It’s been a while since I've attended a wedding, but back in my early to mid-twenties, I went to quite a few. Some were immensely fun, others were sometimes painful. And at each wedding, it was obvious to me what made the event enjoyable for everyone: bride, groom, bridal party, and all attendees. It was an observation that I was very intentional about implementing into my own special day:
Think of the guests first.
This may seem like a counter-cultural statement, where the norm is making it “the bride’s day.” Don’t get me wrong, the bride and groom are central to the entire event, but if they want it to be one that the guests remember fondly, they should make every decision with the guests’ enjoyment in mind. Here are some examples...
1) Keep the ceremony short. Twenty to thirty minutes, tops.
2) Do all the pictures before the ceremony so guests are not waiting hours between the ceremony and reception. (Yes, I said “all” pictures. It’s not a big deal if the groom sees the bride before she walks down the aisle; it makes the event no less special.)
3) Serve awesome food.
4) Invite people who are willing to have fun. Enjoyable atmospheres are contagious.
Think of the guests first.
This may seem like a counter-cultural statement, where the norm is making it “the bride’s day.” Don’t get me wrong, the bride and groom are central to the entire event, but if they want it to be one that the guests remember fondly, they should make every decision with the guests’ enjoyment in mind. Here are some examples...
1) Keep the ceremony short. Twenty to thirty minutes, tops.
2) Do all the pictures before the ceremony so guests are not waiting hours between the ceremony and reception. (Yes, I said “all” pictures. It’s not a big deal if the groom sees the bride before she walks down the aisle; it makes the event no less special.)
3) Serve awesome food.
4) Invite people who are willing to have fun. Enjoyable atmospheres are contagious.