The Heart's Content Blog

We are in the thick of wedding season and I am so excited about all the gorgeous couples we’ve had the chance to serve this year! Believe it or not, I book most of my couples for the next season during the summer months, which must mean that many of you lovely couples out there are busy in the beginning stages of wedding planning! I’m so excited for you and I wish nothing but joy upon your engagement and ultimately your marriage! Starting the planning process can feel a bit topsy turvy, and often it’s overwhelming to think about where to begin. As a wedding planner, I would hope your wedding process begins and ends with a spirit of hospitality. I would hope that you desire to show your guests how much you value their role in your love story. I would hope that you feel compelled to make sure every guest feels loved and served by the end of your wedding day! I’m so excited today to share just a few ways to plan your wedding with a spirit of hospitality, and show your guests how much they matter in your life!!

1. Accommodate Accommodate Accommodate

Want to show your guests that you love and care for them? Do what you can to best accommodate their needs! Have lots of guests who are coming in from out of town? Make sure you have blocked off plenty of rooms at nearby hotels to share information with them! Is there quite a distance from the host hotel to the wedding site? Maybe consider hiring a coach bus or a fun trolley to get your guests where they need to go! Are there guests with special dietary restrictions? Write an option on your RSVP card so guests have the opportunity to share them with you. When you are selecting your menu, take time to choose meals that satisfy both their stomachs and their taste buds! If a guest has a little one, ask for an additional room at your venue for kids to watch a video, or for a tired mama to nurse or calm their baby away from the noises of the party. These are just a few ways to do it, but whatever their needs are, do your best to meet them!

2. Greet Your Guests At The Door

It’s your wedding day and I get that you won’t be able to stand at the door and greet guests (I don’t encourage that either) but there are sooo many other ways to do it to help your guests feel welcomed into your wedding experience! Have ushers, or family members greet your guests at the door of your ceremony or reception. The Heart’s Content team values family and treating every couple’s loves one as our own, so we make it our aim to mix and mingle and greet guests so they feel enveloped in the couple’s love story. We greet each guest with a smile, engage them in meaningful conversation, take gifts off their hands, and encourage them to have an amazing time at your wedding!! But even if you don’t have a wedding planner, ask your bartender to whip up a signature drink and pass them out at the front door. For out of town guests, send beautifully curated welcome bags up to their hotel room before they arrive. These simple gestures will help guests feel like they’re in the right place and that they matter on your day!

3. Always Think Three Steps Ahead

While planning your wedding, plan it from your guests’ perspectives. How are they feeling? What are they expecting? Do they feel lost or a little confused about directions or where they should sit? Did they forget something they need at home? In response to that, consider tailoring your day so that guests feel well-communicated with, which will help them better enjoy the day! That could be as simple as having your Wedding Day Stationery Designer create signage showing the contents of your day and where to find each site. Have a ceremony and reception in separate locations? Consider directions cards or fun maps, especially for out of town guests who don’t know their way around the city. Did a guest forget an essential at home? Consider placing an amenity basket in the bathroom with toiletries and necessities they might need. Have the ladies worn their heals all day? Set out a basket of flip flops once the dancing starts so their aching feet can still dance the night away! Set up an account with Uber to send your guests home safely and in style! Getting in the mind of your guests to meet their needs is a sure way to show them how much you care!

4. Have Fun With Your Guests!!

Yes, this is your day, but your guests are a major part of it, so make sure to enjoy it WITH them!! Encourage your wedding planner or caterer to serve your meal first at your reception so that afterwards, you can greet guests at their tables and say thank you for coming! When the beat drops, take off your shoes and get down with everyone else! Consider having a special dance for all the married couples the room to feel the legacy of love that surrounds you. Engage in meaningful conversation with them and show them that your grateful for their role in your marital journey!

At the end of the day, you want your guests to feel like they matter, and that they’re not just another number on your guest list. Ultimately, hospitality is a matter of the heart, and what better way to share it with those you love, than on the triumphant beginning of your love story!!

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