I’m often asked what defines a Blue Orchid Designs event, and the reality is that it is not a certain technique or design flair. As a professional wedding designer, my job is to help my clients define their style and then produce the best possible version of their vision. This results in each wedding being completely different. There is one common thread, however, that is shared by every event we produce and that is that they are guest-centric.
A guest-centric wedding is one where the bride and groom, although it is their day, really strive to honor their guests. They recognize that their lives have been shaped by their guests and that the people attending their wedding have helped them be the person the other wants to marry. A guest-centric wedding can be attained simply by keeping your guests in mind as you make normal planning decisions. Here are some ideas to help honor your guests:
1) Have welcome bags at the hotel for out-of-town guests. They can include water, a snack, local trinkets, lip gloss, etc. The sky really is the limit when it comes to what you can include in the contents. Also be sure to include a thank you note that simply thanks them for attending your wedding.
2) Hold reception activities that your guests will enjoy. A photo booth is a fun way to give both you and your guests a memory of your wedding, and they are always a hit. Hiring a dance instructor to teach the group a few new simple moves is also a great way to break the ice and keep your guests who may be more rhythmically challenged on their feet. Have a cigar bar on the patio for guests who may want to socialize rather than dance.
3) Host your wedding at a time of day that you can afford. Nothing is more disconcerting to a guest than a punch and cake wedding that started at 4:00 and ends at 10 in the evening with no real sustenance. If you can’t afford to serve a full meal, don’t host your wedding over a meal hour. Have your wedding earlier in the day so that your reception can be a champagne and hors d’oeuvres affair.