8 Items your wedding guests don’t care about
When planning your wedding day, what memories do you want to remember? The moment you first see your partner? The look at your families’ eyes when you say, I do, and walk down the aisle or dancing the night away with your love, closest family and friends?
There is bound to be many things that will cause you unneeded stress when planning your wedding day and I want to take that away from you. Whether it is as your wedding planner, day of coordinator or quick stop to read this post.
I will say it, and some may disagree, but with my years of experience here are some things guests just simply won’t miss. Save your money and sanity when planning and you can remember the moments that matter to you without these items. Don’t think twice about it if it does not bring you joy. Afterall, it is your day, and you will still bring joy to your guests. Guest experience is important to me, and you can still have the best day and not impose on their potential experience without these items.
Don’t love it? Here are items I would not think twice about if they do not bring you joy. Bonus…will save you money and time. Your time is valuable.
Favors - If there is an item that brings you joy or tells a story about you two, go for it! If you do have a favor, I do recommend placing it at each guests place setting or a very visible table your guests will have to pass when leaving. Many favors are forgotten by the end of the night. If you would like to have a favor, food is always a great item. Maybe it’s your favorite BBQ, jam or honey or snack items to go. If you are having a weekend of events, start the weekend with your favors instead of a the end. Your guests can enjoy these items over the weekend. Save the possibly hundreds of dollars and place it towards something that brings you joy during your day instead.
Specialty Linen - I LOVE specialty linen, the colors, the textures, all of it. However, your guests experience and joy to be celebrating you on your day won’t change if you use the linen that comes with your venue rental or the standard costs and not upgraded. What are your priorities? If this is part of your top priorities and design, absolutely go for it! Want to have a WOW moment at your sweetheart table, and splurge? I always recommend upgrading your linen at minimum on your sweetheart table. Dress it up, this is where you will be and many photos captured.
Chairs - Same applies to your chairs. What are your frameable moments? Will you be hanging a chair photo on your wall? Is this a priority of yours? If not, skip it and go with the chairs your venue provides and rent two chairs with some color and personality and another statement piece for your sweetheart table.
Guestbook - If finding the right “guestbook” brings you stress and does not bring you joy, skip it. You will have the photos and the memories of who was there with you to celebrate. There are many great options that you can personalize. I recommend considering what you would want to have out visible at your home and not tucked away in a memory box. Consider what is personal to you and visually appealing that you would love to see it every day at your home after your wedding day.
Garter and Bouquet Toss - I have so many weddings that do not include both of these. Do what makes you feel comfortable. These are traditions that are meant to be part of your wedding day only if YOU want them to be. This is your day, your way. Your guests won’t be asking where this moment is, they will be dancing away with you on the dance floor.
Repurposing Flower Arrangements - Absolutely repurpose your ceremony flowers to your reception, specifically your sweetheart table. Depending on your ceremony design, your hanging altar pieces can lay flat on top of your sweetheart table and aisle markers can be placed at the foot of your sweetheart table on each side. Work with your planner and florist to repurpose and design your flower arrangements in order to maximize you budget.
First Dance - If you don’t feel comfortable having a first dance in front of your guests, a private first dance or last dance is a beautiful moment between you and your partner. You can schedule these magical moments throughout your wedding day. If you do have a first dance in front of your guests, I also like to recommend fading the song out when you would like, some songs are quite long. Let your DJ know if you would like any of your formal dance songs faded out at a certain time.
What you Wear - Wear what you want to wear! Don’t want to wear a white dress, and blue, black, red or pink or a pant suit is your choice? Go for it! You want to wear what makes you feel beautiful. Your guests will see your glow when you are wearing what you want to wear versus what you think you are supposed to wear. I love seeing this glow when a bride puts on what they are wearing on their wedding day. It is the best.
What brings you joy? What do you want to remember on your wedding day? If you find something is bringing you stress, talk to your partner about not including it on your wedding day.
I like to break it down to the four d’s to create the best experience for you and your guests that you and they will remember…drinks, dinner, dancing and day of coordinator. Great drinks, food and DJ for dancing the night way and one more, day of coordinator will provide an amazing experience. The rest will bring your dream day together that you visioned.
Cover Photo Image: Ashley Norton Photography, Grace Barn, Thistle and Thorn Floral