Don't Forget The Guests | North Carolina Wedding Planner

Obviously when you start planning your wedding, you'll be thinking about what you want, what your fiance wants, how to keep the parents happy, sticking to your budget, and how to do all of this and still achieve your dream wedding. What most couples forget is that they are also hosting this event and they need to keep their guests happy and comfortable.

Think about it, when you invite someone over for dinner you don't make something that only you like to eat. You consider what the other person likes and do what you can to make sure they enjoy themselves. While the wedding day is about you (and your groom), take some of your time to make sure your guests will enjoy themselves.

So, how can you keep your guests happy?

{AWYWI Events}

Be kind when making seating arrangements. If you are going to take the time to have arranged seating, be considerate and think about where your guests will want to sit.

Now we all know that you can't keep everyone happy and you'll go crazy if you try to, but you can try to keep family and friends together. If a guest is coming alone or doesn't know anyone else, try to seat them with people that have similar interests.

{ASB Photography}

Communicate the dress code. I really can't stress this enough. Let your guests know ahead of time what you expect them to wear. Is your event black tie or flip flops on the beach? For more on this check out see our post "The Wedding Guest Dress Code" from last week.

{Heart Love Weddings}

Inform guests about parking. Where can they park? Where can't they? Will they need to pay to park? If so, how much will it cost?

{Intimate Weddings}

Consider providing your guests with maps and/or clear directions to your event. Post this information on your wedding website. You may even want to include a neatly printed map with your invitations. Make it as easy as possible for guests to find your venue.

{Brides}

 

 

Avoid hungry guests. If you are planning to have post-ceremony pictures done while your guests are waiting at the reception, plan to have a cocktail hour with heavy hor d'oeuvres. Try to eliminate an enormous gap of time between the ceremony and the reception meal.

 

 

{Coburn Photography}

It's relatively easy to keep your guests happy. You can also think about weddings you've been to in the past. What did you like about those weddings? What didn't you like? Plan accordingly.

336.549.7829 | www.anywayyouwantitevents.com | anywayyouwantitevents@gmail.com

Autumn Weddings, Inspiration & More | North Carolina Wedding Planner

Autumn is one of my favorite times of year and when you throw in a wedding, I get all giddy. We've had the opportunity to create and coordinate some truly fabulous autumn weddings.

{Megan & Dan}

{Ashley & Jeffrey}

Photo courtesy of ASB Photography

I love everything about autumn weddings, from pumpkin decor to incorporating hues of amber and deep reds, you just can go wrong. Even the flowers are unique. I am an especially big fan of mums and sunflowers, and even the changing leaves can be tied in to your decor.

Autumn Wedding Tip #1: The weather is perfect for an outdoor ceremony or reception and the natural beauty is easy on your pursestrings. Collecting all of those beautiful leaves to decorate your aisle may take some time but you'll save a fortune on aisle decor!

{The Knot}

Autumn Wedding Tip #2: One of my favorite alternative guestbook ideas is a wishing tree. With leaves already so prominent during fall, why not incorporate this fun guestbook. Cut out paper leaves and let guests write nice notes to you and your groom and hang them on your wishing tree. One of our brides even used her wishing tree to hold her jewelry after the wedding. Another option is to paint a wishing tree onto a large canvas. Provide colored stamp pads (think oranges, reds, browns, etc) for guests to place their fingerprints (leaves) onto the tree and sign their name. This would make a cute keepsake that you might actually display in your home.

{The Knot}

{Etsy}

Autumn Wedding Tip #3: Incorporate the season into your menu. Whether you choose a custom cocktail, create Martha Stewart's fall lasagna, or maybe even something a little more casual like hot apple cider or caramel apples. Guests will love this festive touch!

{Stagetecture}

Autumn Wedding Tip #4: Okay, this one totally branches off of tip #1, but it's worth saying again. Save money by using natural decor! Check out some of these amazing centerpieces using leaves that you could find on your own!

{Eccentric Girl}

{Squidoo}

{Flickr}

Autumn Wedding Tip #5: You can never go wrong with edible favors and autumn offers plenty of opportunity for seasonal food favors. Make your own s'more kits, jars of honey, or pie pops would make unique and delicious favors for all of your guests. Think outside of the box and come up with something that will please the taste buds of all of your lovely guests.

{That's What She Said}

{Dex Knows}

{Brides}

I hope these tips are helpful as your planning your own fall nuptials!! Happy Planning!!

336.549.7829 | www.anywayyouwantitevents.com | anywayyouwantitevents@gmail.com