The Ultimate Guide To An Unforgettable Wedding

Planning a wedding can be a stressful task, but it can also be a lot of fun. The key to making your wedding the best ever is to focus on your guests and think about what will make the day enjoyable and memorable for them. This could include anything from crafting a signature drink to setting up a photo booth, or even having a bouncy castle.

One way to ensure your guests have a good time is to keep them comfortable. This might mean providing wraps or parasols for shade, or even just greeting each guest personally. You could also provide a designated seating area for those who don't want to dance, or set up a lounge area with comfy chairs and low music.

Another way to make your wedding stand out is to inject your personality and interests into the day. For example, if you and your partner love music, you could send out music-themed save-the-dates or have a gospel choir perform at the ceremony. If you're sports lovers, you could have guests sign baseballs instead of a traditional guest book.

Ultimately, the best wedding ever is one that reflects your unique interests and personalities, and one where your guests have a blast.

Create a personalised program

A wedding program is a great way to ensure your wedding stands out and is memorable for your guests. It's also a fun way to get creative and add a personal touch to your big day. Here are some ideas to create a personalised program for your wedding:

Choose a Format

First, decide on the format of your wedding program. Will it be a traditional single-page program, a creative origami design, or something else entirely? You could even use a wedding program sign, a luggage tag, or a handkerchief printed with the wedding ceremony outline. If you're feeling extra creative, you could try a wedding program fan, a map, or a confetti-filled envelope.

Include Important Details

Make sure to include all the essential information such as the date, time, and location of the wedding, as well as the names of the couple and other participants in the ceremony. It's also a nice touch to add a photo or illustration of the couple, their "how we met" story, and a message of thanks to the guests. If there are any cultural or unique traditions included in your ceremony, be sure to explain their significance to your guests.

Add Creative Elements

Incorporate your wedding theme into the design. Whether it's rustic chic, vintage, Tuscan, or Harry Potter-inspired, there are many ways to tie your theme into the program. You can also experiment with different paper types, such as thicker card stock or coloured paper. If you want to get really creative, consider turning your timeline into an infographic or including a custom crossword puzzle.

Provide Practical Information

Remember to include any important practical information your guests should know. This could include a translation of traditional vows, a note requesting guests to refrain from taking photos during certain parts of the ceremony, directions to the cocktail hour/reception, or any other helpful notes.

Use Online Tools

If you're feeling overwhelmed, there are plenty of online tools and templates available to help you design your wedding program. Websites like Canva offer a range of features, including stock photos, illustrations, icons, frames, and fonts. You can also upload your own images and artwork to add a truly personal touch.

Proofread and Print

Finally, don't forget to proofread your wedding program before printing. Check for any spelling errors and get a second pair of eyes to look over it too. Then, print your programs and you're all set!

Use a wedding app or hashtag

Using a wedding app or hashtag is a great way to keep your guests engaged and involved in your wedding. It's also a fun way to collect photos and memories from your big day. Here are some tips to make the most of this idea:

Firstly, decide whether you want to use a wedding app or a hashtag. Both are great options, but they serve slightly different purposes. A wedding app can be more interactive and keep your guests updated on any wedding-related news, whereas a hashtag is a simpler way to collect photos and create a curated gallery of your guests' experiences. You could even use both for a more comprehensive approach!

If you opt for a wedding app, there are plenty of options to choose from. Look for apps that allow guests to upload photos to a central location, so you can easily access and cherish those memories. These apps often have additional features, such as keeping guests informed about wedding schedules, locations, and any changes. This can be especially useful for destination weddings or weddings with multiple events.

Creating a wedding hashtag is a fun and easy way to collect photos from your wedding. Come up with a unique hashtag that reflects you and your partner's personalities. You can use online tools and generators to create a catchy and memorable hashtag. Once you've decided on the hashtag, be sure to share it with your guests in a fun and visible way. Chalkboards, posters, and table cards are all creative options. You can even include the hashtag on your wedding website if you have one.

Encourage your guests to use the hashtag by letting them know you want to see their photos and experiences. This way, you'll get a mix of professional photos from your photographer and candid shots from your guests' perspectives. You can also create an Instagram album to collect and moderate all the photos with your hashtag. This allows you to delete any inappropriate images and reorder the photos as you like.

Using a wedding app or hashtag is a modern and interactive way to enhance your guests' experience and create a lasting digital memory of your special day.

Make guests comfortable

Making your guests feel comfortable is an important part of hosting a wedding. Here are some ideas to ensure your guests' comfort:

Offer Comfort Items

No matter the time of year, it's a good idea to think about what your guests might need to stay comfortable throughout the evening. This could include offering wraps, parasols, or flip-flops. For example, if you're having an outdoor wedding during the colder months, consider providing a warm bonfire for guests to gather around. You could also have a s'mores station or instruments available for those feeling musically inspired.

Design a Lounge Area

Not all guests will want to dance the night away, so it's a nice touch to provide a designated seating area away from the dance floor. Lower the music in this area and provide comfortable chairs so guests can relax and chat.

Greet Your Guests

Make sure to personally greet each guest. While the celebrations are underway, do your best to spend time with each person, whether it's chatting over a cocktail, visiting their table, or dancing.

Well-Planned Seating Chart

A smart seating chart is vital to ensuring your guests have a good time. Try to group people with similar backgrounds and interests together, so they'll have something to talk about even if they haven't met before.

Welcome Bags

If your wedding involves guests travelling or staying in hotels, consider providing welcome bags. Include snacks, bottles of water, and a list of local spots, such as restaurants, coffee shops, and nearby attractions. If you want to splurge, add a bottle of wine, local treats, or a guidebook.

Practical Considerations

There are also some practical ways to ensure your guests' comfort. For example, offering charging stations for phones, especially near the bathrooms or entrance, is a thoughtful touch. You could also provide fans or portable heaters, depending on the weather, and ensure there are enough tables and chairs for everyone.

Design a lounge area

A lounge area is a great addition to any wedding reception. It offers a practical, stylish, and comfortable space for guests to relax and socialise, and can be designed to fit any wedding style, location, and space.

When designing your lounge area, it's important to consider the overall wedding aesthetic and choose décor and details that complement the theme. For example, a romantic, bohemian celebration might feature round gold coffee tables, velvet pink stools, and orange tulle curtains, while a modern wedding could showcase a sleek white couch with black-and-white geometric pillows and a lucite coffee table.

The lounge area should be positioned in a prime spot where guests can easily opt in or out of activities. It should be close enough to the dance floor and other activities to remain connected to the rest of the wedding, but far enough away that guests can have conversations without being overwhelmed by noise.

To create a cosy and inviting atmosphere, include comfortable seating options such as sofas, slipper chairs, and poufs, as well as side tables and a coffee table for guests to set down their drinks and snacks. Adding pillows, books, florals, and lighting can further enhance the lounge's appeal and make it feel like a home away from home.

For outdoor weddings, ensure the lounge area is well-lit so it can be used after sunset. Consider bistro lights, wireless uplights, or battery-operated lamps to create a warm and inviting ambiance.

To make the lounge area even more special, add unique features such as group games, beverage tastings, or specialty cocktails. Custom decorations that honour the couple's relationship, such as a neon sign with their last name or a wedding hashtag, can also be a fun touch.

Don't forget to consider the comfort of your guests when designing the lounge area. Provide warm pashminas or blankets if the weather is cool, and offer a variety of seating options and spaces to ensure all guests feel welcomed and accommodated.

Ask for song requests

The best way to get your guests out on the dance floor is to play songs they want to hear. You could ask your guests to submit song requests with their RSVPs, or have your DJ make an announcement that they'll be taking requests.

If you want to give your guests a nudge in the right direction, you could include a list of your favourite songs on the invitations, or ask your DJ to suggest some popular wedding songs. Some popular wedding songs include:

• "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)" by Whitney Houston
• "September" by Earth, Wind & Fire
• "Respect" by Aretha Franklin
• "Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey
• "Uptown Funk!" by Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars
• "Dancing Queen" by ABBA
• "Happy" by Pharrell Williams
• "Shape of You" by Ed Sheeran
• "Shake It Off" by Taylor Swift
• "I Gotta Feeling" by The Black Eyed Peas
• "Can't Stop the Feeling" by Justin Timberlake
• "Mr. Brightside" by The Killers
• "Ho Hey" by The Lumineers
• "You and Me" by Penny & the Quarters
• "Our Day Will Come" by Amy Winehouse
• "Harvest Moon" by Neil Young
• "This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)" by Natalie Cole
• "Your Song" by Elton John

However, it's important to remember that the music should be a culmination of songs that are linked to the best moments in your life. So, feel free to skip between genres and styles that you and your partner love!

Frequently asked questions