More and more couples tell us they are planning their wedding with their guests very much front-of-mind because it is so important to them that their guests have a great time.
What Bridal Couples Tell Us They’re Doing
“We left a goody basket at the hotel for those who had come from a great distance to be with us on our special day. We were so honoured that they came. Our gift basket included wine, cheese, crackers and chocolates.”
This is a great gesture. Others tell us that they included homemade cookies and a hand written welcoming letter, saying how pleased they were to have them come such a long way to share this important time in their lives.
“We had out-of-towners ‘adopted’ by local friends. They picked them up at the hotel and drove them to the wedding and then on to the reception. At the end of the evening, they took them back to their hotel.”
This is especially appreciated when there is a time gap between the ceremony (say, early afternoon) and the evening reception. What do visiting guests without a car do in those intervening hours? The local guests can either take them to their home for those difficult hours or return them to their hotel for a little time alone. Then they could retrieve them for all to go to the reception together.
“We included those who came from a great distance in the rehearsal dinner. They really appreciated being singled out to share that more intimate part of the celebration.”
That’s thoughtful. Just don’t have any extra people at the actual rehearsal. It interrupts the concentration of those who will be participating, where they will be standing and all the other details related to the ceremony!
That exclusion from the actual rehearsal includes grandparents and those who are dating the attendants as well as out-of-towners. All of these will be welcome at the dinner but not at the rehearsal! Don’t forget to invite the wedding officiant to dinner. They rarely come, but they should be invited.
Originally published in Today’s Bride magazine, Fall/Winter 2015.
