Wedding Blog

Mr. D and I went to a gorgeous and FUN wedding in Atlanta this past weekend. Not only was it so great to see old friends, but it also gave us more ideas and tips for our own wedding! I thought I would share a couple key things we learned and will keep in mind when our wedding rolls around!

Having well-informed greeters. Guests can sometimes be more clueless than you might imagine (ourselves included!). Having greeters to let guests know where to sign the guestbook, when to get seated, help direct traffic and keep people moving from the foyer to the ceremony space will be key to starting on time. While our friends had greeters who managed traffic flow and gifts well, many people were unaware of things like the wish basket where guests could leave special notes for the bride and groom.

Eating dinner during cocktail hour. In between greeting guests and taking professional pictures, the couple wisely managed to sneak away for a few moments to eat their dinner. They were one of the only couples I’ve known that had a chance to eat their actual dinner on their wedding day! This not only kept them energized but also gave them more time during dinner to make their rounds and greet each table. Almost as soon as people finished eating, the toasts and activities began, making all the guests feel engaged and entertained.

Paying attention to seating layout. Don’t underestimate the importance of a great layout, in terms of making sure all the tables at the reception have a good view of the couple. Due to the setup at their venue, a few tables weren’t able to see the bride and groom come in, nor could they see the first dance. Though guests knew that it was just due to the layout of the space, it was hard for some people not to feel left out.

Value-add of a professional DJ. The couple had an awesome DJ, which really kept the party going! Mr. D and I always thought that we either wanted to use an ipod or have a friend be our DJ. After attending their wedding, we now truly understand the value-add of a professional DJ, as both an MC and someone to play music. What was especially nice was that he could play certain songs at appropriate moments, and improvise with the direction the party was going. Everyone across the different generations had a great time!

And a nice to have: an afterparty! The wedding day always flies by before you know it, and when the bride and groom have to leave, it sometimes feels anticlimactic, especially if the party had just started getting going. Moreover, as guests, you never feel like you have enough time to really celebrate with the bride and groom! However, our friends had an afterparty/housewarming party immediately following the reception, where the party continued. Everyone including the bride and groom had an awesome time. Whether in the form of an afterparty or a brunch the following day, Mr. D and I now plan on finding a way post-wedding to spend extra time with our friends, especially those from out of town.