with personal touches. And what can be more personal than using flowers from your own (or a loved one’s) garden to decorate with?

Growing flowers for your wedding isn’t as hard as you think. If you’re already a gardening genius, it just comes down to planting the flowers at the right time to ensure blossoms on the big day. If you’re more of a black-thumb type, now is as good a time as ever to let your inner earth goddess out. (Just don’t rely on your own garden for ALL of the flowers without considering the potential risks first).

Just a look at some of the simple, blue wedding decorations we used to add some color to the nuptials.

What will you do if “the worst” happens, and there’s rain on your wedding day? Well, hopefully you won’t break down in tears or decide to call the whole thing off! There are always ways to make your day special regardless of the weather, such as buying some adorable flower umbrellas, wearing cute rain boots under your dress, and taking advantage of the truly great photo opportunities that a rainy wedding day provides.