Weddings are cherished events! They bring people far and wide to a special moment in time where two become one. Smiles, happy tears, and hearts full for the bride and groom permeate the atmosphere.
When there are many family and friends coming from out of town, there’s so much joy and anticipation over the chance to reminisce about the “good old days” and the “remember whens”. Joy is doubled by the celebrating of a new family being established and a family reunion or two, especially when many out of town guests are related to the bride and groom.
We know first-hand the anticipation of seeing cherished friends and family at a wedding. There’s also a priceless experience in being single-mindedly in tune with the bride and groom during their wedding day festivities. Here are some ideas to give your guests the best of both as they gather together to celebrate with you.
Plan a pre-wedding family reunion. Encourage friends and family to take an extra day or two off work and come early. Set up a family get together at a park, a restaurant, hotel conference room where most of the family is staying, or other place that suits your family and enjoy each others company for several hours a day or two prior to the wedding.
Do a meet and greet for family and friends. Instead of a traditional rehearsal dinner or in addition to, invite family and out of town friends to join you. It could start out with the usual attendees for a rehearsal dinner, and then after an hour or so, have other friends and family come for dessert. It’s a great way for people to mingle, converse, and meet family and the bridal party. One of our brides did this and invited us so we could meet her family, the groom’s family, and bridal party. At the wedding, people knew we were The Wedding Ladies and were the ones to answer their questions.
Schedule a family brunch or lunch. If many of your guests are arriving too late to make a meet and greet, consider having a family brunch the day of your wedding, especially if your wedding is later in the afternoon or evening. While you, your groom, and bridal party will likely be getting ready for prewedding photos, family members can begin catching up and ready to focus on you at your wedding.
Include a fun, local outing in guests’ itinerary. What are some of the attractions close by where your wedding will be held? Arrange for guests who come early to take in some of these eye catching wonders, enjoy a museum, or walk around your downtown shops. Give them their own wedding experience to make their time with you and family even more enjoyable.
Arrange a family breakfast the day after your wedding. This is a wonderful way to wrap up time with family who stay over following your wedding. Even if you are away on your honeymoon, family and out-of-town guests who may not have arrived early will have opportunity to spend time with family before they leave. Knowing they will have this time together the next day will make it less of a time crunch to get it all in at your wedding.
We hope these ideas will spark your creativity for your own wedding. Spending time together with friends and family prior to and/or after your wedding can enhance the wedding experience for everyone so remember to include time to mingle in your wedding timeline and let guests know in advance so they can plan accordingly.
Here’s to a celebration that’s Always Yours!