On Hospitality
If you’ve ever been to a dinner party, you know there are two different kinds. The first is the one where conversation is a little stilted, everyone seems to be in each other’s way, it’s unclear if you can help or just please be out of the way, and you breathe a deep sigh of relief the moment the door closes behind you. The second is the one where you are traded a glass of your favorite beverage for your coat at the door, know exactly where to be and are in no one’s way, the conversation flows, and you can’t believe it’s 1am when you finally are getting back in your car.
A wedding is a lot like a dinner party. You have the opportunity to create an unforgettable experience for your guests - the people you love most in the whole world - as well as for you. To me, there isn’t anything more important. But how?
“When making experiences, attention to detail matters.”
Okay, Richard Branson is kind of a tool, but he makes the exact point that the giants of hospitality have been making for all time. Details matter. And your guests are no different. So consider the little things that will make their experience at your wedding remarkable:
Clear signage or information cards for entrances and exits, the timeline of events, where the restrooms are, etc.
If you can, offer a refreshment upon arrival before the ceremony. It doesn’t need to be alcoholic, but a small glass of something refreshing on a hot day, or a warm beverage on a cool day can set the tone of hospitality from the beginning.
If it’s going to be cold, hot, raining, snowing, incredibly sunny, or you are being married in the remnants of a hurricane, keep guest comfort in mind with umbrellas, shade, blankets, sunscreen, or an alternate location. That silk dress isn’t going to hold up, and the grass is super soggy after a rainstorm, and someone just paid a bunch of money to get their hair done. You can always go get your photos on the windy cliffside without subjecting your guests to an hour in that location.
If you are spending a lot of time after the ceremony on photographs, make sure that your guests are occupied until you join the party. A cocktail hour with appetizers is a pretty standard cover for this time, but if that’s not in the plan, you’ll need to get creative with games or activities.
5. One final touch that I will always find breathtaking is a personal note to each set of guests that is being seated at your reception. Many people have traveled, spent money, and navigated their own complicated lives in order to be there while you are celebrating this incredible day. What better way to make someone feel seen and welcome than by taking a quick minute in the weeks leading up to your event to write a short, personal note. The chances of you getting a chance to have a meaningful conversation with everyone on the actual day is slim, so this ensures that everyone feels like they are as important to you as you are to them. The very definition of hospitality.
