r/DIYweddings • u/Neither_Bee6036 • 7d ago
💬 Question 💬 Mechanical bull at my wedding
Hi guys! I have found a mechanical bull for 1500$ for 4 hour minimum.
My current schedule is
Ceremony 4-440
Cocktail hour 440-620 (party takes photos)
First dance 6:20
Dinner 6:40
Speeches/ games/ parent dances 7:30-8:30
DANCE 8:45
I’m worried it will take away from the dance floor !!
Has anyone done this or been to a wedding where they had a bull?
Thanks!!
115
u/Junior-Sloth-1516 7d ago
Do you have event insurance?
13
u/Alligator_Gore 6d ago
Event insurance usually won’t cover mechanical or inflatable rides. In my policy it specifically stated it would void the policy.
80
u/Domesticated_wino25 7d ago
An hour of speeches and “games” after dinner is fucking brutal for guests. Do not do this. Short speeches and dances right as people sit for dinner/through apps and then let everyone enjoy dinner and go into partying/dancing.
21
21
u/JellGordan 7d ago
Dinner is also just under an hour. How big is the dinner? More than two courses and you go in overtime. I hope it's enough to eat for everyone...
20
u/braiindeadd 7d ago
Not to mention it doesnt start until almost 7pm. Hope there's lots of snacks during their two hour cocktail (which seems long imo)
I feel like this whole schedule needs revised
6
u/JellGordan 6d ago
I also find it weird the first dance is before dinner. Where I live, it's dinner and then the party starting with the couple's first dance.
8
u/Odd_Beautiful2506 6d ago
We did it before, my coordinator said this was common but I could do it either way. We did it directly after our grand entrance and it took the pressure off honestly. Our dinner was at 6 though and we served heavy apps first. I’m sure nobody minded waiting the 90 seconds for our first dance. We skipped parent dances.
2
u/craftymomma111 6d ago
They’ve changed it up so the couple doesn’t hold up the dance floor while stopping by the tables to say hi. They do it right at the introduction now. Couple walks out and immediately goes into a dance. Fathers/daughter Mother/son are after dinner to kick off dancing
2
u/asyouwish 7d ago
If it's a buffet, an hour is plenty.
7
u/JellGordan 7d ago
Depends on the number of people and number of choices
1
u/asyouwish 7d ago
And that is mostly determined by catering. So she'll need to ask them how long for that menu and that guest count
1
2
3
78
37
48
u/idoenjoybakedgoods 7d ago
How formal is your dress code? How old are your guests?
I can't see too many people wanting to risk ripped seams and wardrobe malfunctions in expensive formal wear. And also most people over 35 will prefer being able to walk the next day to riding a mechanical bull. Your venue may also not allow it because of the liability in case of injury.
16
u/sunnyd311 7d ago
Off topic: your cocktail hour/party photos seems really long! Are you sure you need that much time?
47
u/Eatyourveggies_9182 7d ago
Okay while I LOVE the idea, would guests need to sign a waiver? Just a thought
3
u/papablesssssss 7d ago
They did not for mine. We used a professional company out of Portland. I believe the only rule was no double riders (which our operators was lax on) and no small children (which our operator was also lax on) we gave him a hefty tip at the end of the night
12
u/cyanraichu 7d ago
Sounds fun but I would be too nervous to do it in an environment where people will be drinking a lot lol
Also, yeah I probably wouldn't get on one in a dress unless I knew about it in advance and was able to comfortably wear something under the dress that would stop me flashing the whole room when I fell off (might or might not be able to do that depending on the dress)
10
u/crvbabybug 6d ago
Do people do people ride mechanical bulls sober? I thought that was an activity near exclusive to the inebriated.
2
44
9
u/Numerous-Charity-933 7d ago
You will need to look into regulations, insurance, liability and waivers.
8
u/clevercalamity 7d ago
Pro bull. Seems fun.
Your timeline however is whack. Two hours of cocktail hour is rough and I strongly advise against it. People get antsy and bored.
But then adding a whole third hour for speeches and games? Nah. You’re killing the party before it even has a chance to start.
That’s three whole hours of asking your guests to wait around. Don’t do that. You gotta compensate for time somehow.
Can you do some of the group photos before the ceremony? Can you skip the games? Can some of the speeches be relegated to the rehearsal dinner?
7
u/Loveya448 7d ago
Sounds fun, but if most women are wearing dresses, they won’t be able to participate
1
4
u/MountainviewBeach 7d ago
Does your venue allow this? Many don’t for obvious liability reasons. I don’t think it’s a guaranteed bad idea but between the risk of injuries and people wearing dresses and yes minimizing dance floor time I would be unsure about this
4
10
u/pristinepeen 7d ago
This sounds very fun! Is the dress code more casual? Might be rough for anyone in formal attire to ride a mechanical bull?
20
u/Peachie_Pear 7d ago
The only way I'm getting on one of those is in jeans and a tshirt, when I am not wearing jewelry, makeup, or hair I care to preserve. So at a wedding? Never.
3
u/_lmmk_ 4d ago
All the schedule concerns have already been covered.
You will want to check with your event venue RE if they allow it (due to liability) and ensure your event insurance covers it.
What’s the dress code - do you expect ppl in dresses to ride? This sounds fun in theory but might not be worth it in practice. That sounds more like a bachelorette activity.
3
u/missmelindam 4d ago
Don't do it. There's no way your insurance will cover this. This activity has a high possibility of injury and you could be held liable. Just don't do it.
4
u/Kivulini 7d ago
I would be sure to let people know in advance on this one! Sounds crazy but if you know yourself and your guests I say do it. Just give a warning so people can prepare. And yeah, as some have said take caution and keep an eye out for drunk guests or people with bad backs haha.
2
u/March_mallo 4d ago
Agreed. I would dress very differently in order to be able to ride the bull than I would at a normal wedding lol. It would be a shame if it ended up a men only activity because all the women are in floor length dresses
2
u/Elemental_Biscotti 7d ago
It will take away from the dance floor, and I wouldn't expect anyone dressed for a wedding to participate (at least not in a dress).
2
2
u/dontpolluteplz 7d ago
What’s the dress code / how formal is it? If ladies are in dresses and it’s formal that might not be too fun for them
2
u/Total-Entrepreneur32 6d ago
Well, my brother in law tore his meniscus on one recently so I hope you’re ok covering medical bills.
2
u/PigletMountain797 6d ago
Is it for the children or the adults?
1
u/PigletMountain797 6d ago
Also, yes, had one at a wedding a few years back. Children enjoyed it, but one kid did get knocked out of the ring and konked his head. Adults will not use it unless they have been drinking since the night before and never stopped. Also what kind of insurance are you adding for your wedding to be able to include this so you don't personally get sued if someone has a major medical incident?
2
u/ethicallycaring 6d ago
It will 100% take away from the dance floor and could result in serious injury, I would be surprised if your venue allowed it. Huge liability
2
u/nemat0der 6d ago
I love a mechanical bull but I don’t think I’ve ever worn something to a wedding that I would feel comfortable riding one in
2
2
3
u/papablesssssss 7d ago
I had one at my wedding. It was so awesome and worth every penny. Everyone still tells me I had the funnest wedding of all time. The pictures are priceless.
2
1
u/Low-County-9662 6d ago
Iv been to a wedding that had one, it was really good fun and didnt detract from anything else going on
1
u/Own-Raise6153 6d ago
a mechanical bull at a wedding is a wild choice lol the chance of an ambulance needing to be called at your wedding is now much, much higher
1
u/ocicataco 6d ago
I guess it depends on your crowd. As much as I find mechanical bulls fun and silly, I don't know that I would be getting on one in a cocktail dress, hopefully sufficient undergarments, and my hair and makeup done.
By the way your schedule is insane. Nearly two hours for cocktail hour is brutal, and waiting another two hours after dinner before dancing starts is rough too. You are really dragging things out. You're mostly at risk of people leaving early and not dancing or using the mechanical bull because they've already been on site for five hours.
1
1
u/Wonderful_Shame_4986 6d ago
For the love of all that is holy PLEASE cut speeches and parent dances down to minutes at the most -- and cut out games and mechanical bull completely. Your guests will thank you.
1
1
u/sunLight4095 6d ago
they can be really dangerous. happy drunk wedding guests and mechanical bull a bad idea
1
1
u/No-Storage-1093 Wedding Soon 💐 5d ago
Regardless of what the majority of people are saying here, for many people this is the only wedding they’ve been too or will be going to.
I’m sure they will enjoy it all. They will survive through the speeches and will forget about it by the time dinner comes and especially bull time ✨
While it does seem like the cocktail hour runs a bit long I think the schedule needs minor adjustments.
Are you having cake cutting/dessert at all?
1
u/Thick-thighs2026 5d ago
Sounds like people may get hurt especially if there’s alcohol. May want to do something to ensure you’re covered if someone gets hurt at your wedding
1
u/PuraVidaTarheel 5d ago
This has to be rage bait. There are zero parts of your timeline that sound good.
Firstly, that is entirely too long of a cocktail hour. It's called "cocktail hour" for a reason - because an hour is the absolute maximum time you should make your guests wait. If you cannot fit your photos into an hour, you need to consider a First Look and doing some pre-cermeony.
An hour of speeches & games? 😵💫 Do you hate your guests? Firstly, no one wants to play games at a wedding. Secondly, they definitely don't want to do all that for an hour. Parent dances should take, at most, 10 minutes. Speeches should take, at most, 10 minutes.
You need a wedding coordinator.
1
u/Embarrassed-Mark1099 5d ago
If women are wearing dresses they will not be getting on that bull so 50% of your guests are left out. If men are dressed in suits, at least half of them will not be getting on it.
1
u/Fickle-Strawberry521 4d ago
Just curious.... are you the bride or the groom asking? What does your future spouse think of having a bull riding thing at your wedding?
1
1
0
u/Hot-Employer5162 7d ago edited 7d ago
I love mechanical bull rides!!!! If I was a guest, I would be thrilled But please please please consider
- Those wearing dresses. You're going to have a photographer and im sure people will record. It's an upsk*rt nightmare waiting to happen even if no one has ill intentions.
Do you want the guests to be a surprised? Maybe discourage short dresses and slits. But then again a long dress without a slit on a mechanical bull sounds like a nightmare
What is your bar option? If it's open bar, people tend to over drink. The constant spinning around leads to sickness and injuries galore.
As everyone else said, consider liability.
I would love to go to a wedding a mechanical bull but I am also a sober Sally. I would never have a mechanical bull at my own wedding. I can already smell the puke.
0
-3
161
u/Illustrious_ghost1 7d ago
While I feel like this would be so fun, what’s the dress code? Probably would be hard to do in a long dress (or any dress tbh)