What Wedding Guests DO Care About
Are you a people pleaser or do you march to the beat of your own drum? Whichever side you land on, you probably want to enjoy your dream wedding day while also giving your guests a great experience. A wedding is the perfect chance to see family and friends while celebrating a new season of life beginning for you and your partner. Your wedding guests DO care about seeing you enjoy your day. Of course, there are certain elements to your wedding day that your guests generally do NOT care about and we’ve highlighted some of those at the end of this blog. Now, let’s take a look at a few things your wedding guests WILL care about when they attend your wedding.
Here are the top 6 things your wedding guests DO care about:
1. Good Food + Cold Drinks
Let’s be honest. Food is a huge motivator for most people! A delicious meal, cocktail hour, or dessert treats will make your guests feel appreciated and loved, but it will also keep them energized to continue dancing and celebrating throughout the reception. Skimping on the catering aspect of your wedding may be disappointing to your guests (and you), leave the reception feeling a little underwhelming or make your guests a little cranky. A savory dinner meal has become something that guests expect from a wedding, so be clear on your invitations if you’re not having a dinner reception.
Tips for planning the best dining experience:
Set up a tasting before committing to a caterer. You’ll want to taste some of the main entrée options and meet them to make sure their professionalism is up to your standards.
Hone in on two or three high quality entrée options, but don’t feel pressured to have ALL the options. Pick your favorites, add some variety and guests will love it!
Guests appreciate you asking about allergies on the RSVP form. It shows you care and want to accommodate your guests!
Fine tuning your drink menu will not only help your budget, but it will provide for quicker bar service. Select a few beer options, red and white wine selections, and a signature cocktail or mixed drink. A fun signature drink representing you or the groom, or both of you, is always a big hit so have an ample supply of this. Don’t forget those who don’t drink alcohol too - lemonade and tea are great options!
If you’re opting for a cash bar, let your guests know this in advance so they will be prepared.
Ask questions and make plans with your caterer for whatever type of dinner service you are wanting. [buffet, full service, plated salad with buffet, family-style, food stations, etc.]
2. Being in the Know
You’ve planned the most perfect day for your guests, family, and your fiancé. Don’t let all that hard work go unnoticed! Guests want to be in the know about what to expect before they come. That could be as simple as adding travel accommodation information to your invitations or as elaborate as welcome gifts with itinerary at the guest’s hotel check-in. If you’re having an outdoor ceremony, state it on your invite or website so guests can plan their attire accordingly. If you have a specific attire suggestion, state it on your wedding website or invitation (i.e. black tie, dressy casual, cowboy hats encouraged, black attire only, etc.).
You are probably familiar with the traditional terms, “guest book attendant” or “gift table attendant”. For a modern wedding today, assign someone to be the welcome person/team. It’s nice to have a smiling face near the entrance of your ceremony venue to greet guests and answer some simple questions they may have upon arrival. Find out more about who this person should be and what they should be prepared for in this blog.
Help your guests on the day of the wedding by having signage for things like parking, where to place gifts, what beverages are available, and when to expect dinner or dancing to start. It is also important to inform your guests about any special send off. That way they know to stay to the end. Your photographer will thank you because there will be enough people for a sparkler line or enough bubbles floating in the air for your special getaway moment! When guests are in the know about what to expect, they can relax and enjoy the day!
“The views at Emerson Fields are gorgeous, with the windows and lighting making everything lovely and airy. There are wonderful spots for the cake table, guest sign in, gifts, drinks and coffee bar, and food tables. The kitchen was large and commercial quality, which was very nice, since the food was all prepared on site. The room for the bride and her bridesmaids to prepare in is one of my special memories...so beautiful, and peacefully decorated.”
3. Engaging Music
Wedding guests love it when they attend a wedding and they know some of the music being played! If you want your guests out on the dance floor you’ll need a good mix of multiple genres and musical artists. But wait...what if you don’t like rap, or country, or big band music and someone requests it? One way to include your wedding guests in the reception music is to add a request form to the invite or wedding website for people to put in their picks! Give the list to your DJ so they can start building your wedding playlist. Then, you can let your DJ know if there is anything you absolutely do NOT want played (yes, we’re looking at you Chicken Dance). Hire a highly rated DJ who knows how to gauge an audience and will get people energized and having a great time!
Your wedding guests care about the music almost as much as you do! They want to be entertained and have a good time. One unique way to have music and add an element of entertainment at your reception is to hire dueling pianos, a live band or cover band, or a jazz ensemble! Live music has a way of engaging your wedding guests in a totally unique and unexpected way. It’s like having a concert at your own private party!
4. The Weather
Wedding guests want to see you get married, rain or shine. A way to ensure that your guests enjoy your big day is to make your wedding, indoor or outdoor, as weather-friendly as possible. That could mean ushers with umbrellas helping people walk inside, sunscreen/sunglasses/handheld fans available at the gift table in the summer season, extra rolled blankets for an evening ceremony in the fall, or maybe opting for a pavilion shaded ceremony when you might have wanted an open field look. No one, including your guests, wants a torrential downpour, blizzard, or scorcher on their wedding day. Of course you cannot control the weather, but you can control a few aspects of making the weather work in your favor. Always inform your guests if you plan to host an outdoor wedding so they can dress appropriately. Wedding guests want to know what to wear for your wedding! Check out this blog post to learn more about the ultimate outdoor wedding.
At Emerson Fields, we offer several outdoor ceremony options for the best client and guest experience but, ultimately, we are always going to be in favor of what the bride wants for her big day. We had a guest come up to one of our staff after a dock wedding on a hot summer day and ask, “Couldn’t we have done that in the AC instead of outside in the hot sun?!” Our answer, “Yes, we could’ve but that’s not what the bride wanted. We always work to fulfill the bride’s wishes because it’s HER day. [insert smile]”
“Our day was amazing thanks to Amelia and Steve at Emerson Fields! It was supposed to rain all day and our plan was to have the ceremony outside, so Steve and Amelia got BOTH areas ready just in case and had the venue and pavilion in beautiful shape for the wedding. We got to have the wedding outdoors and the pictures were amazing! It was perfect for everyone!”
5. A Memorable Experience
You want your wedding guests to leave thinking “I didn’t want that day to end!” You probably will be thinking the same thing. You are creating memories of the biggest commitment and declaration of love in your life. When you reflect back on your wedding day, your guests will be able to share their wonderful memories too!
“Did you see the flower girl twirl down the aisle?”
“That dinner was delicious and so beautiful! OMGeee, I wanted more cake!”
“The sunset over the lake was so gorgeous! I’m so glad we got those portraits!”
“Can you believe that grand exit? I need that car!”
By selecting a beautiful venue like Emerson Fields, you and your guests will leave with memories for a lifetime! Much of that is due to the fact that we don’t rush you through the experience. We always want our couples to relax, enjoy their day and walk away on cloud nine. It’s so heartwarming for us when guests enjoy the outdoors, take selfies with the sunset over the lake and are really able to soak up every moment of the evening with the couple.
6. Seeing YOU!
Your wedding guests have travelled across the state, or across the country, to see YOU on your big day! They are there because they love you and want to see your love and commitment to your new spouse celebrated. At the end of the day, all your guests truly want is to see you get married and enjoy yourself. If you are having a great time, chances are your guests will too! So, get out on the dance floor, take selfies with your grandma, dollar dance until you can’t hold any more cash, enjoy an evening stroll to the dock with friends and CELEBRATE with the one you love most. This is going to be so much FUN!
[Check out the link below to grab our Ultimate Wedding Planning Checklist to help you plan an unforgettable wedding day!]
Your wedding guests care about you and your fiancé a whole lot! As you are planning, focus on what is most important to you on your wedding day and be okay with letting other less important things slide. After all, it should be a day to reflect your love for one another and your commitment to support and care for each other forever.
Our ultimate wedding planning checklist walks you through the most important tasks leading up to your wedding day. Using this checklist will ensure you don’t forget any details and your guests won’t forget the most memorable wedding party they’ve ever been to! Start your checklist today! It’s customizable!
What do you think your wedding guests will care about on your wedding day? Do you agree with our top 6, or do you have another you’d like to add? Check out this recent blog about What Wedding Guests Do NOT Care About.
06/24/2021 - Gabrielle Isom
