Thirteen Secrets to Happy Wedding Guests

I know guests have their own issues too; some could get on your nerves. However, courtesy demands that you treat your guests right and keep them happy while they are with you sharing in your joy. 

Here are thirteen ways, out of a thousand others, you can keep them happy. They would have a good, long lasting memory of your wedding day.

• PICK A GOOD DATE – If you really care about your guests genuinely, you should choose a date that would be convenient for everyone. Weddings fixed on religious holidays such as Easter, Christmas or New Year is not advisable. These holidays are full of hurly burly; having a function to attend during festivities is tiring. National and public holidays such as Independence Day or Democracy day are not a good idea either. People usually want to relax at home on such days.
• EASY TO FIND LOCATION – have you ever attended a wedding where you had to drive round town, burning your fuel in search of the church or reception? If your venue, especially the church, is located in an inconspicuous place, have a map direction card attached to the invitation. Give your guests the correct address and description of sites. If possible, have beautiful sign posts at major junctions and turnings, so guests can locate you. You do not want a guest to turn back home because he couldn’t find the venue.
• KEEP TO TIME! – There should be no African or Nigerian time. If you have stated on the card that ceremony starts 10am, make sure the church knows you want to start by 10am, and please start at 10am. Do not arrive at the ceremony late. If you reception is taking place at a different venue, leave for the reception immediately and start. You do not want to leave your guests idle between ceremony and reception.
• DO GROUP PHOTOS FIRST – You should have handed your photographer a list of must take shots or order of photography. In the list, ensure that group photos come first. Your guests should not be kept waiting through the period you are taking your wedding couple poses. When the group shots are taken first, guests can proceed to the reception venue then you can take your own shots afterwards. Don’t keep guests waiting, please.
• KEEP DISTANCE CLOSE – The ceremony and reception sites shouldn’t be far from each other. If possible, hold the ceremony and reception at the same venue or a walking distance away from each other. This ensures that guests attend the two. Guests with no means of transportation may find it difficult transporting themselves. When the two sites are the same or close by, it discourages guests who may want to show up only for the reception just to eat. If the distances are far apart, trust me, more people will show up at the reception than at the ceremony.
• PARKING SPACE – you may not have much control if you are getting married in a church with no parking space. However, book a reception venue with ample parking space. If there is a public parking space available instead, pay in advance. Do not leave your guests to spend an extra for parking. After all, you booked a venue with no parking space. Also, consider other road users and residents of the community in which your wedding venue is. Your guests should not obstruct the free flow of traffic by parking along the road. Traffic wardens or the Federal Road Safety Commission should be duly contacted for assistance as regards traffic control on the day.
• KEEP MUSIC LOW – when guests are arriving and settling down at the reception venue, it’s likely that the musician or live band have started playing. Instruct the band or DJ before time to keep the music low at this time. Guests want to mingle and gist over the entrée as they settle down few minutes before the official opening of the reception. Loud music can make it impossible for people to talk; it irritates me as a person. Keep the music playing but keep it low
• KEEP TABLE CENTREPIECES LOW – do you plan on having table centrepieces? When checking with your florist, specify that you do not want centrepieces above eye level or obstructing eye contact. Tall centrepieces, just like loud music, disturb guests from having a nice time with one another. I don’t want your table centrepiece to cover my friends face when talking to her.
• ASSIGN POINT PERSONS – it’s not nice when we see one or two people every now and then going to meet the couple on the podium to whisper something in their ears. When guests have questions or enquiries, there should be someone on ground to attend to them like your brother or your close friend. You should be left alone to enjoy the day as it goes smoothly.
• KEEP SPEECHES SHORT – you have to realize that though you have devout Christian guests at the church ceremony, many people will lose concentration and tune off the moment the sermon gets too long and especially boring. A thirty-minute exhortation is good enough; a length dissertation on the importance of marriage and how to prevent divorce two weeks after the wedding is unwarranted. The couple should have had enough lectures during pre-marital counselling. Communicate with the Priest/Pastor, politely, that you want a thirty-minute sermon. The chairman’s speech, Best Man/MOH toast and the groom’s vote of thanks should not send the guests to bed on their seats. I am sure you won’t love to see dozing guests, do you? Keep all speeches short, simple and precise!
• PLAY DANCEABLE MUSIC – since you are likely to have a mixed audience, the musician/live band/DJ should balance things. If you play the 50’s songs throughout, younger guests (especially your own guests) would say, ‘this is an old school event’; if you play hip-hop throughout, the older guests would ask, ‘what is the world turning into’? There should be some balance that everyone can relate to.
• GIVE MEANINGFUL FAVOURS – Jeez! It’s funny when I see people coming from a wedding with big plastic bowls or buckets. In order to appreciate your guests for their presence at your wedding, give them beautiful souvenirs as keepsakes, not a polythene bag with the couples name and picture. Oh Please!
• MINGLE WITH GUESTS – now that the reception is over, why don’t you get down from the rostrum and mingle with your guests. Thank them for coming to share in your joy.