Collaborative Post¦ You’re getting married. Congratulations! Your preparation journey is a rollercoaster of emotions. You’re both hugely excited and anxious to get things right and within your budget. Making your dream wedding come true can be challenging, even if you’ve got a knack for event planning. But, have you ever considered how stressful wedding parties can be for guests?
Indeed, regardless of how much your guests love you and want you to be happy, ultimately, there is no denying that they are actively going out of their way to celebrate the day with you. Accepting your invitation means, for them, changing their routine – without mentioning having to travel and maybe organise accommodations, and buying a decent outfit. For any guest, weddings are stressful. Everybody disturbs their comfortable and safe routine to be present, and that sometimes includes having to be friendly with foes or even exes if they are also invited to the party. As a result, it falls onto you to help them manage their stress levels. Indeed, as stress is the number one killer in modern societies, it’s vital to provide adequate relief.
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Choosing a venue that works for everyone
The choice of your venue plays a significant role in the process. Ideally, if you want your guests to arrive relaxed and rested, you should opt for a local venue that is easily accessible for elderly guests. Additionally, if some of your guests have mobility issues, you need to make sure your venue is fully accessible. Nobody wants Grandma to be sick with anxiety while trying to figure out how to attend the reception. While you’ve probably saved money for the big day, you have to consider that some of your guests won’t have the opportunity to splash out. They don’t want to be nervous about spending money on travel or accommodation. If you’re going to invite your extended family, you need to take into consideration their respective budget and pick the most meaningful and suitable venue for everyone.
The comforting essentials everybody forgets
The married couple may not be aware of it, but there is a lot of awkward meetings for guests during the reception. If you’ve invited your divorced aunt and uncle with their new partners to the party, chances are that they’ll need a place to relax, for instance. Organising a smoking and vaping area for guests, as well as sorting out cheap vapes for those who have left their kit at home, could be a life-saviour. With it, you’re giving your uncle a safe spot. Never underestimate the importance of the smoking corner at a reception; it’s a shield against social anxiety for many guests.
The selfie and social media station
Finally, the most stressful thing that could happen to any guest if to find themselves with a discharged phone. Indeed, smartphones serve as cameras, GPS, booking references, and point of contact. Some guests may not find their way back to the hotel without Google Maps. Others need their phone to book an Uber. To help everybody feel more relaxed, you can install some charging stations inside the venue. It’s a good idea to have a power bar, as well as a handful of chargers for forgetful guests who left theirs at home!
Did you know that cardiovascular accidents are most likely to happen in the 6 to 9 months following a reception for vulnerable wedding guests? We can’t afford to ignore how weddings affect people, and therefore planning a stress-free reception for your guests should be a priority!
Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.