The Guest Experience
I recently planned a wedding over Labor Day weekend for a Portland couple in one of the prettiest little spots in the Pacific Northwest (and, friends, there are a LOT of beautiful spots in the PNW). It was a micro wedding at a boutique inn for 25 guests, and it really packed a punch. After the event was over, I really spent some time musing over what made it feel so special. I came to the conclusion that the intentionality behind each decision made the experience in its entirety a delight. Curious to know more? Let’s get into it.
As I mentioned, the lovely couple getting married was super intentional in HOW they planned their wedding. Earth signs like me, these gals were into the planning and logistical side of things (hello,Virgo in your chart!) along with the experiential aspect of serving top-notch food and drink. Every decision they made was less about the wedding itself and more about how it would enhance the guest experience - for example, picking a cake from a favorite cafe, because they knew their guests would be into it (to note: only wedding I’ve been to where multiple guests went back for seconds!). This thoughtfulness, coupled with casual but engaging events book-ending their nuptial day, made the weekend unforgettable for their loved ones. If you’d like to take some notes from their playbook, think: phenomenal local wines, private chef’s dinner served family-style at a long table, the most incredible chocolate cake you’ve ever had, sabered champagne for a little drama, indulging in waterfall hikes and river swims before and after the wedding. They wanted to provide their loved ones a true taste of the region, and they delivered!
When you plan your wedding for both your own joy as well as your guests’ delight, everyone wins. Making sure the guest experience is a good one goes a long way in ensuring your wedding vibes are on point - because when everyone’s happy and having fun, your wedding inadvertently becomes the best one they’ve ever been to.
The good news is that you also don’t have to spend a mint to ensure a good guest experience - you don’t need wildly original entertainment or $50k in floral design. You don’t have to hire a dance troupe or a tattoo artist. Sometimes it’s just about having GREAT vendors (a terrific officiant, fun bartenders) and a solid timeline moved along by a calm and organized coordinator. Want some ideas to sprinkle in that are easily accessible? Plan for a more casual welcome dinner or rehearsal for the night before at a special spot (think winery, brewery, a funky diner or pizza joint, a dive bar, etc. - something FUN). Have a smaller guest count day-of, because more time with you is what your guests WANT. Don’t forget to have escort cards/seating chart: believe it or not, people like to be told where to sit. Make sure you and your honey attend half or more of cocktail hour…whatever you do, don’t slip away for 1-2 hours of photos - your guests will lose steam if dinner start time is late, and it’s hard to recover energetically as a group. Keep speeches tight and your planner in charge of the mic, and importantly - get that dance floor going ASAP. Spring for delicious cocktails and the good cake. Consider live music if you can swing it (wedding bands are fun, but think outside of the box here - if you happen to see a great local musician somewhere, ask if they’d consider a wedding gig).
Last but not least, I’d recommend connecting with a planner that you are in tune with who takes the time to get to know you as a couple. Their recommendations should be aligned with you and your values, so your wedding feels like “you”. When your wedding reflects you, and you’re relaxed and happy (often because you’re being taken care of on your big day), the experience from a guest’s perspective is already going to be a positive one.
Happy planning!
