How much fun your guests have at your wedding depends on plenty of variables, some of which you can’t even begin to plan for. Recently, an article “What Your Guests Are Really Thinking”, was posted at http://www.theknot.com/ and focused on what people really don't want or enjoy as wedding guests. How can you avoid a guestzilla that talks about your wedding the same way these guests did in that article? Check out these solutions to some common guest complaints! And check back here all week because we'll address a few more complaints from the list plus offer solutions for them each day.
Guest Complaint: This is boring!
The toasts are too long, the band isn’t engaging, the food takes too long to be served and the list goes on. A boring wedding is hard to imagine because the safeguards for this issue are really doable!
Take the toasts! Some toasts can be taken care of at the rehearsal dinner. With only a few toasts at the reception it's more tolerable for everyone! And by giving the list of toasters to your DJ, you'll avoid being the bad guy. To keep it moving, keep David Tutera’s rule of thumb in mind and switch up the activity every 30 minutes - including the toasts! Communicate to anyone making a toast and ask they please limit to 5 or 6 minutes so you can safely have 4 to 5 toasts and still keep the guests attention. Alternately, you can allow fewer to toast and they each may speak just slightly longer.
The DJ or band – do your homework. It’s unlikely you’ll be able to truly see the DJ in action unless you found them at a freind's wedding. Any promo video will be purely their best work so real life recommendations are the key to successfully hiring entertainment! Specifically request to contact some of their most recent clients. And then don’t be afraid to use that list! Of primo importance is to ask the couples if they have any video of their wedding that included the band or DJ and if they would share with you. You’ll get to see first hand how entertaining the group or DJ is vs. seeing only their self-compiled best work cd.
Some keys to a fun reception:
Guest Complaint: Seating sabotage!
A well thought out seating plan will always combat seating frustrations. Being mindful of speakers, heating, cooling and having casual places to sit and chat will go a long way in making your guests happy. And be mindful of if Aunt Suzy hasn't seen Aunt Jane in a few year because they may want to sit close to each other (or avoid each other!)
The Layout -Check with the band or DJ to find out the dimension of their equipment so you can arrange for tables to be placed far enough away from them that guests are not overwhelmed or crowded. The site coordinator may have a room diagram you can use or can provide the room measurements so you can sketch out a layout using graph paper yourself.
Temperature control -While adding heat or air-conditioning to a tent or open air venue makes the budget tick a little higher, you will be so glad you did this and so will your guests. Everyone is going to be a little warm in their formal wear but fall or early spring outdoor weddings may require heating after the sun goes down. Remember to place generators as far away from the event as possible so their noise will not disturb your or guests!
Seating comforts - Creating seating areas with couches and additional flower arrangements are lovely, but if this is not in your budget priorities, park benches or extra folding chairs and small side table will work just as well. Pillows atop low walls are also an interesting seating option for outdoor venues. Guests do need a place to sit or at least set their drinks down for a short time. But the intention of the cocktail hour is for mingling so don’t overdo it with seating options by recreating the reception room in the cocktail hour.
....See you back here Tuesday when we'll chat about the bar and the single guests!
Guest Complaint: This is boring!
The toasts are too long, the band isn’t engaging, the food takes too long to be served and the list goes on. A boring wedding is hard to imagine because the safeguards for this issue are really doable!
Take the toasts! Some toasts can be taken care of at the rehearsal dinner. With only a few toasts at the reception it's more tolerable for everyone! And by giving the list of toasters to your DJ, you'll avoid being the bad guy. To keep it moving, keep David Tutera’s rule of thumb in mind and switch up the activity every 30 minutes - including the toasts! Communicate to anyone making a toast and ask they please limit to 5 or 6 minutes so you can safely have 4 to 5 toasts and still keep the guests attention. Alternately, you can allow fewer to toast and they each may speak just slightly longer.
The DJ or band – do your homework. It’s unlikely you’ll be able to truly see the DJ in action unless you found them at a freind's wedding. Any promo video will be purely their best work so real life recommendations are the key to successfully hiring entertainment! Specifically request to contact some of their most recent clients. And then don’t be afraid to use that list! Of primo importance is to ask the couples if they have any video of their wedding that included the band or DJ and if they would share with you. You’ll get to see first hand how entertaining the group or DJ is vs. seeing only their self-compiled best work cd.
Some keys to a fun reception:
- Offering some fun for the younger crowd – crayons and other no-mess art supplies, games or puzzles - at a special kids table or individually in a backpack or bucket, will keep the little ones from monopolizing the dance floor and allows the adults to feel freer to enjoy dancing!
- Get some inexpensive props and a few prizes so the band or DJ can MC a dance-off, a limbo contest, hula hooping contests or line dances to get the crowd energized and interacting!
Guest Complaint: Seating sabotage!
A well thought out seating plan will always combat seating frustrations. Being mindful of speakers, heating, cooling and having casual places to sit and chat will go a long way in making your guests happy. And be mindful of if Aunt Suzy hasn't seen Aunt Jane in a few year because they may want to sit close to each other (or avoid each other!)
The Layout -Check with the band or DJ to find out the dimension of their equipment so you can arrange for tables to be placed far enough away from them that guests are not overwhelmed or crowded. The site coordinator may have a room diagram you can use or can provide the room measurements so you can sketch out a layout using graph paper yourself.
Temperature control -While adding heat or air-conditioning to a tent or open air venue makes the budget tick a little higher, you will be so glad you did this and so will your guests. Everyone is going to be a little warm in their formal wear but fall or early spring outdoor weddings may require heating after the sun goes down. Remember to place generators as far away from the event as possible so their noise will not disturb your or guests!
Seating comforts - Creating seating areas with couches and additional flower arrangements are lovely, but if this is not in your budget priorities, park benches or extra folding chairs and small side table will work just as well. Pillows atop low walls are also an interesting seating option for outdoor venues. Guests do need a place to sit or at least set their drinks down for a short time. But the intention of the cocktail hour is for mingling so don’t overdo it with seating options by recreating the reception room in the cocktail hour.
....See you back here Tuesday when we'll chat about the bar and the single guests!
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