The 6 Things Your Wedding Guests Will Remember

Planning & Advice

Image from Lisa & Gareth’s real wedding by Ebony & Pearl Photography

Being a wedding guest is awesome. Even people who don’t really like weddings don’t turn down invitations. Why? Because they’re great. It’s a fantastic day out. You get to dress up, watch two people confirm that love is, indeed, all you need, then you’ll enjoy a lovely meal and throw shapes on the dance floor. You’ll go home exhausted with aching feet, but you’ll feel great the day after. It’s a pretty big deal, being invited to a wedding. What will you remember the most?

Here’s where the bride/groom really needs to focus. Every guest is different, of course, but there are some pretty standard things they’ll all notice on the special day. ‘Tis the secret to successful planning, you see – take care of the most important things, and the rest is icing on the cake. So here, ladies and gents, is a no-holds-barred FYI list about what your guests are most likely to remember.

How well-organised everything was – the day proceeded according to plan, without major delays, and the guests never stood around wondering what’s going on and where they’re supposed to be next.

The flipside – if you’re worried about guests wondering what’s going on, it can be a nice idea to have an ‘order of the day’ – we’ve seen some gorgeous signs (similar to your seating chart) with the timings clearly laid out so everybody has an idea of what’s happening. Or, your ushers and bridesmaids can tell the guests what’s happening and when while they mingle.

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Image from Isobelle & Edward’s real wedding by DKPHOTO

How convenient it was to travel – or not have to travel – from the ceremony to the reception venue. This is the chief reason why brides often choose a venue, or a church in close proximity to the reception, to make the day go smoothly.

The flipside – they will remember having to drive for two hours to some unknown location for the reception, all the while worrying about how they’re going to make it back on pitch black roads after it’s all over. Of course, they will do the drive, because they care about you and are happy to be invited. Hiring a bus can be a good option here, if you’re wondering how to fix this dilemma – Munster Chauffeurs are one such company that offer this service.

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Image from Magda & Colm’s real wedding by Art Wedding Photography

The overall look of the wedding venue – they walked into your reception room and WOW… they were simply stunned how beautiful it all was. How classy, how colourful, how romantic. So when you’re choosing your venue, it’s worth thinking of the overall picture – you should be impressed with the room even when you see it without any embellishments. In fact, this is what wedding fairs at venues are best for – seeing rooms in all their glory.

The flipside – very few guests will notice that the font you chose for your place cards matches the menus precisely. They may not even notice those tiny crystals on your candle holders you spent hours gluing together. And they won’t even know that the sashes on the chairs match your napkin rings exactly. So don’t fret too much over the tiniest details – it’s the overall look that makes an impression.

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Image from Margareta & Mark’s real wedding by Monica Hadarean Photography

The speeches – short, heartfelt, touching, or funny, they tug at the heartstrings and even bring a tear or two to everyone’s eye. When it’s all done, they’ll believe in love all over again.

The flipside – controversial or offensive topics, and speeches that go on and on. If you are worried about what the best man will say, it might be an idea to speak to your other half and tell them you expect the best man to behave himself. Don’t sit there wondering if he’s going to ruin it all by saying something horrid – it’s a day to celebrate your love, not the best man’s knowledge of questionable jokes.

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Image from Pamela and Paul’s real wedding by Moat Hill Photography

How fantastic the food was – there are some things really worth spending money on when you’re planning a wedding, and food is one of them. It’s worth asking your venue or caterer about their signature dish – every chef has a particular speciality they just love preparing. And you may be pleasantly surprised when the cost turns out to be the same as a pre-set menu, or just a little more.

The flipside – bad food, of course. The tough steak, the undercooked chicken, the sad vegetables in non-descript sauce. The dinner is a major part of your celebration – it’s really worth saving elsewhere to make the meal outstanding. If you’ve been to a wedding where it was a disappointment, you’ll know exactly what we mean. Make sure to discuss your menu options with the venue and and opt for a tasting as well.

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Image from Stephanie & Declan’s real wedding by Konrad Kubic Photography

The dancing – at one point or another, the kids, the grandmas, the teenagers, and the dads should all hit the dance floor. And those who aren’t dancing should be at least bobbing around in their seat as the DJ plays one fantastic groove after another.

The flipside – If you’re worried about an empty dance floor, tell the DJ the songs you DON’T want him to play. You’ll probably give him a list of your faves, right? So give him a list of your not-faves too! Offensive rap? Out. The Macarena? Out. Or whatever is your preference. Make sure there’s something for everyone – some romantic ballads for those who like to take a slow spin around the floor, and some real grooves that never fail, like anything by the Jackson 5.

When you narrow it down to the essentials, suddenly the whole task of planning a wedding doesn’t seem so daunting, does it? So take care of these, and your wedding will be remembered for a long time, for all the right reasons, by everyone who attended.