I came across a very insightful and well written blog this morning regarding "The 7 Biggest Fattest Wedding Complaints," and it got me thinking. With all this talk we do about making it your day, maybe we forgot about your guests. Your Arizona wedding will be memorable to you no matter how the day pans out, but it will be memorable to your guests as wonderful or not so great. Which do you want it to be?
While I absolutely hate to add any more ideas and stress into your overwhelming Arizona wedding planning, this blog that I read does touch upon some things that you just might want to consider. And the only reason I'm even reminding you to consider these things is for this reason; you are going to have a good time at your wedding, that is probably a given. It will be the most memorable and hopefully the happiest day of your life. However, have you ever been to a wedding where the guests aren't dancing, aren't laughing, and aren't participating in the joy?
I recently went to a wedding that was incredibly traditional; more-so than I would have imagined it to be. The food was amazing, however the apps were lacking and there wasn't an open bar. So, while the wedding party went off to take pictures, we were left to scavenge the reception hall for something to pass the time. It was an amazing wedding, but I will remember that it asn't that much fun.
But, I digress. The first item to consider, according to Heather's blog, is the food. "My thought, en route to the nearest drive-through on the way home: Being frugal is fine, but don't scrimp on the food." It's good point, because if you start of the night by leaving your guests starving, they'll get tired and lazy.
Second, "while your wedding needn't be a bacchanalian free-for-all, let's face it: Nobody likes a cash bar. It's essentially saying, "Pay to celebrate our love"! If your budget is tight, consider pouring lower-priced wines and beer, with top-shelf options available for purchase." This is what I'm saying! Most of the time, people don't come to a wedding with a ball full of ones. If you want your guests to make this a memorable night for themselves and for you, don't be skimpy with the bar.
Third, "destination weddings are lovely but can be pricey for guests. If people are traveling long distances or overseas for your wedding, they've earned themselves a sit-down meal." These types of weddings are all the rage, so if you're not having your Arizona wedding at Val Vista Lakes and you are going to expect your guests to shell out some money for your big day, the least that you can do is provide a relaxing and fun environment.
Fourth, "for the sake of 3-10 percent of your guests, try to incorporate a meat-free entree option or a few hearty veggie-friendly sides and appetizers." From personal experience, even if you are having a small wedding, there will be a vegetarian in the bunch and you don't want to make them feel left out. I mean, how would you like going to an event where everyone got to eat the amazing food and you got some saltines?
Fifth, "While logistics of event planning vary, the bride and groom should take care to ensure that guests are not left waiting for an hour or more with nothing to do, eat, or drink. Low blood sugar is not conducive to celebrating." Amen! How often are we at wedding where the pictures are taking forever? After the apps run out and the cash bar has cleaned out our pockets, it gets irritating to still be waiting.
Wedding pictures can be incredibly time consuming, and we all get carried away with poses and being the center of attention. But if you think the pictures might run long, save some for the reception or perhaps think about taking them before the wedding. At Val Vista Lakes, there are so many options for wedding pictures that it is so easy to get carried away. However, while you're leaving your guests to fend for themselves, at Val Vista Lakes we have amazing scenery, and outdoor bar, and the boat rides to keep everyone occupied while you're taking your sweet time.
Sixth, "Planning a wedding isn't an exact science -- there are always last minute RSVPs (or people who don't RSVP at all) or those who show up with unexpected guests, children, or food allergies. So, consider the snout and plan for a few extra guests (or extra hungry ones)." This is probably one of the most accurate and frustrating things about wedding guests. I hate to say it, but there will be some who RSVP and decide not to come, and there will be some who say they can't make it who miraculously appear. When you're shelling out $100 per dinner plate, this is something that can easily get under your skin. However, as much as it might hurt to do, plan on some of the "no's" becoming "yes's" on your big day.
Lastly, "The bride and groom cut the cake under the joyous gaze of friends, family, and possibly religious figures, and then, to cement the union, the groom smashes a handful of pricey cake on the (impeccably made-up) bride. Who started this? Who actually enjoys this uneasy ritual? My humble opinion: Save the frosting frolicking for the honeymoon."
I'm going to throw it all out there on this one; I completely disagree with our wonderful blog author on the idea of being perfectly polite and gentile on your wedding day. This is your day! You've done all of the planning, you've put up with the in-laws and your family, you've dealt with grumpy guests and RSVP's that never showed, and you and your partner managed to stick it out through the entire thing and get through it together.
First of all, I know there's probably some pent up aggression and frustration just bubbling deep down inside, and second of all, why not have a laugh on your wedding day? Traditionally, the mother-of-the-bride might not understand it, but 'traditionally' it has always been done. Seriously, I could write an entirely new blog about this one, but we'll keep it short.
When you're about to feed each other some $600 cake, and you've made it through everything together so far, and you're staring into each other's eyes, a feisty grin across your face, make it memorable. Trust me, cake faces pictures are far better than perfectly clean profiles.
Kandie Day is founder of Linwright Design, specializing in optimized web design, social media marketing, SEO, and content marketing. For more information regarding Arizona weddings, visit http://www.valvistalakes.org.
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