There is nothing better than a guest telling you that your wedding is the best they have ever been to. Following these 10 easy steps will help ensure your wedding guests have an amazing time at your wedding, and ensure that it is as stress-free and budget friendly for you as well!

1. Ask for Song Requests

Include your guests throughout the night by encouraging the DJ to ask them for song requests. This keeps the guests involved, excited, and sticking around later throughout the night. Plus, it allows a variety of music to appeal to all the ages of the guests!

2. Provide Transportation Between Ceremony & Reception

It is hard to configure details for yourselves when planning a wedding away from home, but even harder for your guests who are not as familiar with the area as you might be. Chances are, they might have even forgotten details like cars, or directions to and from the wedding events. Make it easy for them by providing transportation, so that they don’t have to worry about their cars, and then you don’t have to stress about it either.

3. Provide Activities For Their Free Time

There is often 2-3 hours in between the ceremony and the reception, where the guests usually have no place to go, or nothing fun to occupy their times while they wait for your grand entrance. Entertain your guests by providing a list of activities for them to do, that can be diverse for families, kids, and adults who want to get the party started early!

4.  Keep Toasts and Speeches Short

By the time toasts roll around in the night, most of your guests are very hungry, and have been waiting for the reception activities to start for a few hours. Although toasts can be hilarious and sweet, the best toasts are always the ones where they draw tears and laughter in a short, friendly appeal.

5. No Seating Charts

Almost every wedding planner suggests a seating chart, and by all logical means, it is a good idea. However, seating charts are always a tricky social situation, because there is always awkwardness, people sitting in the back corners, and family members put ahead of others. Simplify matters for yourselves by allowing your guests to sit where they are comfortable, and ease their dinner conversations and intro into the nights festivities.

6. Thank Your Guests

Many guests have either traveled a long way to be with you on your wedding, on have had to make arrangements with kids, spend extra money, etc. But they care for you, and wouldn’t trade missing this for the world! Let them know how grateful you are that they came, but saying a few words of appreciation, either right after the toasts, or by visiting with each table after dinner. It will also create individual memories for you guys, as they congratulate you on your first night of marriage!

7. Have a Game Plan for Kids

If you guys are inviting children to the wedding, I’ve parents the option to have pre determined activities for their kids, so that they can relax without having to stress over them. Many venues will have room for a kids table that could include bubbles, games, glow sticks, etc for the littles ones to entertain themselves. It will also presumably keep them centered around the same location, so they aren’t running too far around the venue.

8. Fun Party Favors

Most weddings have party favors, but it can be really fun to hand out the party favors at the beginning of the reception, and have the guests be able to use the gift at the wedding. For example, you could create monogrammed beer glasses where, if they bring them up to the bartender, they have the option to get your favorite selected beer for a free round. You can also include a bag of sweets if you have a chocolate fountain, or perhaps fun straws for a special margarita that they can only order if they use the straw!

9. Interactive Food Table

You can use this during cocktail hour, while your guests are waiting for you to arrive at the reception. This can be a fun way to get them involved and active prior to dancing, and can provide fun conversations for your guests to mingle, and be happy with their dinner selection.

10. Incorporate Local Styles & Products

Add in a fun and creative flare that will introduce your guests to the area that you choose to be married. Michigan cherries and local wines are a fun way to send some love to your wedding venue, and offering to incorporate your guests into your wedding as well. It can even provide a great decor item and speciality dessert that will be memorable for all your guests.

HELPFUL RESOURCES FOR YOU:

• 10 Most Common Wedding Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them!)
• The Secrets Your Wedding Photographer Never Told You (But Always Wanted To!)
• The Pro’s and Con’s of a First Look (And Why Most Brides Recommend It!)
• How to Manage a Large Wedding Party

Don’t yet have a wedding photographer for your wedding? No problem! Contact me today for a FREE quote on packages and prices! We offer varying prices and packages, as well as custom designed photography packages to fit your budget!

Traverse City Wedding photography by Lux Light Photography, captures beautiful and intimate portraits for your wedding, engagement, family, newborn, and boudoir photography session in all of northern Michigan, including Traverse City, Petoskey, Inn at Bay Harbor, Crystal Mountain, Homestead Resort, Bowers Harbor, Mission Table, Glen Arbor, and Charlevoix!

Lux Light Photography  |  luxlightphotography@gmail.com  |  231-633-9410  |  www.luxlightphotography.net

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