Wedding planning can be incredibly overwhelming. There is so much to consider; flowers, the dress, tuxedos, bridesmaids and groomsmen, venue…the list goes on and on. We are Southern California and Phoenix wedding photographers, so we understand how stressful the planning stages can be. Lots of couples don’t want to get caught up in the hoopla of planning a wedding and simply go for the traditional cake, D.J. and a church hall venue…which is great and all, but we’re here to tell you that planning an extraordinary wedding doesn’t have to be chaotic and time consuming. Here is a list of 6 ways you can make your wedding day phenomenal without all of the hullabaloo.
1. Create a VIP Lounge
Make your guests feel like a VIP by creating a sort of VIP lounge at your reception. Off to one side of the dance floor, place a few comfy chairs or couches and a table with some candles to give your guests somewhere less formal to congregate. As a bonus, put up a curtain and a red rope for a more VIP look.
2. Hire a Few Reception Ushers
High-end clubs and restaurants have ushers that show guests to their tables, so why not have ushers at your reception? You can ask the ushers from your ceremony to double at the reception or consider coordinating with your caterer to see if the wait staff can help out. This is an elegant way to welcome your guests to the reception and give them that personal touch.
3. Offer Cocktails Before the Nuptials
Surprise your guests with light cocktails before the ceremony begins. Keep them simple like wine, mimosas or fruit infused waters or herbal teas. Your ushers can sweep through and gather up the empty glasses before the ceremony begins and your guests will be refreshed and ready to help you celebrate your special day.
4. Jazz Up Your Escort Cards
You want your guests to know how special they are and how much you appreciate them sharing your special day with you, so give them a little token of your appreciation with a unique escort card. Forego the usual boring paper place cards that usually just get thrown away and opt for something more meaningful. You could put the cards on stick and place them in small plants that the guests can take with them. You can even choose something edible like a cake pop with the guest’s name on it. The sky’s the limit, so don’t hesitate to be creative.
5. Go All Out on Your Welcome Bags
Welcome bags are a popular way to welcome your guests to your event. They are especially wonderful for destination weddings. Stock your welcome bags with gourmet chocolates or petit fours from a local bakery. You can include miniature bottles of champagne, maps of the local area, or even a gift certificate to an area coffee shop. Whatever you choose, make sure that your gifts are personal, thoughtful, and memorable.
6. Make Even the Littlest Guests Feel Special
Let Mom and Dad enjoy the evening by providing a special space just for kids. You can create a make-shift child care center in a room close to your venue so parents can stop by and check in on their little ones and still enjoy the reception. Hire baby sitters to come up with games and crafts for the little ones and provide yoga mats if they start to get sleepy.
These are just a few of the many ways you can make your wedding day unique and memorable for everyone. Let us know what you think of this post by leaving us a comment below. Have you ever tried any of these ideas? Which one was your favorite? As one of the top SoCal and Phoenix wedding photographers, we’d love to hear from you.
Photo above from a recent clients’ wedding, Ashley and Jeremy, wed this spring.