The Rising Focus of Wedding Guest Experiences
While in year’s past the focus has weighed so heavily on the bride and groom, the last couple of years have shown the rise in the focus on creating incredible wedding guest experiences. More than ever, folks are ready to celebrate and live life FULLY! Couples are elated to finally celebrate their union. Along with that, they can’t wait to do so along their nearest and dearest loved ones. They want to not just celebrate their spouse, but also each and every person in attendance, too.
Because of this, recent weddings are gifting lucky guests a more phenomenal time than ever. From gelato carts, to lawn games, to cigar rollers and more–couples are getting creative in an effort for their guests to truly have a memorable experience. Below we are sharing why this is not just an emotionally wise thing to do, but also a logically wise decision, as well as some ideas to get you started.
A Night To Remember For All
Your wedding day is absolutely about you and your very best friend. But each and every couple share that one of the best things about their wedding day was sharing it with those they love most. Family, friends, coworkers and the like–it’s no secret that we all need our loved ones in both our challenging and celebratory moments. There are simple (and yes, some even budget friendly!) ways to celebrate those special people in your life–giving them as much of an unforgettable event as you and your spouse!
Some examples for easy wedding guest experiences swaps?
If you’re on board with making your wedding even more of a night to remember, but wanting to save as much funds as possible, there are plenty of easy swaps you can make that end up being extremely close to (if not right at!) what you would spend for a standard wedding “tradition”.
- Consider a gelato cart in lieu of a wedding cake. This gives guests an opportunity to interact with their dessert even more, and explore new flavors they might not have expected. Plus, in the Florida heat, cold sweets are always a great idea!
- Opt for a late night snack or cigar roller in lieu of party favors. While we love the sweet goodie bag party favors, custom candles, etc. that serve as wedding favors, more and more we see these thoughtful gifts left behind. Guests get excited and have a blast during the celebrations and often forget to head back to the favor table to grab their goodies on their way out. To combat this? Make your “favor” part of the party itself! Opt for late night mini tacos, mini pizzas, etc. Or, if you and you loved ones are cigar fans, hire a cigar roller and guests can take home hand rolled cigars as their favor.
- Present a welcome drink pre-ceremony in lieu of a poured toast during the reception. If it’s OK to drink before noon, we think it’s more than OK to toast pre-ceremony! 😉 This is a fun way to get guests into the celebratory mode. And more often than not, guests almost always already have an existing drink during the toasts. So swap the standard “toast” pours for a pre-ceremony surprise!
- An espresso cart in lieu of coffee service after dinner. Because who doesn’t love how special a foamy latte makes you feel?
- Provide backyard games like giant Jenga, corn hole, giant Connect 4 and more. This also gives guests an easy way to bond and chat with one another as the celebrations unfold.
Looking to go big?
If you have some wiggle room in your budget and are wanting to allocate a good amount of funds toward your wedding guest experiences, peek at some ideas below.
- Provide a bounce house for the young and young at heart!
- Hire a band for live performances to get everyone in the groove.
- Indulge sweet teeth in a s’mores station.
- Add a drink cart of premium spirits, like a luxury bourbon or whiskey cart.
- Upgrade your dining selections to include unforgettable food stations like a sushi boat, a whole roasted pig, whole roasted fish, raw bar displays, pasta stations, carving stations and more.
- Who says the party has to wait until the big day? Opt for a karaoke party instead of welcome party the night before your wedding!
…and so much more. The options are truly endless–each and every one a way to even further customize your day to reflect you as a couple and love on your people all in one fell swoop. We can’t wait to plan your best party ever with you!
Looking to brainstorm together? Reach out today and let’s get started!
Written by Social Curator: Kelsey Pfleiderer