Here's how to make time for each and every guest who comes to celebrate your wedding with you.
By: Meghan Ely
Photo: Alicia Parks Photography
Weddings are notorious for going by within the blink of an eye, and the buildup of anticipation and excitement after spending a year or more of planning can make the day fly by. One thing that wedding pros often hear from couples is that it can feel overwhelming to pencil all of your "hellos" and "thank yous" into just a few short hours, so we rounded up their top tips for maximizing your guest visits.
Give a Wedding Speech
"I strongly encourage all couples to give a thank you speech at the reception. It's inevitable you will get caught up (beyond your control) talking to some guests more than others. By giving a thank-you, it allows you to hit all of your guests' broad strokes, and it will allow you to encourage your guests to come spend time with you on the dance floor." —Michelle Vining, LOLA Event Productions
Do a First Look
“Do a first look! That way, you can get a head start talking to your guests during cocktail hour instead of taking photos during that time. Once dinner service has wrapped up, you can start with mingling with tables that were served first and make your way through as each table finishes eating.” —Alex McClard, Vision in White Events
"Take as many photos as you can prior to the wedding ceremony. Doing this ensures that you and your spouse will be able to attend the cocktail hour and speak to more of the guests in this casual setting." —Angie Johnston, Sapphire Celebrations
Take Time Alone First
"We always carve out time in between post-ceremony photos and the beginning of the reception for our couples to have a few minutes alone, encouraging them to have a few bites or even their full meal before walking into their grand introduction! This allows them time to eat in a private moment while making space for them to visit tables and guests during dinner!" —Meaghan Cody, Sweet Pea Events
Visit Each Table
"Visiting your guests is so importantl they took the time, care, and preparation to celebrate you, and they want nothing more than to give you a hug and wish you well. The easiest way to visit all of your guests is to visit each table during dinner. This, however, may not be possible if you have a large guest list. Should you have a guest list of 200+, I recommend having a first look and then attending your cocktail hour so that you can spend time mingling during cocktail hour and then see those guests during the reception dinner that you didn't get a chance to visit during cocktail hour." —Melani Lust, Melani Lust Photography
Don't Save All Your Photos for Cocktail Hour
"You can also clear up the cocktail hour from couple formals by sprinkling the photo sessions throughout the day, like 10 minutes for a first look, 10 minutes during cocktail hour, and 10 minutes at sunset or fun nighttime flash photos. In situations where the cocktail hour is the only time to have the formal photography done, then elongate the cocktail hour to an hour and a half to accommodate the time for photos while still giving you the time to mingle with your guests (and have all the good cocktail hour food you chose)." —Zhaun Frias, Zhaun Frias Photography
Keep Your Bonus Parties Intimate
"Be thoughtful about your rehearsal list. Trends in rehearsal dinners and welcome parties are changing, but one thing stays the same: it's not a second wedding. This is a smaller, more intimate group of weekend guests. Sometimes, you invite out-of-town guests or favorite aunts and uncles, but whoever is there, be sure to use the night before as a space to spend some quality time with some of your favorite people. The average rehearsal dinner guest list is about 45-55 people. Often, this group is close family and friends, and the odds are many of them will be sitting together on the wedding day. Spending time with them the night before will allow you to skip their tables on the wedding day when greeting guests from table to table." —Jennifer Price, Event Shoppe Chicago
"Who doesn't love a casual morning get-together that includes coffee and nature? Plan a low-key, optional morning get-together to go for a casual stroll and grab some coffee." —Leah Black, Leah Black Photography
Plan an Interactive Game
"If you are going to have a larger guest count, then thinking of something fun to do during the reception could be the way to go! I had a couple ask for the Price is Right music to play while they sat in the middle of the dance floor, and the DJ/emcee called up tables one at a time to come get a photo with the couple (as fast as they could!). While this is a mad dash to get it done, it provides a fun and interactive way to engage with your guests - and you will have a chance to see all the faces to remind yourself to be sure to find them on the dance floor later!" —Loni Peterson, MLS, LP Creative Events
Have a Receiving Line
"I see some couples having a receiving line right after the ceremony or during cocktail hour. This is a beautiful way to greet every single person and thank them for being part of the celebration." —Natalia Zuk, Lilac Studios
Being pulled in a million different directions on your big day is an understatement, but with the right planning, you'll have no problem spending some quality time with your loved ones who showed up to celebrate on your big day!
Meghan Ely is the owner of wedding PR and wedding marketing firm OFD Consulting. Ely is a sought-after speaker and a self-professed royal wedding enthusiast.
