"It's your day." From the moment you get engaged, that is what you will keep hearing! This is your day in every way; you are the center of attention. You may expect to be completely taken care of on the day of your wedding, but what you will find is that there is a blend of give and take. You take care of your guests, and they take care of you!
Taking care of your guests is the best way to be a great host for your wedding. But what exactly does that mean? Well, it starts at the beginning — from the moment you pick a venue.
A couple planning a destination wedding recently approached me and asked what venue they should choose. My answer to them was another question. "If I was a guest at your wedding, where would I want to go?" When you choose a wedding venue, be sure that the representative walks you throigh how they are going to take care of your guests on the big day. This ensures that your guests will experience the level of hospitatlity that reflects your style — and that goes for local weddings as well as destination weddings!
Small details will affect your guests in a big way, so don't forget to consider them! A great tip is to try to mentally walk through the wedding day as if you are a guest, thinking of every situation they may encounter. For example, what is the distance from the ceremony to the reception location? Will elderly guests be able to make the trek? Another important factor in guest happiness is the parking situation. Always keep your guests' comfort in mind from the beginning of your big day —this is the first step in being a great hostess.
Once your guests arrive at your reception, the first stop is the bar. What will that experience be like? Will there be three deep waiting in line, or does your caterer have a plan to get a drink in the hands of your guests, ensuring that all is well in the world?
Options such as specialty bars, butlered beverages, or a table with trays of drinks takes a lot of traffic away from the bar, easing up on that line.
Quick note: If you know that your family members or friends have certain favorites, you will be a hero if you have it on hand!
The most important part of being a great hostess is to let your guests know how thrilled you are that they could be with you on this most special day. If you decide not to have a receiving line post ceremony, it is so important that you and your new spouse circle the room and hug and touch each of your guests. This is the moment of connection. Your guests have planned, travelled and have dedicated this day to you. Connecting with a hug and thank you is their real reward…et them know that it is important to you that they are there to celebrate with you. Moving from table to table and visiting with your guests will be the highlight of the evening for many of your guests.
Now that all your guests have drinks in hand and food is circulating, you are available for photos and to have a private moment with your new partner.
And the festivities really begin!
This is where the second half of the deal comes in — they take care of you! Happy brides and grooms make for happy celebrations. Your gift to yourself is a stress free evening. So plan on asking key people to assist you in that. Here are a few ways they can assist you:
Greeting guests: Ask a friend to be your welcoming committee! They may welcome guests and let them know that they are acting on behalf of the bride and groom. A gracious note.
TLC: You can ask your bridal party or close friends to act as ambassadors to your guests. Your guests will be thrilled to learn that "Janie asked me to make sure that you were well taken care of." In the whirlwind of your big day, you may not be able to devote as much special attention to Aunt Susie as you'd like, but if you ask a friend to pay her spend some time with her on your behalf, she will be very grateful.
Transportation: Ask a friend to drive a vehicle that has lots of room for transporting items from the ceremony to the reception and then back home. This may take more than one. Arranging this ahead of time makes the end of the evening go smoothly.
Guest Book and Gift Table: Ask a friend to assist with the guest book and gift table. They can keep an eye on the basket of gift envelopes.
The Closer: This is for a special friend. All the personal items that you have painstakingly picked out will need to be accounted for and gathered. Usually a caterer/venue will have a staff person assigned to this duty. However the staff person will need a go-to person to connect with. At the end of the evening, this angel will gather up gifts, flowers, and lost shoes and get them where they need to be.
In the end, having a detailed plan is the key to being a great hostess. You are free to bask in your celebration, taking in every moment, knowing that you have taken care of all the details. Sit back and enjoy the ride!
Festivities is known for the finest in catered foods, sophisticated presentations and innovative event designs. For almost 30 years, this brother –sister team have kept their business on the cutting edge of food and event design. Multiple time winners of “Best of the Gold Coast”, Roe and Bill offer their clients a warm, customized experience when planning their most important celebrations.
Rosinne K. Chlala
Co-Owner/Event Consultant Festivities
203-847-7774
info@festivitiesevents.com
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Photograph by Kate Eiseman