Planning a wedding is exciting but can also be overwhelming. While the day is all about the couple, it’s important to consider the guests. Many guests travel long distances, take time off work, and spend money to attend, so ensuring they have a good experience is important. Here’s a guide to what wedding guests truly care about and how you can plan a wedding that meets their expectations.
Summary
When planning a wedding, it’s vital to consider what guests care about most: timing, clear registry options, advance notice, comfortable venues, reliable transportation, well-timed cocktail hours, open bars, seating arrangements, short ceremonies and speeches, good entertainment, and plenty of food. Guests are less concerned with the first dance, cake, traditional favours, intricate flowers and décor, the wedding dress, and formal photos. Focus on elements that enhance guests’ comfort and enjoyment to create a memorable experience.
What Do Wedding Guest Care About?
Wedding Day Timing Tips
One of the most critical aspects of a wedding is the timing. The long gap can energise guests if you have a ceremony in the morning and a reception in the evening. If you must have a morning ceremony, consider hosting a brunch reception or arranging activities to keep your guests entertained during the day. Avoid long downtimes by keeping the ceremony to about an hour (unless it’s a religious ceremony that requires more time), making the toasts short, and starting the cocktail hour right after the ceremony. Ensure the day flows smoothly to keep your guests engaged and happy.
Crafting The Perfect Wedding Registry
Creating a wedding registry can be daunting for many couples, especially if they combine households and already have the essentials. However, most guests prefer an online registry where they can choose a gift the couple will love. This also saves them the hassle of bringing the gift to the wedding. Offering a variety of items at different price points is also appreciated, as it gives guests options that fit their budget.
Wedding Date And Venue
Guests appreciate receiving advance notice of your wedding date so they can plan accordingly. This is particularly important for those travelling from out of town who may need to book flights and accommodation. Providing details about the wedding location is also important. Consider the comfort of your guests when choosing a venue. For example, an outdoor wedding in extreme weather conditions can be uncomfortable. Ensure there is a backup plan for bad weather and inform your guests if the venue has any quirks, like no heating or challenging terrain.
Making Wedding Transportation Easy
Make sure your guests have reliable transportation options to and from the wedding. If your venue is far from the hotel, consider arranging a shuttle service or providing information about rideshare services like Uber or Lyft. This is especially important if alcohol will be served, as it ensures everyone gets home safely.
Perfecting The Cocktail Hour
Cocktail hour is a great time for guests to mingle and enjoy themselves, but keeping it within a reasonable timeframe is important. A two-hour cocktail hour can feel too long, leading to boredom and dwindling food supplies. Ensure your photographer has realistic expectations so guests are aware of the situation. A well-timed cocktail hour sets the tone for the rest of the evening.
Planning Your Wedding Bar
If your budget allows, an open bar is always a hit with guests. Ensure you have a variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic options to cater to everyone. A cash bar can disappoint guests, so avoid this by allocating enough budget for a well-stocked bar.
Seating Strategies: Making Your Wedding Guests Feel At Home
While open seating is becoming more common, it’s only sometimes popular with guests. To make your guests feel comfortable, consider assigning tables even if you don’t assign specific seats. This can help guests who don’t know many people at the wedding feel more at ease. If guests attend alone or need to know more people, allowing them to bring a plus-one can make a big difference in their experience.
Short Ceremonies And Speeches
Guests are there to see you get married and hear a few heartfelt speeches, but they want to spend only a little time doing so. Keep the ceremony and speeches brief to keep them interested and the day moving smoothly.
Entertainment Options For Your Wedding
The entertainment you choose can make or break your wedding reception. While guests might not remember every detail of your decorations, they will remember how much fun they had. Invest in a good DJ or band to keep the dance floor full and the energy high. Add entertainment options like a photo booth, cigar bar, or live performances to entertain non-dancers.
Crafting The Perfect Wedding Food And Drink Experience
One of the biggest complaints from wedding guests is a lack of food, especially during cocktail hour. Ensure you have plenty of food options throughout the event, particularly if alcohol is served. Guests won’t necessarily expect a five-star meal, but they expect to be well-fed.
Ensuring Your Wedding Music Appeals To All
Play various old and new music and slow and fast songs to keep all your guests happy. Keep the volume at a level where people can still have conversations, and consider incorporating other entertainment options to appeal to a broader audience.
Seeing The Newlyweds
Your guests have come to celebrate with you, so ensure you’re present at your wedding. While it’s understandable that you’ll be busy, guests appreciate seeing the couple enjoying themselves and spending time with their loved ones.
What Wedding Guests Don’t Care About?
While guests care about many things, there are also things they could do without. Knowing what’s less important can help you prioritise your time and budget.
The First Dance
While the first dance is a sweet moment, it doesn’t need to be long. Guests would rather mingle or enjoy the evening than stand watching a long, slow dance. Keep it short and sweet to get the party started.
The Wedding Cake
Wedding cakes are often more for show than for enjoyment. Many guests will only remember the cake after the wedding, so going overboard is necessary. Consider skipping the cake cutting or opting for a simpler dessert option.
Wedding Favours
Traditional wedding favours like matchbooks, bookmarks, and koozies should be remembered or included. Instead of spending money on favours guests don’t care about, consider skipping them altogether or choosing something more practical, like donating to a charity in their name.
Flowers And Décor
While beautiful flowers and décor can enhance the atmosphere, guests aren’t likely to remember the intricate details. Focus on the overall look and feel rather than spending too much on elaborate decorations.
The Wedding Dress
Your wedding dress is important to you, but your guests are there to celebrate with you regardless of what you wear. Choose a dress that makes you feel beautiful, but don’t stress over whether it will impress your guests.
Wedding Photos
While photos are essential to any wedding, guests don’t enjoy being corralled for group shots. Keep formal photos brief and focus on capturing candid moments throughout the day. Guests will appreciate the opportunity to enjoy the event without feeling like they’re in a photo shoot.
Conclusion
When planning your wedding, focus on what will make your guests feel comfortable and appreciated. Timing, food, entertainment, and transportation are some of the most important aspects to consider. By prioritising these elements, you can create a memorable experience for you and your guests without getting bogged down in unnecessary details.
FAQs About Wedding
What Do Wedding Guests Enjoy?
“They’re focusing on creating an aesthetic-through food, drinks, entertainment, whatever-that they have as a couple of love and want to share with their friends.”
Why Are Guests Important In A Wedding?
Wedding guests travel from all over the country to celebrate your special day because they adore and care about you. They understand that many people want a piece of your time.
What Percentage Of Wedding Guests Show Up?
Between 75-85 per cent
“However, it is never an exact science,” she said. “A general overall percentage between 75-85 per cent of wedding guests usually attend.” The breakdown: 85 per cent of local guests, 55 per cent of out-of-town guests, and 35 per cent of destination wedding guests will show up, Buckley said. But then it gets murky.
Who Is the Most Important Guest At A Wedding?
The best man is typically a close friend or family of the groom. His most important role in the ceremony is to hold the wedding rings until they are needed. Where the ceremony includes a ring bearer, he may take the rings from the ring bearer when presented with them.
Why Are Guests Important In A Wedding?
Wedding guests travel from all over the country to celebrate your special day because they adore and care about you. They understand that many people want a piece of your time.
