I'm sure that you have heard over and over again about how this is
YOUR day and that you should get whatever
YOU want. "
YOU'RE the Bride" they enthusiastically proclaim
However, before you get too wrapped up it's important to remember that a wedding is still a party
and you (and your family) are still the hosts so it's your responsibility to make sure your guests are comfortable and well taken care of.
Here are some ways you can consider your guests comfort and ensure a fantastic experience!
Seating -- There should be enough seating for all your guests - even if you are only doing cocktails and lite snacks. You shouldn't ask your guests to juggle hor dourves, cocktails, purses, etc or to stand for hours on end, especially older guests. There should also be
comfortable seating for older or disabled guests. Hay bales and benches are adorable but set aside some more comfortable chairs (preferably with backs) for older guests. You should also consider spacing, how close guests are to other guests, speakers, drafty doors and bathrooms.
Bathrooms -- For most venues this won't be an issue but if you are choosing to transform a space that wouldn't typically be used for weddings make sure that there are enough bathrooms and that they are easily accessible to all guests. If you are getting married at a friend or family members house you will probably need to rent port-a-potties, unless you are having a very small gathering (30 guests or fewer). Not only will this eliminate long lines but it will prevent any damage to the septic system of your gracious friend, since most private homes are not designed to handle that volume of waste.
Parking -- Note the available parking at your venue and see if it's possible to cone off spaces for VIP's and elderly guests. If you are getting married in a big city and the only parking is street or garage, let guests know ahead of time. Figure out where the nearest garages are and see if you can negotiate a discount for your guests. If you are feeling generous and can afford it paying for parking would be incredibly thoughtful. Also, having a responsible friend or family member act as valet for guests (or just elderly and disabled guests) would have a lasting impact.
Temperature -- I've been to summer weddings in buildings without air conditioning and winter weddings in buildings without heat and let me tell you, they are equally miserable. Consider the time of year, the time of day and the forecast and provide something to increase the comfort of your guests. If renting heaters or fans isn't feasible see if you can provide blankets and hot beverages or paper fans and iced drinks for during the ceremony.
Activities -- Taking photos after the ceremony is still popular among brides but if you are going to go this route it is important to keep your guests informed as well as entertained. Typically photos take about an hour. Stress to your photographer that you want to get these done as quickly as possible so you don't keep your guests waiting. Have the officiant make an announcement after the ceremony that the bridal party will be doing photos from 4p-5p and that the bride and groom have requested that the guests head over to the reception site and enjoy hor dourves and cocktails . If you aren't serving alcohol you can have a mocktail hour as well as lawn games, board games, photo booth, etc. Most guests are going to be thirsty, hungry and looking for a bathroom, so keep that in mind.
Appreciation -- Chances are anyone invited to your big day has been a significant part of you and/or your spouses life and it's important to make them feel special and appreciated on this day. For out of town guests it is always thoughtful to provide a welcome basket of local treats or home comforts. Consider inviting guests that will be in town longer than one day to the rehearsal dinner and/or post wedding brunch. Another thoughtful gesture is to include a 'marriage dance' during your reception where you call all married couples to the dance floor and slowly eliminate couples by asking those who've been married longer than five years, ten years, twenty years, etc. You can than recognize the final couple with a bouquet, champagne or another small gift, as well as asking for a piece of advice. Finally, don't forget to send thank you cards to all those who attended your wedding (whether the brought a gift or not). My favorite thank you's include a picture of the couple on their wedding day or from their honeymoon.
Although some of these suggestions may seem excessive, it is to your benefit to make your guests feel comfortable and appreciated. The more fun your guests are having the longer they'll stay, and wouldn't it be a bummer to put all this money into a wedding where all your guests were gone within a couple hours? I recently read one of those 'local wedding spotlights' in a magazine and the couple said their goal was to not have anyone look at their watch even once throughout their big day, what a great goal!
Happy Planning!!!
{PS - look for part two tomorrow where we showcase some beautiful ideas for keeping guests comfortable}
