NOTES ON A WEDDING

Plan a so-you celebration with these top tips from the wedding gurus. This issue, we look at ideas for making your guests feel welcome

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Throw a relaxed dinner the evening before the wedding

Bethany Wilson

Hire a bouncy castle for guests young and old Nick Walker

Ensure your guests know the order of the day

Grant Lampard

Enlist a professional childcare service such as Cornwall Childcare Enchanted Brides

Display your guests’ photos

Personalised place settings are a great icebreaker South Weds Photography

Gift thoughtful favours such as mini bottles of Tinkture rose gin

Hannah Wilde

Welcome your guests with creative signage Yeti Photography

Greet your guests with preceremony drinks

Arianna Fenton

Guests will love these personalised place settings from Rocha Designs

Feast time. Bring your guests together the night before the wedding - perhaps over a sit-down meal, barbecue or picnic - to welcome them while giving them a chance to meet each other in a relaxed setting and build up excitement for the next day! Hazel

Speak easy. Does your partner’s family speak a different language? Including their language throughout the day will make them feel welcome. Even if you don’t have a bilingual ceremony, ensure the order of service is in both languages so they can follow along as well as your menus and signage. Sophie

Warm welcome. Designating someone to meet and greet your guests will help them feel instantly welcome. Choose a member of your family or bridal party or a member of staff who can let guests know the order of the day and answer any questions. Hazel

Good start. Are your guests staying on-site with you? Leaving welcome bags in their rooms filled with local information and refreshments is a thoughtful gesture. Sophie

Liquid refreshment. Show your guests they will be well looked after throughout the day by offering a glass of fizz or a soft drink (tea, coffee or hot chocolate go down well for the colder months) as they arrive at the ceremony. As well as helping them relax into the ceremony, it will introduce them to the team who will be taking care of them. Hazel

Time out. Not all guests will want to be in the hustle and bustle of the party, so create quiet spaces with comfy chairs for them to retreat to. Sophie

A personal touch. Personalised place settings are a fantastic icebreaker. Some recent examples we have seen include name cards with a picture of a celebrity with the same name (e.g. a guest called Danny may have a picture of Danny DeVito) and Lego figures representing each guest.

Hazel

Sign of the times. Your guests will want to know what’s going on and where everything is – make these things obvious with creative signage so they don’t have to ask! Sophie

In the picture. Including your guests’ photographs at your wedding, whether it’s displaying their wedding photos or a photo of each family group, will encourage conversation and stir fond memories. These could work either as a separate display or incorporated into the table display, such as a place setting or part of the centrepiece. Hazel Role play. Involve your guests in the day, whether it’s giving individual guests a particular role (such as a reading at the ceremony, introducing the first dance, helping as an usher with car parking and guiding other guests), involving the whole congregation in songs at the ceremony or adding interactive elements to the speeches. Hazel

Fabulous favours. Put some thought into your favours. Think about adding a personal touch or writing a little note explaining how much it means to you that they are there to celebrate your wedding. Jessica

Happy feet. Ensure your guests keep on dancing well into the night by providing them with flip-flops or flat shoes to change into if their heels get too much. Jessica

Child’s play. Inviting children to your wedding? Book a company that provides a childcare and entertainment service so their parents can relax. If your venue has the space, you could also hire a bouncy castle or outdoor garden games. Jessica

Hazel Parsons, Out of the Ordinary Weddings outoftheordinaryweddings.com Jessica Kearney, Ardour & Bow Weddings & Events ardourandbow.co.uk

Sophie Walker-Sünderhauf, The Little Details by Sophie thelittledetailsbysophie.com