5 Things That Your Wedding Guests Genuinely Care About
This might be controversial, but thinking about your guests when planning a wedding IS important. While the day is absolutely about you and your forever person, we’ve been involved in our fair share of celebrations over the years and have noticed that there are certain items on the wedding checklist that family and friends often pay far more attention to than most would appreciate.
Commonly (and somewhat disappointingly considering all the time and effort!), elaborate invitations are thrown into the recycling, towering, painstakingly detailed cakes are difficult to portion, and assigned seating can feel rigid and a bit awkward. Noone is judging your choice of font or paper stock, nor are they obsessing over the expensive novelty wedding favours. These things can be lovely, but they’re very rarely a primary concern for your nearest and dearest.
With or without these elements, planning a wedding can create some headaches. It’s a big and very special event, after all!
With this in mind, the team has put together a few ideas below to help streamline the planning process and highlight the details that generally matter most to guests. At the end of the day, however, we feel it’s critical to stress that your loved ones are showing up to your wedding to celebrate you, not to catch a throwaway bouquet or get caught up in anything other than the ‘I do’.
Great food
And enough of it! Guests will find it hard to enjoy the wedding if they are super hungry. Sustenance is key, especially for those with dietary restrictions.
Easy access to a bar/beverages
Recently, we’ve had one or two newlyweds at Peppers Creek opt for a part-bar tab, part-open bar situation after their ceremony. While we completely understand that a full open bar can be too costly for some, we have seen - and felt - guests’ confusion and frustration with this sort of setup. Whatever beverage package you choose, it’s wise to keep in mind that people want something organised and user-friendly when it comes to having a celebratory drink (or several!) in hand.
Music for atmosphere
What is a wedding reception if not a really, really fun party? Reading the room and knowing what to play to keep the dancefloor packed all night long is arguably just as important as picking songs that are meaningful to you as a couple. Whether you go for a band or a DJ, or make your own playlist, it’s a good idea to throw in a fair few crowd-pleasers with the sentimental stuff. The more the merrier, actually!
An area to chill out and escape the chaos
Everyone loves a party, but most of us (particularly elderly relatives) are likely to crave some quiet time throughout such a lively event. At Peppers Creek, the lawn outside of our barrel room is a pretty space to pop some vintage velvet furniture so guests can have uninterrupted, in-depth conversations and grab a moment to recharge.
A lack of waiting
Last but definitely not least, it’s important to pick a venue that has the size and facilities to efficiently handle the needs of your group. Equally, staying on track and ensuring there isn’t too large a gap between the end of your ceremony and start of your reception will mean your wedding guests aren’t hanging around getting bored or antsy.