Singaporebrides | Weddings 101

August 2023

10 Considerate Ways to Prioritise Your Wedding Guests

By Tansey Tang

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We show you ten ways to keep your loved ones happy and excited about your wedding.

Your wedding is about you and your love, but it’s also about your wedding guests. After all, a wedding without any guests is an elopement! As your wedding guests are a vital part of your celebration, it’s important to prioritise their experience and ensure they’re having a good time. Clear communication, thoughtful details, and warm hospitality will make your wedding day not only about your union but also about the shared joy of the people you cherish most.

Keeping wedding guests happy is a process that starts from the get-go in wedding planning, from your date and venue selection, to creating an enjoyable and comfortable event that allows them to celebrate with you and feel valued. Here are some tips to create an unforgettable celebration that leaves your guests smiling, dancing, and talking about your wedding long after the last course.

1. A Considerate Wedding Date

Unless you’re tying the knot on a significant date such as your anniversary, it’s worth considering your guests’ needs when choosing your wedding date. Try to avoid public holiday weekends or religious or cultural festivals. If you’re holding a weekday wedding, be mindful to accommodate guests navigating rush hour traffic. For destination weddings, consider booking your wedding in off-peak or non-school holiday seasons so guests have lower travel costs.

If you do hold your wedding on a popular date or a holiday weekend, or if you’re holding a destination wedding, consider sending out save-the-dates early to give your guests plenty of time to prepare. Clearly outline any atypical wedding day festivities, such as a celebrations that span two days over a destination weekend weekend, or a tea ceremony a day before the wedding solemnisation.

2. Clear Communication

One of the simplest ways to show your guests courtesy is to communicate early. To allow your guests to properly plan for your wedding, provide clear and detailed information about the event, including the date, time, venue, dress code, and any special instructions, so they can make arrangements for travel or time off work, to save up money if they need to, shop for a colour-themed outfit, or book a babysitter.

Make sure your wedding information is easily accessible, whether you send a physical invitation with clear details, or a link to your wedding website. A wedding website is a great place to include information on your wedding day schedule of events, dress code, and offer tips such as anticipated limited parking, the nearest public transport stations, or long walks between the ceremony and the reception.

If you’re holding a destination wedding, more communication will be necessary to ease things for your guests. Be sure to include information on the venues, dates, and times of various events, accommodation options, how to get around, and even tips on things to do.

3. Comfortable Venue

Your guests’ comfort should be one of your priorities. Choose a comfortable venue that suits the number of guests you’re inviting, and ensure there’s ample seating and enough space to move around. It’s also critical to ensure that the venue protects your guests from the elements. Nothing is worse than putting your guests through physical discomfort such as being too hot or too wet, or aching from standing in heels during an overrun cocktail hour!

Be prepared for the weather if you’re holding an outdoor wedding, and offer thoughtful amenities such as handheld fans, mosquito repellant, and umbrellas. Ensure adequate facilities such as nearby restrooms and parking, enough seats to go around, or transportation options if your venue isn’t very accessible.

4. Thoughtful Seating Arrangements

Consider your guests’ preferences and relationships when planning seating arrangements. Group friends and family members together so that guests feel comfortable and can enjoy the company of those they know. Seat more elderly guests away from loud speakers, invite plus ones for single guests who don’t know anyone else, and think about common interests when arranging tables.

5. Entertainment and Music

Plan entertainment that suits the atmosphere you want to create. Whether it’s live music, a flower bar, or other activities, ensure that your guests have opportunities to dance, relax, and have fun. Delight your guests with something unusual like a coffee cart or an ice cream bar, or invite them to join in a game or take part in a lottery, and they’ll be talking about your wedding for weddings to come.

6. Inclusive Food and Drink

Serve a variety of delicious food and drinks that cater to different tastes and dietary restrictions. If you have guests from various cultural backgrounds, be sensitive to their customs and preferences to ensure their comfort and enjoyment.A good host also makes sure their guests don’t go thirsty or hungry. Feed your guests throughout the wedding day in a timely fashion; no ones will be happy to wait for an hour for their dinner.

7. Considerate Schedule

Craft a well-paced schedule that keeps guests engaged without long periods of waiting or downtime. Avoid rushing through important moments and allow time for guests to enjoy each aspect of the celebration. If you’re having your solemnisation and your reception at different venues, allow enough time to travel, but not so long that guests are left twiddling their thumbs.

8. Kid-Friendly Options

If you’re expecting children at the wedding, provide kid-friendly activities, meals, and spaces to keep them entertained. Make sure there are high chairs or stroller space for parents with babies, and seat families nearer the exits in case they need to whisk noisy little ones outside so as not to disrupt the ceremony.


9. Gratitude and Acknowledgment

Express your gratitude to your guests for attending and celebrating with you. A heartfelt thank-you speech or a handwritten note will make your guests feel appreciated and valued for taking time out of their day to celebrate your big day.

10. Personal Touches

Your wedding might be the fifth one your guests are attending that year. To keep things fresh, incorporate personal touches that reflect your personality as a couple. This wedding is all about you! March in to some Taylor Swift, stage a dance-off between your bridesmaids and groomsmen, give Harry Potter wedding favours, wear all black. Tell your story and create a unique and memorable experience for your guests.

Taking the time to plan and prioritise your wedding guests’ needs demonstrates your gratitude for their presence on your special day. Being considerate to your wedding guests ensures they’ll have a great time at your wedding and creates a celebration of love that resonates with both you and them.

Feature image from: Alina and Sean’s Romantic Pre-Wedding Shoot Aboard A Yacht by Joelle Cecilia

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