Your wedding day is likely one of the most elaborate and detailed experiences you will ever plan, so do it right! While your wedding day should be a reflection of the love you and your partner share, you want to be respectful of and show appreciation to all of your wedding guests. When planning your wedding day, try walking through the day in the shoes of a guest. Make decisions that you would enjoy and appreciate as a guest.
The first event of the day is the wedding ceremony.
As a guest, your first impression will be made when you first arrive to the wedding ceremony location. Is there sufficient parking? Where exactly is the ceremony taking place? Are there signs or attendants to direct you to the ceremony area?
Now that you have easily located the ceremony area, found the perfect seat, you have time to take in the beautiful decor. Being the punctual person that you are, you arrived thirty minutes early. So what are you going to do for thirty minutes? Ahhh yes…enjoy the beautiful melody of the string quartet. Promptly, thirty minutes later, the wedding ceremony begins. You are so glad the bride and groom value your time and started at 4:00 pm as announced on the wedding invitation.
Such a romantic and heart-felt ceremony… You can’t wait to congratulate the newly married couple and their parents on the beautiful union. Fortunate for you, the couple and their parents are the only people that make up the receiving line and they are doing a great job moving guests through the line quickly, understanding all of their guests are eager to congratulate them and they can revisit guests later during the reception if extended conversation is needed.
Exiting the receiving line, with thoughts of how happy the married couple looks, you are now heading to your car. Immediately you enter the address to the reception location listed on the wedding invitation you had tucked in the gorgeous blush clutch you purchased for the event. The GPS informs you the reception location is only fifteen minutes away, thank goodness! You are thirsty and can feel the hunger growing near. Exiting the ceremony location parking lot, you can’t wait to continue the beautiful celebration with the married couple.
The next stop is the wedding reception.
Recap: All of the things you must get right to make sure your wedding ceremony kicks off your wedding day the right way.
1. Make sure there is sufficient parking for all of your guests at the ceremony location
2. Make sure your guests can easily locate the wedding ceremony area
3. Entertain your guests with pre-ceremony music selections
4. Start the wedding ceremony on time
5. Keep the receiving line short and moving quickly
If you follow the advice above, your guests will be glowing leaving your wedding ceremony and looking forward to your wedding reception! Did I miss anything? If so, what did I miss? I would love to hear from you.