Weddings should be fun for the bride, groom, and of course, the guests. If everything is planned right, it’s an event people look forward to and most are honored to be a part of celebrating your union. We wrote a great list with easy tips to keep wedding guests happy on your special day!
Most decisions leading up to the wedding day are about you. It’s a time to celebrate and declare your love in front of the people who care about you most. But as with any event, it’s important to keep your guests’ experiences at the forefront of your mind.
If you plan it right, you will be able to sit back and enjoy your day. You’ll also know that everyone is having a great time and all their needs are met!
However, if you neglect to consider all of your guests’ needs, your day, and theirs, won’t go as smoothly. If you don’t consider how they will feel about the day’s timeline and what they’ll be looking forward to most, you will feel the stress and pressure on the big day! (when you should be sitting back and enjoying yourself).
Tips to Keep Wedding Guests Happy
So consider these basic guidelines for some of your guests’ most prominent needs. Writing your thank you notes will feel a lot more fun if you know everyone had a blast and the pictures prove it!
Dietary Needs
Your wedding is likely the largest party you’ll ever throw. Though you may know what you want to eat on your special day, it’s important to consider the needs and wants of your guests so they don’t leave early and head through the nearest drive-thru.
- Consider dietary restrictions. You can get ahead of this problem by asking your guests to list any restrictions on their RSVPs. This will give you an idea of who needs the vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options, but, remember not everyone will follow your directions so it’s best to have a few extras of each of those options available upon request.
- Stick to what’s more common. You may love raw sushi and wasabi rolls, but some of your guests might not. That’s why it’s best to err on the side of caution and have your caterer serve some of their most popular dishes, which ideally would include some classics. There’s a reason filet minon and chicken parmesan are popular dishes on wedding menus but it’s still possible to serve trendy food without having your guests turning their heads.
Party Needs – Music can keep wedding guests happy 🙂
Nothing kills a party faster than bad music. And, if the music is great, chances are your guests will never forget what a great time they had after the ceremony. Finding the right DJ can be difficult, especially if you don’t have a basis for what you’re looking for. In order to keep your wedding guests happy and ensure they have a great time, keep these tips in mind:
- Experience matters. Your friend may be able to put together a great Spotify playlist or have the proper equipment readily available, but a professional will be able to observe and understand just what it takes for your crowd to keep dancing and keep having fun.
- Referrals work. Have you attended a wedding in the last few years and remember having a blast? You may want to reach out to your newlywed friends and ask them who DJ’d their wedding and how you can get in touch with them. You may also want to spend some weekends (when you’re not in high-pressure planning mode) out at local bars or restaurants to see if you can scout someone with the right vibe for your wedding.
- Have playlist options. If nothing else, you will likely have a wide variety of ages at your wedding. Someone will bring their ten-year-old daughter and someone above the age of 70 will be in attendance. It’s important that your DJ has a big, diverse selection of songs.
Travel Needs
Whether your wedding will be held right down the road from your childhood home or you’re planning a destination wedding and requiring your guests to travel, you want to be considerate of your guest’s time and personal budgets for being in attendance.
- Provide clear directions. Let your guests know exactly what to expect, what the venue will look like and where to park. You don’t want people circling the block trying to figure out if they’re in the right place. One great way to avoid that problem is to put balloons or signage outside of the venue directing guests where to go.
- Get creative. If your guests are expected to drive, it might be fun to share a playlist with them to listen along the way or think up some fun car games to play. This will let them know that you were thinking about them and the sacrifices they are making to be there for you.
- Consider timing. Depending on the day and week and time of your wedding, guests may have to make their way through tons of traffic. You’ll want to avoid any and all types of rush hour, and if you’re planning your wedding on a holiday weekend take into account that the roads will be busy with people headed on vacation.
Remember the Big Picture
Above all, if things don’t go as planned or you are concerned about your guests’ experience, remember that they are there to support and celebrate you on such a special day. Minor hiccups happen, but the more planning you get ahead of today, the more you can focus on the special moments and excitement for your new life.
We hope this list of tips to keep wedding guests happy has been helpful. Feel free to comment or contact us!
Guest Contributor: Abigail Golder Abigail is studying journalism at ASU’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications. She is set to graduate in May of 2018 from the Cronkite School and Barrett, The Honors College. Originally from Colorado, Abby grew up in Montrose, CO. She still spends much of her free time in the mountains hiking and skiing, there. | Guest Contributor: Abigail Golder – Austin’s Best DJs & Photo Booths |
