Weddings are a celebration between two people who have fallen in love, which is why they are probably the most unforgettable events in your life as a couple. However, depending on how the celebration is planned and goes… your guests may not find it as memorable as you do. But you don’t have to worry about that if you and your wedding planner incorporate certain elements and opportunities into your ceremony and reception. IT’S ALL ABOUT THE PLANNING.
Putting a little extra effort into your invitation, providing fabulous goodie bags, scaling up your reception, setting wedding table conversation starters (We’ll get to that in just a bit), and more are simple yet wonderful ways to make your wedding guests feel extra special. With that being said, here are 15 ways to make your wedding memorable for your guests.
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Add Special Touches to Your Wedding Invitation
When you invite people to your wedding, you already set some criteria for who gets on the guest list – consciously or subconsciously. As much as it is an honor to be invited to a wedding, guests will be delighted if their invitation has been carefully crafted.
- Amaze Them With Your Wedding Invitation Design
A traditional wedding invitation, such as one with a laser cut and stationery design, is timeless. However, unique wedding invitations are more memorable. You can opt for handmade invitation cards, acrylic ones, functional invitations like cutouts, 3Ds, puzzles, and many more. The ideas are endless with unique cards.
- Provide Meal Options
We aren’t exactly reinventing the wheel here, but not everyone offers this at their wedding. Guests appreciate the variety and the idea that you think about their preferences when it comes to food. It’s thoughtful and considerate. Make sure to include meal options in your RSVP and ask about any food restrictions. Then, make sure to orient your organizers and vendors about this information.
- Inquire Ahead for Song Choices
Another fun question to ask in your wedding invitation or save the date card is your guests’ song requests. The bride and groom usually have their list, but when it comes to the reception, guests love to hear their preference in music and it can really help to get people out dancing! In addition to making things easier for the band or DJ, it also gives guests a sense of involvement in the party planning process. Plus, you might get some cool ideas for spicing up the party music.
- Stay True to Your Theme
The last thing you want for your guests is to confuse them, especially when it comes to your wedding theme. So make sure to tailor key elements of your invitations with the theme.
For example, if you’re going for an outdoor wedding, consider keeping the dress code semi-casual than formal. Cocktail dresses and tuxedos are go-to attires. But if you’re having a beach wedding outside, you can also suggest summer dresses and chinos.
Treat Your Guests Like VIPs at the Get-Go
You should not just see your wedding guests as spectators but rather as an essential part of your celebration. The moment they step into the wedding venue, make them feel special by adding elements they can enjoy.
- Give Away Nifty Welcome Bags
Wedding guests always enjoy thoughtful and practical welcome bags. In addition to sending warmth, these snazzy bags make guests feel wanted, especially when personalized.
Aside from wedding information, your welcome bags should include wedding day essentials, water, bite-sized snacks, wedding popcorn from brands like Safe + Fair, and other fun or essential items your guests may need. Additionally, local souvenirs, weatherproof items like a blanket or fan, hand sanitizers, breath mints, and a well-written welcome note will make them feel even more special. This shows just how much thought you put into not just your wedding, but the people that took the time and money to participate.
- Put Up Specialty Food Carts
There is something about good food that stirs the core memory, whether it’s a wedding or any other event, people want to eat! While a well-thought-out menu keeps your guests satisfied, having snazzy food stations or waiters walking around with appetizers at your wedding will impress even the hardest-to-please guests.
You can put up theme-related food stations like sushi bars or seafood stations. Or, go for comfort food stalls filled with pasta, burgers, waffle, pizza, or a good old charcuterie station.
- Add Charging Stations or Devices
On top of fun, weddings should also consider convenience. Your guests will bring their phones to snap pictures or take videos during the wedding. Everyone has their cell phones ready in hand, but if you’re using them all day, they tend to die fast. We’ve all been there. With that in mind, having a designated charging station only makes sense. Or better yet, add power banks on the tables, so they don’t have to leave their spots.
- Secure an Open Bar and Lounge
An open bar is always enticing for many guests. It’s no secret that cocktails are social lubricants and fine wedding conversation starters, even among the most reserved guests. So, it’s only fitting to have it at your wedding reception.
On top of that, consider having a lounging area for guests who aren’t inclined to dance. In the lounge, they could engage in conversations and get to know other guests more.
- Have a Designated Kid’s Room
If you have allowed kids in your wedding, you may want a separate room where kids can stay and be cared for. Guests who are parents, especially of small kids, would like to enjoy the ceremony and reception without worrying about their children.
By designating an area for kids, you don’t simply help the parents but also secure that everything goes as planned. Keep in mind that small children cry, throw tantrums, or run around when not supervised. This can avoid such events from happening during the ceremony as well as make your guest feel relieved!
Keep the Conversation Flowing
Weddings provide opportunities for your guests to connect with each other – with you as their primary common ground. However, unrelated guests may find it difficult to talk to each other. This is where you provide things that makeshift as wedding conversation starters.
- Use Cocktail Napkins That Could Be Wedding Table Conversation Starters
Wedding conversation starter napkins contain icebreaker questions to spark fun and engaging conversations between guests. The best thing about this item on tables or mini bars is that it saves you from doing additional work on do-it-yourself cards.
You’re basically killing two birds with one stone. You’re setting up all over your tables and the bar with simple yet elegant cocktail napkins AND you’re providing your guests with conversation starters. Say goodbye to those awkward pauses and conversations.
Convokins wedding cocktail napkins are designed to make your wedding reception extra special by allowing your guests to interact without the awkwardness.
Pro Tip: 72% of couples say that their guests’ comfort goes at the top of their priorities. Weddings offer a great opportunity for guests to mingle. So, stock the tabletop and mini bar with wedding conversation starter napkins to help them interact. Know more about this below!
- Place Couple-Trivia Questions on Table Cards
If you want more personalized wedding table conversation starters, consider adding a stack of couple-trivia questions. Your guests can talk about how you and your spouse met and exchange stories about how they are connected with you as a couple. For more ideas on wedding conversation questions, check out our article on wedding conversation topics.
- Add Reception Table Games
Games can ignite excitement and a little friendly competition among guests that allow them to engage. You can choose from table quizzes and word searches to mad-libs and wedding speech bingo. Make it a group or partner game for extra spice. You can even throw in some prizes.
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Make Them Feel Valuable
It’s always a nice gesture to have your guests participate in the wedding reception in a more personal manner. Here are some ways to do just that!
- Leave Personal Notes
This may take a bit of time, but if you’re up for it, adding personal notes of gratitude for your guests will make them feel highly valued. This works best for small weddings with just a few guests. You can place the personal notes in the welcome bags or as part of your personalized party favors.
- Place Fabric Squares on Tables for Writing Messages
This one can be enjoyable and sentimental at the same time. Leave fabric squares on the table along with some pen or paint. Then ask them to write their messages or marriage advice perhaps. Then, after the wedding reception, collect all the fabric squares and sew them together. This will remind you of how special your wedding was and the people who made it as it is.
- Consider Having an Interactive Booth
Booths are fun to have, whether a photo booth or a station for caricature and other interactive activities. Your guests can enjoy taking tons of photos and take them as a souvenir of the event. Of course, you can also have a caricature booth, a cigar station, or a gaming area – all these depend on your theme, budget, and guest list size. Adding wedding touches like this can easily take your event to the next level!
Frequently Asked Questions
What do wedding guests love?
Wedding guests rave about a couple of things for both the ceremony and reception. The most common thing that wedding guests love and remember are; how beautiful the ceremony was, family and friends connections, meeting new people, the location, the food, free cocktails, music, and dancing.
What do you talk about at a wedding reception?
There can be tons of topics to choose from when talking to other guests during the wedding reception. The easiest wedding conversations involve how you’re connected with the couple. Then you can ask light-hearted questions about one another, perhaps about your jobs, interests, movie or music preferences, etc. For more ideas, check out the 50 questions on the Convokins – absolutely fantastic for wedding table conversation starters.
How do you wow guests at a wedding?
A well-planned wedding always impresses your guests. It starts with how cohesive your wedding is with the theme and how it stays on track with the general plan. Your guests will love good entertainment, fabulous food, witty yet sincere toasts, great music, and unique activities.
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