5 Things Wedding Guests Don’t Care About
Let me tell you a little story: I proposed to my wife in Brazil, and we have a big family down there. We strongly believed we would get married in Brazil. So many things we were worried about because you “have to offer a few essential things” on your wedding day. WRONG! lol
The truth is one around the globe – wedding planning is stressful. With an endless list of things to do, from choosing everything to the dress and style to the catering and everything in between, the stress can pile on at lightning-fast speeds. One minute, you’re trying to choose between types of roses and cake. Before you know it, you’ve fallen down the Pinterest hole, scrolling between 19 slightly different shades of red petals while stress-eating wedding cake samples.
There are more than a few items on your wedding checklist that guests pay far less attention to than you think. Instead of driving yourself crazy over the teeniest details, save yourself the headache (and probably a few bucks, too) by knowing what matters to your guests, and more importantly, what doesn’t. I sat down with my wife and her friends and I asked what does not really matter list of wedding details that guests don’t really care about – plus a few that they do, because why not, right? 🙂
Sit with your fiance now, if he likes to save money he will love this list. hehe. Here we go:
Wedding Invitation
I hate to break it to you, but these little suckers end up in the recycling bin faster than you can say, “I now pronounce you husband and wife.” Sure, it’s the very first introduction to your wedding, but a beautiful invitation is a beautiful invitation. No one is judging your choice of paper stock, ornamentation, or font (just trust me on this one).
Solution
The average couple spends $500 on their wedding invites. Don’t stress about your invites and instead find an affordable option that fits your budget. There are tons of retailers that would surprise you with their collections of wedding invitations, such as Target, Walmart, Shutterfly, or Etsy.
On Etsy, you can even pay a flat rate for an instant download, and then print as many as you need. The invitations featured below are super affordable while also being super cute so you can definitely find a middle ground here.
Ceremony Programs
Programs are super cute, but if you want to skip them and save the money, your guests won’t care. Instead, create a few DIY chalkboards or wooden signs that have your schedule or other necessary details listed on them. Have a few of these around the ceremony and reception site, and your guests will get a general idea.
First Dance
Short of a live performance by Adele to provide the soundtrack, no one will remember your first dance. A nervous, shaky, overly choreographed routine may be what sticks with them. Instead of the weeks of rehearsal required to try and fix your two left feet, it’s more important just to be yourself and enjoy the moment.
Tackle a few moves that you feel 100% comfortable performing, no matter how simple, and watch the pressure melt away. Great for you, great for your guests and great for your wedding photos – Everyone wins!
Solution
Smile, relax and have fun. If you don’t feel confident in your dancing skills, be able to laugh at yourself because your guests will appreciate that way more than a nervous, awkward dance. This is a moment for you and your new spouse, so enjoy it!
Wedding Cake
Towering layers, handcrafted sugar paste designs, 24-carat gold motifs. The painstakingly detailed wedding cake is undoubtedly gorgeous, but guests won’t miss those details if you opt for an elegantly simple confection instead. As long as it tastes delicious, you’ve got a guaranteed crowd-pleaser (and let’s be honest, it will, because of CAKE).
Speaking of tasty treats, a dessert bar is a great option as well. Swap the cake for an array of equally delicious (and comparatively affordable) cupcakes, macarons, or ice cream sundaes, and guests will be just as pleased.
Solution
Towering layers, handcrafted sugar paste designs, 24-carat gold motifs. The painstakingly detailed wedding cake is undoubtedly gorgeous, but guests won’t miss those details if you opt for an elegantly simple confection instead. As long as it tastes delicious, you’ve got a guaranteed crowd-pleaser (and let’s be honest, it will, because of CAKE)
Speaking of tasty treats, a dessert bar is a great option as well. Swap the cake for an array of equally delicious (and comparatively affordable) cupcakes, macarons, or ice cream sundaes, and guests will be just as pleased.
Get creative with the cake topper. This is a way to personalize the wedding, add to the theme of the wedding, and MORE!
Wedding Favors
An edible sweet treat that guests can enjoy in the afterglow of the wedding as they share memories of your spectacular soirée – well, I can’t argue with you there. But engraved champagne flutes, customized candles, and other novelty items are forgettable for guests and an added expense for the bride and groom.
A fancy soap might seem like an excellent idea for the beautiful soaping-loving couple, but for most of your guests, it’s the adult equivalent of getting raisins on Halloween. One in 50 will love it; the other 49 will dump them on your lawn.
Solution
Take the money you had set aside for favors and donate those dollars to your charity of choice. A sweet note will let guests know that a donation has been made instead of those takeaway gifts, a gesture that any wedding guest would be thrilled to support. If you still want to give out favors: pick something sweet and simple.
Food is always a great idea here. Otherwise, I’ve seen couples skip the favors and opt for just the photo booth instead. Guests usually love these things, and taking pictures is a fun memory for everyone.
What Do Guests Care Most About?
Ceremony
It goes without saying that guests will be overjoyed to watch the happy couple proclaim their love and be joined in wedded bliss – I mean, it’s kind of the whole point – but the crowd may start to get restless during a long, drawn-out ceremony.
One of the most common guest complaints is having to sit through a too-long production, so keep it short and sweet (roughly 30 minutes or less) for a happy clan.
Food
Enjoying a decadent meal with loved ones is a treat for guests, so make sure your food choices are crowd-pleasers. A fantastic meal will keep those good vibes going, but a bad one could really bring down the mood. In addition, be sure to offer options for vegetarians or those with common allergies, like gluten and nuts.
Drinks
Weddings and booze go together like peanut butter and jelly. Bottom line: Keep the drinks flowing, because there’s nothing that wedding guests hate more than the liquor well running dry. Forgoing the fully stocked bar is fine; an edited menu of Champagne, wine, beer, and one or two specialty cocktails will keep guests in high spirits all night long.
Music
The tunes will be going strong from the first arrivals through the last dance, so make sure your music list is on point, especially once guests start hitting the dance floor. Skip the chicken dance and opt for fun, contemporary tunes that everyone is sure to know and love to unite the crowd and get people moving.
Well…Hopefully, this list was able to put some wedding planning details into perspective. Wedding planning is SO stressful that being able to brush aside some of those worries can be a huge relief. Sometimes it’s easy to forget that your wedding day is exactly that: YOUR wedding.
Instead of stressing about what you think your guests want, do what you want. Remember that your wedding day is above all about you and your spouse and the love you share, so take a deep breath and think about what is actually important. Good luck!
Much love!
x
Felipe Callado
