A Wedding to Remember (Pleasantly), part I

As you and your betrothed are planning your wedding and reception, you have carefully considered each other’s dreams, ideas, budgets and wishes. This may lead you to believe that your wedding day is All About You. For the most part, that’s true. However, if you would like your guests to remember your day with almost as much joy, there are a few things you can do.

Whenever possible, do not monopolize the entire day of your guests. A wedding at noon and a reception at 5:00 p.m. makes many groan, especially your out-of-town guests. It may also create a situation where some guests choose to skip the ceremony to avoid lag time between the two events. If a large gap of time is unavoidable, plan activities for your guests. A trolley ride of the city, a place for guests to socialize such as a friend or relatives home, or a local (inexpensive) attraction that has a wide interest may be appropriate. Information and maps provided to guests are always appreciated.

To cut down on the amount of time between ceremony and reception, take some of the photos beforehand. If you wish to follow tradition and not see your future spouse before the ceremony, leave the group photos for the end. Take photos with parents, friends and your side of the wedding party first. That will dramatically cut down on photography time.

Many guests prefer not to go through a long reception line. It can be awkward to think of things to say to a bridesmaid you don’t know. However, it is always good manners to have a receiving line for guests to greet the newly married couple. What to do? Consider shortening the line. Include parents, the bridal couple and possibly just the maid/matron of honor and the best man. Make it possible for those who absolutely wish to skip it to do so, but make it more palatable for those who wait in line.

Make it clear whom you wish to invite and don’t feel guilty standing firm. An invitation to “Mr. & Mrs. Jones” does not include their children. An invitation to “Mr. & Mrs. Jones and family” does. You may wish to include childrens names, should Mr. & Mrs. Jones have a three cousins twice-removed visiting on your wedding day and choose to bring them along. Put together a seating chart for your guests. It is unpleasant for guests to jockey for a position at a table and try to try save a chair by leaving their purse or jacket behind.

What ideas do you have for making your special day enjoyable for everyone?

To be continued....