5 UNIQUE WAYS TO ELEVATE THE GUEST EXPERIENCE AT YOUR WEDDING
If you’re like most couples, you want your wedding day to stand out above the cookie-cutter mould, and you want your guests to have an experience as enjoyable as yours. At Lindsay Plank Events, I believe the best way to accomplish these goals simultaneously is by finding ways to elevate the guest experience!
By marrying custom design with thoughtful upgrades like welcome bags and a bespoke food and beverage menu, you can leave your guests wowed and in no doubt of your appreciation. Keep reading to discover my five favourite ways to elevate the guest experience at your wedding.
5 Ways to Elevate the Guest Experience at Your Wedding
Welcome Bags
If you’re having a destination wedding, I highly recommend putting together welcome bags as a token of appreciation for your guests! These could include personalized treats like coffee from your favourite coffee shop, local beer or wine, fresh-baked goods, or any keepsake that speaks to your love story or wedding destination. No matter what you choose to include, these elements will elevate the guest experience from your loved ones’ arrival to their departure.
Another fun element to include in your welcome bags, especially if you and your partner are familiar with your wedding destination, is a detailed itinerary outlining what to do and where to eat in the area. This element will give your guests an overall view of how their weekend could look and help them create an enjoyable experience. After all, most of your guests will likely use this time to take a break from their work and childcare responsibilities and could use some R&R!
Practical and Cherished Favours
Beyond welcome bags, guest favours are a great way to continue demonstrating your appreciation of your guests’ time and financial commitment to attend your wedding. However, we’ve all received favours that weren’t very useful and maybe even got pitched in the trash upon arriving home! The truth is that most of your guests probably won’t use something with your wedding date on it, and no one needs yet another bag of M&Ms. Thoughtfully gifted, practical favours (like these local evergreen saplings!) are much more likely to leave your guests with a lasting impression of your gratitude.
One “alternative” favour trending for 2024 and 2025 weddings is a guest portrait session! Rather than a photo booth, this involves having a trained, professional photographer onsite to snap portraits of your guests and their dates or families in a designated area. Everyone has taken the time to get dolled up for your special day! This area could include a backdrop wall with florals or lounge seating in your wedding colours, whatever best fits your venue and theme! I love Portraits on White for this!
Think about all the times you’ve pulled out your iPhone to grab a picture with your partner or friends at a wedding. Wouldn’t having professionally taken photos as cherished keepsakes from the day be even better? This element is easy to work into your timeline during the “dead space” before your ceremony, cocktail hour, or dinner.
If you love the idea of a photobooth, I recommend going with a unique twist. Snaptique has a variety of booths available, and the Photo Bus Booth is always a great time!
Live Music
While a DJ’s services have a time and place, live music is a wedding game-changer. We’ve noticed that the dance floor is always more lively when a live band plays onstage! Moreover, a live band is enjoyable for all your guests, from those who love to get up and dance to those who prefer to sit, listen, and soak up the music. From rock bands to soul groups, you also have many options for tailoring the entertainment to your music taste and wedding aesthetic.
If you’re looking for recommendations for some live music that will get your guests off their feet, I’ve got some for you! Interested in a killer rock country band? I love Blackstone Music. Want a production company that can handle it all? Take a look at Constellation Creative and Sole Power Productions.
Beyond the reception, live music can add an elegant ambiance to your ceremony and cocktail hour. Soft acoustic music playing as you walk down the aisle or as your guests mingle and sip their drinks elevates the event far more than a recording can.
Bespoke Food and Beverages
Another simple way to elevate the guest experience at your wedding is with chef-prepared food and unique beverages. For example, consider putting together a bespoke menu of your favourite cocktails or a prix fixe with a wine pairing for each course. Moreover, consider incorporating your and your partner’s favourite foods into the day, whether during cocktail hour or as a late-night snack. Personalizing these elements speaks to your love story while treating your guests to an incredible culinary experience!
I anticipate elevated food and beverages will become a mainstay at 2024 and 2025 weddings. Whenever I speak to a new couple, these elements are always number one on their list of priorities! I love connecting couples with the top caterers and bartenders in the Niagara and Greater Toronto areas and helping them formulate a menu that ties together their love story with their wedding theme and the best of their venue.
Elevated Design
Bespoke food and beverages go hand in hand with elevated wedding design. Although often overlooked, the little details of your reception tablescapes—from the folding of the napkins to the type of glassware—can enhance your guests’ meal and overall experience at your event.
Accordingly, I recommend investing not just in the menu served but in the entire aesthetic of your day to enhance the guest experience. Your loved ones will relish sitting at a beautiful tablescape, surrounded by family and friends, as they enjoy bites of delicious food and bask in the moment! Later, they’ll walk away wowed because of your investment in those little details that make a big difference.
The most effective way to create a beautiful and cohesive design at your wedding is to hire a professional (like LPE!). From your initial consultation through every step of your wedding planning journey, I’ll help you identify and execute your vision. With a custom design proposal and a team of Niagara’s most skilled vendors to bring it to life, your wedding won’t just elevate the guest experience but transcend your wildest dreams! Inquire to learn more and book your 2026 and beyond celebration with me.
