Having to narrow down your guest list can be a daunting task, but since your major wedding planning decisions are dependent on the number of guest you have, it’s a good idea to get a grip on your list as soon as possible. Try not inviting too many people, so even if your venue and budget can accommodate more people, keep the guest count to an intimate size that way everyone will significant. One of the biggest complaints from wedding guest is that they didn't get enough time with the couple. Think about it, your guest took off work, traveled, paid money to stay in a hotel, and dressed up to be a part of your day- so understand that they might want to spend at least part of the night hanging out with you.
PLEASE NOTE: “It’s the people, not the centerpieces, or favors, that will determine whether everyone had a great time”.
PLEASE NOTE: “It’s the people, not the centerpieces, or favors, that will determine whether everyone had a great time”.
2. Hype It Up
Create some buzz about your wedding. Offer your guest a taste of what’s to come by creating excitement and anticipation. Start out 12mos away with a unique save the also mentions that you will have wedding website. On the website include things like details on the surrounding celebrations (rehearsal dinner, bridal shower), fun facts about the couple, share your love story, and add photos of the two of you (like your engagement photos). Also try making your wedding website interactive by throwing in a poll that let guest choose the cake flavor, the first-dance song, or what the main entree` should be.
Great “FREE” wedding website vendors: theKnot, Wedding Window, Wedding Wire, mywedding, Wedsite, Project Wedding, ewedding & The Wedding Channel
A lot of couples when trying to come up with their reception menu prefer to stay on the safe side of things and choose a food that most people eat, like chicken. Not unless chicken is your absolute favorite as a couple, I say serve something a little more interesting. Instead of chicken, offer pork tenderloin with a glaze, beef tips, rack of lamb, or T-bone steak. Maybe even a Cornish hen. To bring some fun and exciting to the menu have an interactive dessert bar. These are guaranteed crowd-pleasers. Two options we love: build your own sundae or candy apple station.
4. Send Guest Home with a Snack
Receptions can last a long time. After a lovely and delicious dinner you’re now up dancing the night away. When that happens, you typically start building an appetite again, so why not send you guest home with a snack. I say don’t send your guest home hungry. A special send-off treat is the perfect way to leave a lasting impression and to show your guest how much you care. Great ideas: the ever popular candy bar. Let your guest stuff a goody bag or box with sweet treats. A box of popcorn, a pair of cupcakes, or have a food cart serving up sliders, hot dogs or deep-dish slices.
5. Provide Alternate Forms of Entertainment
Not every guest will come to your wedding ready to dance the night away, so offer other activities to add another dimension to your reception. What you don’t want are guest sitting around being bored, so let’s keep the wallflowers busy. You can offer a photo booth, professional dancers, or even sketch artists.
6. Know Your Budget, Respect Your Budget, Stick to Your Budget
Until the two of you have sat down together and have thoroughly worked your budget, do not spend a dime or book a service. This is where a lot of couples go wrong and they hardly ever recover from it. They fall in love with a venue and book it right away, only to find they have skimp on everything else, including necessities.
7. Don’t Cut the Wrong Corners
Sure you have an uncle who would love to take your wedding photos or videotape your wedding, but will you be happy with the output? My advice: "Always hire professional, licensed vendors. You will save yourself a lot of stress by hiring a well-qualified people, whose work you can count on".
8. Hire Help for Your Big Day
If you decide to not hire a wedding planner to handle the bulk of the planning for your wedding, then I implore you to at least hire someone for the “day of”. While planning their own wedding a lot of brides becomes planners at heart and begin to believe they have everything under control, but trust me the best stress reliever is to have someone professional there, taking care of things that can and will come up.
9. Personalize
Special touches are always so memorable. Try these tips for personalizing your wedding:
On the door of the church and/or reception venue your initials, opt for a cake topper that says something about you like a monogram, ice sculpture with your monogram, honor your relatives with a gallery of photos of all married couples, wow the reception crowd with a choreographed routine, write your own vows, bottle your own wedding-day wine complete with a romantic custom labels or don’t number your reception tables, instead name them after your favorite date places, travel destinations, movies, songs, and the like.
Or create a signature drink or drinks and name them after yourselves. The color of your drink can coordinate with your wedding colors.
10. Have a BLAST!!
Too many brides wish they’d spent less time worrying about the details and more time having fun and just enjoying the day. My advice is to be in the moment and soak it all in. Believe me when I say the day will go by so quickly, and you’re really going to want to be there emotionally. Enjoy your guests who are there to celebrate your day with you.
“I hope these 10 tips/secrets help you along with your wedding planning and making your day that much more special and hopefully Simply Lavish!”
Too many brides wish they’d spent less time worrying about the details and more time having fun and just enjoying the day. My advice is to be in the moment and soak it all in. Believe me when I say the day will go by so quickly, and you’re really going to want to be there emotionally. Enjoy your guests who are there to celebrate your day with you.
“I hope these 10 tips/secrets help you along with your wedding planning and making your day that much more special and hopefully Simply Lavish!”
Image Credit: Wedding Menu, Candy Apple Station, Candy Buffet, Photo Booth,
Monogram Church Doors Letters, Monogram Cake Topper, Monogram Ice Sculpture
Happy Planning
De’Vonda J. Manning
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