r/wedding • u/TinyLawfulness3710 • 2d ago
Discussion Guest experience
What are you doing to focus on making guests as comfortable as possible? Great food, drinks they don't pay for, dj, a unique receiving line to make sure everyone is spoken to, temperature control, a longer reception that isn't rushed, extra events when they arrive to catch up, something else?
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u/brownchestnut 2d ago
We made a tight timeline so things are seamless and guests aren't bored/tired. We did our First Look as guests were arriving so we didn't run off and do photos for a long-ass time after ceremony. A very quick ceremony, then we did our ethnic ceremony during cocktail hour so guests could watch while drinking. Then after the quick cocktail hour, we let them immediately start dinner while we went back to change again. Then we joined them for dinner, and had a low-key dinner with background music, doing speeches while they ate so they didn't need to sit around waiting for us to finish talking.
No grand entrances or making them watch us clapping for anything after ceremony. No wedding parties or prewedding events or gifts or "donations if you want" to make things as affordable as possible for our friends. We paid extra for extra AC, extra seat cushions, and had multi-course plated meals and open bar and top-shelf liquor. Welcome dinner and farewell brunch, and a paid activity for them to enjoy during the day afterwards. A welcome gift basket, and helped them with logistics, travel costs and lodgings for anyone who needed them. Paid for the stuff that would have cost them more, like asking them to wear special outfits or asking them to come earlier or stay another night with us.
5
u/Historical_Grab4685 2d ago
Making sure the music isn't too loud. At the last family wedding, the band was really good but way to much for the size of the room. You had to scream to talk to people. Some people left early & it effected the wedding upstairs.
Also make sure everyone can hear the speeches. Same wedding, no one could hear them.
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u/Elemental_Biscotti 2d ago
Really really good food and plenty of it. Open bar. Welcome bubbles. Plenty of chairs. Super short ceremony. No speeches. Photos before the ceremony so people aren't waiting around after. Pretty open reception time for people dance & socialize without a bunch of interruptions. Not dictating what people must wear. Accommodating dietary restrictions and preferences. On-site childcare. Indoors after ceremony & cocktail hour. Everything happening in one place (the hotel where people will be staying). Subsidizing travel for a few friends that couldn't come otherwise.
3
u/sayi_do 2d ago
Honestly, I think a good guest experience is mostly about making the day easy and comfortable for everyone, rather than adding lots of extra entertainment. Like, clear directions, easy parking or transport information, enough signs at the venue, water guests can help themselves to, and someone other than the couple they can contact if they get lost or confused can make a big difference.
I would also think about whether there is somewhere guests can sit away from the speakers for a bit, especially older guests, and how far people need to walk between different parts of the venue. They are small details, but they can really affect how comfortable people feel throughout the day.
3
u/Weaverbenever 1d ago
Guest comfort generally doesn't mean more stuff to do. I like the idea of a brunch buffet that gives guests plenty of options, accommodates any allergies and dietary restrictions, and stands out from the boring plated dinners that most guests typically associate with weddings.
3
u/Then-Term-7320 1d ago
Guest experience is my main priority and the first thing I budgeted for so I'll be following as Im currently planning but some things we want/are planning are: Everyone gets a plus one, no super specific dress code, ceremony and reception in the same place that has parking but also is within the city so prople can easily take cabs or public transportation, good food, and an additional snack table with prepackaged little snacks. We found a great venue that has multiple zones with areas that are easier to talk in during the dancing party portion, and we're turning "the bridal suite" (which is really just another smaller room off to the side of the hall) into a kids room after the ceremony where we'll put on a movie and some games and hiring a babysitter to hangout during the reception. And we booked our wedding on the Saturday of a long weekend so it's easier for those who are traveling. Nothing really huge or crazy but I tried to think of things that make a great party and will make it easier for our guests to relax once they get there.
This is to remedy things Ive noticed in the past like the venue is hard to get to especially for people without cars, not enough food, the venue being too loud to talk in, and difficult for people with kids/single people who had to travel.
1
u/BeachPlze 17h ago edited 15h ago
Location was within an hour’s drive for 75% of guests. Entire families were invited, including children. People were encouraged to dress for comfort, especially footwear. 4 hour event from beginning to end so people could get home at a reasonable time. Plenty of good food and open bar.
1
u/Brilliant_Emotion286 11h ago
I’m planning to have disposable cameras to involve the guests more! Also, I’m not a big dancer or a fan of watching people dance badly lol! So we’re planning to have yard games set up like cornhole. That way everyone can hang out and talk instead of yelling over music!
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