Guests

July 2, 2008 | Posted by Mrz Splendid

It seems like all of my latest brides are very concerned with entertaining their guest after the ceremony ( during the photography time).

It is very important to make your guests feel special. People have to make an effort to attend a wedding (think of those need to travel to attend. Naturally, your head would spin from thinking how to accommodate everyone’s special needs. The out-of-towners, guests with small children, elderly… work colleagues…

Here are some suggestions:

1. Send a gift bag to any guest staying at the hotels including a welcome note, a map of the city, and perhaps an itinerary.; and even a thoughtful gift (bilton packet for example). This will bring a smile and great appreciation.

2. Before the ceremony, hire ushers or enlist responsible friends to guide the guests towards the chapel/ceremony area. No one likes to feel like a lost soul.

3. Speak to your venue and stress the importance of their staff making your guests feel special. Knowing that you care can make the staff care extra.

4. Make provisions for the weather. The rain is the no.1 enemy of any bride… If you feel it might rain, do provide your guests with umbrellas and at least a place to hide from the rain (you do not want them to be hiding from the rain at the reception area before you get there).

5. PLEASE make sure that everyone know where they are supposed to be. Some people just do get lost and arrive a bit late and then they wonder around aimlessly trying to figure out what is going on.

6. Have cocktails served and light canapes… people love those ;)

7. You can set up a white screen and a camera for people to take their own pictures… or you can provide a heap of disposable cameras at a designated area for the guest to take fun photos.

8. Perhaps your videographer can walk around and take messages from your guest? Some people LOVE it and some hate having a microphone shoved into their face. Perhaps you can set up a Video Booth?

9. Set up a display area… where you show off your photographs as a couple, and perhaps even tell your love story to your guests. Think BIG (a gallery style set up with easels, books, frames) or just suspended photos from the ceiling…

10. Set up a guest book area and consider providing a few books or even loose scrapebooking papers (which you can later put together yourself in a beautiful way) and abundant number of pens for guests to write their special messages.

11. You can also leave personal messages for each one of your guests and create a display where each guest would have to go and find their message? It is time consuming, but very touching. If it is a ‘filler’ guest you can thank them for coming or include your favorite poem… you never know what impact it can make on them ;)

All in all, try to make you guests feel special through little gestures. Think about what would you like to do? You know your friends/family/guest better than anyone… what would interest them?

Comments

4 Comments so far

Mizz Calla Lilly on July 4, 2008 8:54 am
This sounds very cool! BUT what to keep your guests busy when you have a picnic wedding ??
Evegenia on July 4, 2008 9:20 am
mmm… all depends on how long you are planning to have your pictures taken. And where are the guests expected to be in that period of time. Are you ok with them starting to eat before you get there… cos essentially… and this maybe a very misguided observation… people just LOVE food and at time their need to start munching on all of the deliciousness is what makes the guests edgy ;)

For a picnic set up you can even set up a candy stall…and again have your pictures hanging around the place… You can also start playing the music.

Having said all of this… it is a wedding and as much as certain things are expected of the bride, certain things are expected from the guests. For example the patience and the respect for the bride’s time taking photos. You are not throwing a kiddies party where you have to hire an entertainer… this is a wedding and as adults we all should have the virtue of patience… SO dont stress. Just manage the situation… make sure there is someone that can oversee your wishes and direct the people to whatever activity you set up for them - even if it just enjoying a cocktail under the tree!
Mizz Calla Lilly on July 4, 2008 9:31 am
Hmm I know, our photos might take an hour, it might be a half an hour, I have no idea, BUT I am bargaining for an hour… See we are having a morning wedding, getting married at 11am… SO at 12pm, I need to think of something to keep the guest busy ?
Maybe have colourful pens on a table with gift tags, or cards, to let them write messages ???
Evegenia on July 4, 2008 11:08 am
Yes definatly a brilliant idea… people love writting messages… especially fresh after the ceremony… lots of emotions and sentemintality in the air!

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