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W W W . C H I C A G O W E D D I N G R E S O U R C E . C O M
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C H I C A G O W E D D I N G & P A R T Y R E S O U R C E
B A N Q U E T S , R E C E P T I O N S , S H O W E R S & P A R T I E S
Maybe it’s as simple as adding one extra bar or bartender
so that your guests always have one of your signature
cocktails in hand; or maybe it’s streamlining events into a
single location and five-hour window in order to reduce the
amount of “dead” time; or maybe it’s really wowing your
nearest and dearest with something fun like a tarot card
reader at your Hollywood-themed rehearsal dinner. Any
and all of these details are putting your guests at the top of
your to-do list.
In the past, wedding-planning focus, especially for larger,
staged wedding productions, was on determining the
guest list, finding a venue that will accommodate the guest
numbers, deciding where guests will be sitting and creating
a showy wedding that will stand out from all the others.
The bride and groom were often whisked into the church,
whisked away for pictures and then, hours later, presented
to guests at the wedding reception, leaving very little time
for the couple to actually mingle with their attendees.
But now smaller, more intimate and spiritual weddings are
on the rise, and the emphasis is on more guest inclusion as
opposed to planning a wedding show centered only on the
bridal couple.
An easy way to make your wedding more comfortable
for your guests (and to allow you time to actually talk
to the people who traveled and went to great expense to
celebrate with you), is to select a location where you can
have the ceremony, photographs and reception all in one
place; if you are getting married in a church, try to have
the reception within easy walking distance or provide
transportation. In fact, even if you have a single location,
consider providing transportation from a hotel or two.
Invest in guest shuttles, especially if you have a high
percentage of out of town guests. Shuttles eliminate the
need for rental cars, confusion over directions and parking,
and the risk of drinking and driving. Multiple shuttles are
ideal so that the elderly and families with young children
can leave earlier if they wish.
Create welcome bags for the hotel rooms that contain
little goodies specific to your hometown, a bottle of water,
maps of things to do and a reminder of the schedule of
events for the wedding weekend, as well as providing clear
direction as the guests move from one event to the next.
This direction can be achieved with greeters, ushers, escort
cards or signage, if appropriate, such as clearly demarcated
Guest
Services
Sure, dinner and dancing are great; but here’s how to go above and
beyond to ensure your guests have a great time at your wedding
By Anna T. Hirsh