Taking care of your guests

Hi Guys!

I am still coming off of the high that was coordinating Steven and Makayla’s wedding this past weekend. Their day was full of so much love and beauty that, of course, I wept. It is fitting that this week I am writing about taking care of your wedding guests because Steven and Makayla did such a great job at taking care of theirs! Taking care of your guests may seem like an odd topic because your wedding day is supposed to be all about you. However, because you are inviting your loved ones to share your day with you, do not forget to make sure that you have thought of ways to make sure they enjoy themselves as much as you do! Below I have listed a few things to remember as you plan out your day. Keep in mind that if you book with me, I will work with you to draft a timeline and make sure all of these things have been considered! Woohoo, one less thing for you to do!

RSVPs & Registries: This is really just about technology. Not everyone is able to navigate the computer with ease, and some people really hate buying things online. What this means is that your excellent online RSVP system and your Amazon registry may not be perfect for everyone receiving an invitation. Keep in mind, I still highly support both of these things, but I encourage you to consider an alternative option for those who need it. When ordering invitations, make sure to order a few physical RSVP cards to include in the invitations for those less tech-savvy invitees. Also, consider registering at least one physical store so people can go in and have a store associate help them.

Accessibility: Hooray! You have found the most beautiful venue! Who cares that it is at the top of a hill that is pretty far away from the parking lot! While this may be alright for able-bodied youngsters, please remember that not all of your wedding guests are able to walk safely on uneven pathways or extremely long distances. If your venue is like this, consider bringing in a golf cart or two for a mini-shuttle service. Additionally, remember that many people are not able to sit comfortably on benches/bales of hay and are may be unable to stand for long periods of time. Solutions to this include reserving a few nice folding chairs for those who need them and ensuring that your cocktail hour includes a few chairs for the elderly to take a rest.

Food: Everyone’s favorite thing! (Ok, my favorite thing.) I encourage you to support anyone who chooses to abide by certain dietary restrictions. This means that if you and your spouse-to-be are vegan and gluten-free, more power to you! What this also means, however, is that you should be considerate of those guests who have different eating habits than you. Most of your guests will be carnivores, and to only serve a meal that is in alignment with your dietary choices is not considering a majority of the people you’ve chosen to share your day with. On the flip side, if you are serving a steak dinner, have a vegetarian option. The goal here is to make sure everyone is fat and happy at the end of the meal.

Another thing to consider when making sure that your guests are well-fed is that you are not starving them by serving dinner 3 hours after the start of the ceremony. Trust me, I have been to weddings where this happens and the only thing I remember is how hungry I was the whole time. If you want to do sunset photos after the ceremony, be sure to at least begin your reception, eat dinner, and then step away for a bit for those last-minute photos while guests eat. (I can totally help you build this into your timeline, btw.)

Mingle: Remember to mingle between every table during your reception. If you have 20 tables, this may mean only 2 minutes at each table, but it ensures that you are able to engage with everyone who you invited to share the day with you. There is nothing worse than ending your wedding only to realize that you never said “hi” to your aunt and uncle who flew 500 miles to watch you get married. More to the point, plan in advance to give special attention to those who are traveling to your wedding. (This is something I wish I had done at my own wedding.) These people love you so much,  so I encourage you to be intentional with them.

As always, if you have any questions for me about taking care of your guests or anything else for that matter, please ask! I love answering questions and helping any couples I can.

All My Best,

Halie