One of the questions I ask my clients in my initial conversation with them is what’s important to them on their special day and almost invariably they say, “We Just Want Our Guests to Have Fun.” I find that couples are thinking about their guests experience as much as their own.
Here are a few tips that I have found to help enhance your guest experience.
1) Make Sure your Wedding Details are Clear
From your Save the Date card to your formal wedding invitation, it is important to provide detailed information about your wedding plans. First, you want to include the basics, such as the date and time of your wedding. You should also include a response card with a pre-stamped and addressed mailing envelope so they can mail the card back at no cost to them. One other thing you may want to include to improve the wedding guest experience is an itinerary card, so guests can plan for the weekend events, a list of accommodation options, so guests know where to stay, along with directions to and from the venue.
Expert Advice: Include your wedding website URL on your Save The Date cards and formal invitations so guests know where to go to stay up to date on all things wedding.
2. Create a Wedding Website and Update Details Regularly
Not every couple choose to have a website, I definitely recommend it. A wedding website is useful for the wedding guest experience and for you! Your guests can easily hop on your wedding website and find any event updates or search your registries to find you the perfect gift. Plus, if they misplace their wedding invitation, they can access all of the same information online. This is also extremely helpful for you. Rather than having to individually call your wedding guests to update them on any changes in the plan or schedule, you can simply update your wedding website. This will save you a tremendous amount of time and allow you to focus on the more fun aspects of planning your most special day. Just be sure you keep your wedding website up to date so everyone has the latest information. Here is a link to The Knot Website Designs.
Expert Advice:
Your Wedding Planner can help you with this or you can ask someone from your wedding party or a family member to help you keep the website updated, so you don’t have to do it yourself but can be confident that it is being taken care of.
3) Provide Option on Your Gift Registry
It is important to give your guest gift options. Give them multiple stores (Amazon, Macy’s, etc.) for your guests to purchase from with a range in price. This improves the wedding guest experience because people can choose a gift that is comfortably within their budget. Nobody will feel obligated to spend a certain amount, but the option for higher-priced items is there for those who are able.
Expert Advice: Choose a registry that allows for multiple guests to “go-in” on the same item. This is a sure way to receive those large ticket price items without asking one person to pay for the entire thing themselves.
4) Schedule Transportation to/from hotel Accommodations
If you plan to reserve a room block for your wedding guests or suggest a local hotel for them to stay, schedule transportation to and from the hotel to your wedding venue when possible. This is especially important for older guests who may not be comfortable driving late at night once the celebrations are over. Additionally, if your wedding venue has limited parking, guest transportation is essential.
Expert Advice: Ask your wedding planner for help on this and about the best ways to schedule transportation for wedding guests that won’t cost you too much money. They can help you negotiate with the hotels.
5) Speaking of Accommodations, help your Guests Plan Theirs
You can ensure a great wedding guest experience by suggesting local accommodations, even if you don’t reserve a room block. Because you know the area, share the best and most affordable accommodations around. From hotels to Airbnb homes to vacation rentals, help your guests plan their weekend by giving details and directions from various accommodations to your wedding venue.
Expert Advice: You can also share some of your favorite restaurants or coffee shops, shopping areas, or local attractions in the area. This gives your guests ideas of things to do leading up to and after your wedding day and is especially nice for out-of-town guests.
6) Have a Welcome Party (or Get Together)
What better way to start the wedding celebrations than with a welcome party)? A wedding welcome party often takes place the day or night before the wedding. (Often after the rehearsal) It is typically more casual than your wedding reception and gives friends and family who don’t know each other a chance to meet and get comfortable before the wedding day. Plus, it is a great excuse to extend your wedding beyond one day.
Expert Advice: Give your welcome party bash a fun theme, like a BBQ with a food truck serving the best-pulled pork sandwiches around.
7) Consider the Condition of Your Ceremony
To ensure a magnificent wedding guest experience, take into consideration the weather conditions of your ceremony and let your guests know what those are. For example, if you have an outdoor wedding in the middle of summer, look up the temperature and let your guests know what to expect so they can dress accordingly. Also, consider having small hand-fans or umbrellas available for your guests as a way to keep cool. Conversely, if you are having it in the cooler months of the year, you should let you guests know so they can bring a jacket or sweater.
Expert Advice: This is the perfect type of information to include on your wedding website. It helps ensure your guests have an even better time at your wedding.
8) Reach Out to Your Guests At the Reception
If you have a large wedding, it can be hard to find the time to individually thank each and every guest for coming. But you can give a heartfelt thank you speech where you share how grateful you are for everyone taking the time to celebrate with you. This is important for your guests to hear and it improves the wedding guest experience. Then, if you know certain guests had to travel far and wide to make it, consider giving them some one-on-one time.
Expert Advice: This is where a Welcome Get-together or a Brunch the morning after the ceremony is a great idea to consider.
ENSURE A SPECTACULAR WEDDING GUEST EXPERIENCE WITH
A BEAUTIFUL DAY BY CHRISTINA
At A Beautiful Day by Christina, we know how important the wedding guest experience is to have an amazing and memorable wedding. We want you and all of your guests have fun leading up to and on your wedding day. There are little things we can help you that will ensure your guests feel excited and well-informed from the first Save the Date to your grand exit at the end of the evening. Let’s talk today about your wedding plans and how we can make it the best day of your life… and a memorable one for your guests as well.
