Enhance Your Wedding Guest Experience - 5 Do’s and Don’ts

We asked wedding guests about their favorite and least favorite wedding experiences.

From being bothered by bugs to not spending any time with the bride and groom, here’s what you should and should NOT do to ensure that your wedding guests will enjoy their experience.

DO be mindful of your wedding guests’ time

Your wedding is the most special day in your life thus far and you want to celebrate as much as you can. You will wish this day would never end.

BUT while your wedding guests are happy to celebrate with you, they may not share that exact feeling.

“Anything over 2 hours makes for a boring time,” says one wedding guest.

Being mindful of your wedding guests’ time does not mean putting a strict start and end time on your wedding. Instead, try to make the main events flow as smoothly as possible.

Consider having a first look with your fiance, so that seeing each other for the first time can still be special, but it allows you to get many of the bridal party and family pictures out of the way before the ceremony. That way, your guests won’t have to wait around between ceremony and reception.

Another way to be mindful of your wedding guests’ time includes avoiding large lags during the reception. Start the speeches while your guests eat, follow it up with your garter and bouquet toss, then cut the cake. After that, those guests who feel like they need to get going won’t feel like they’re ditching early and those who want to stay can party on.

DON’T turn into Bridezilla

Your wedding should be everything you ever dreamed of and more.

However, that does NOT mean that there cannot be any room for anyone else and their wishes.

We definitely don’t want you to get run over by friends’ and families’ opinions, but it won’t hurt you to listen to them, then make your own decisions.

Keep in mind that this is a big moment for them, too. Especially your parents may have ALSO dreamed of the day that they get to walk you down the aisle since the day you were born.

Do set healthy boundaries between your and their opinions, but don’t leave a sour taste in their mouth or burn any bridges.

DO keep your wedding guests comfort in mind

You want your guests to enjoy the wedding, not to be itching to leave, so keep them comfortable.

Here are some UNcomfortable things we’ve heard from wedding guests and how you can avoid them.

1. Ants in your pants

Your wedding style is country chic and you think hay bales would be a cheap and easy option for ceremony seating.

Keep in mind that many of your female wedding guests will be wearing dresses or skirts and their skin will be touching the hay bales. This will be extremely itchy and uncomfortable. PLUS, you don’t know what’s crawling in the hay bales – your guests may literally have ants in their pants. Ew!

Choose a more traditional seating option (like these super cute benches) and leave the hay bales for decoration.

2. Acquired taste

If you’re a foodie, you may have a very experienced palate.

Your wedding guests on the other hand may not.

We’re not saying you should serve chicken tenders and fries, but do try to offer options that your wedding guests will enjoy.

3. Drop the bass

Similarly to your taste in food, your taste in music may not be everybody’s cup of tea.

Choose music that will get everybody on the dance floor and leave special songs for the walk down the aisle or your first dance.

4. Treacherous journey

One wedding guest shared her wedding experience from the time that she walked to the ceremony site, but the way was so rocky that she tripped in her heels and split her knee open.

She nearly missed the ceremony because she had to clean and wrap up her leg.

Make sure your guests have safe passage throughout your wedding ceremony and reception locations.

DON’T forget about your guests

Depending on the number of guests that attend your wedding, it can be tough to feel like you’re spending an adequate amount of time with each of them.

They know that you will be a barrel of emotions and running around like a chicken with its head cut off.

However, you need to make a conscious effort to spend some time with your guests.

Whether that’s having a receiving line as they enter the reception venue or socializing with them while they enjoy the food.

Side note: If you plan on socializing during the reception, make sure to have someone set aside a plate of food for you to eat before. You do NOT want to be starving at your wedding.

Another way to socialize with your guests is to leave an open chair or two at the head table. That way, guests can come up to you and spend a moment with you, sort of like speed-dating!