If you are newly engaged, it might be tempting to dive right into all those wedding details, but slow down, friend. Before you get all caught up in the nitty gritty, remember this – no matter how much time, money, or thought you dedicate to them, there will be some things your wedding guests just won’t care about. On the flip side, there will be other things that are absolutely essential to them having a great time and remembering your celebration! To be honest, your friends and family will attend your wedding for two reasons. First and foremost, they will be there because they love you. Secondly, they want to have a good time. Anything else is just icing on the proverbial wedding cake. So save yourself some trouble and don’t put too much effort into these few things that simply won’t matter to your guests, but DEFINITELY pay attention to this list of wedding day aspects that pack the most punch!
What Wedding Guests Don’t Care About
1.) Your Shoes
We doubt anyone other than your wedding party members will even see what your shoes look like. Go ahead and splurge on a pair of designer duds if they make you feel like a million bucks. But you can also save a few (hundred?) dollars and don a much less expensive, just-as-cute pair and literally no one will know the difference.
2.) Guest Book
TBH, you’ll be lucky if people even sign it. That’s why we encourage you to do something totally unique and place it in a very high-traffic area at the reception. If the guest book isn’t in people’s faces, they’ll likely forget it even exists…and you won’t have any record of who actually attended your wedding. Put your thinking caps on and come up with a guest book idea that your guests can’t help but be excited about!
3.) Menu Cards
Yes, people do like to know what they are eating before they eat it. But you can definitely get away with one giant menu display or even one small sign per table. While an individual menu card at each place setting may make for a beautiful tablescape (it totally does, BTW), your guests won’t miss them if they are absent (sorry, stationers). If you need to cut costs, this is a good place to shave a few bucks off your wedding budget.
4.) Favors
The next time you attend a wedding, do us a favor (pun not intended) – stay until the very end and count how many favors are left behind at the end of the night. Unless they are edible or practical in some way (and we don’t mean in a photo-frame-with-your-names-and-wedding-date-on-it kind of way), favors are a total waste of money. Spring for a late night snack station or kick ass dessert spread instead, or opt for one of our favorite wedding favor ideas that guests will actually love!
What Wedding Guests DO Care About
1.) The Timeline
Know what makes people cranky? Waiting. Keep that in mind when you’re mapping out your wedding day timeline. Is there a big chunk of time between the ceremony and reception? If so, how can your guests entertain themselves? Planning a sunrise ceremony? Better have plenty of coffee, mimosas, and bloody marys on hand to thank your guests for getting up so early. Want to play a 20-minute slideshow of childhood photos at your reception? Don’t be surprised when half your guests head to the bar. People don’t like waiting so try to make them do as little of it as possible.
2.) Your Attire
Not to put any pressure on you, but everyone (and we mean EVERYONE) will be checking you and your partner out. What the couple wears is THE highlight of every wedding. All eyes will be on you when you take those first steps into the church or venue. And guests will continue to talk about your attire well into the night and even after the wedding is over. But don’t let that scare you. We’re sure whatever you end up wearing will make you look and feel like a rock star!
3.) The Food
A long day of wedding-ing will mean your guests will have worked up an appetite. Make sure you feed them well. They say the way to someone’s heart is through their stomach, so get at that ticker with a yummy meal. What do your friends and family love to eat and how can that fit into the overall vibe of your wedding day? A BBQ feast or a six course gourmet meal complete with intermezzo – whatever you choose, be sure to save us a plate!
4.) The Drinks
Let’s be honest…one of the best things about a wedding is the free drinks. It doesn’t matter if you have a fully stocked bar, just beer and wine, a few signature drinks, or even some fancy mocktails, your guests will just love that they don’t have to pay for anything. Take their preferences into account and they’ll love you even more. Are they whisky drinkers? Stock up on your favorites from a local distillery. Craft beer lovers? Make sure you offer a few. Whatever you do, remember that it’s still considered a major etiquette faux pas to have a cash bar at a wedding. Think of it as the equivalent of inviting guests to your home and asking them to pay a cover charge.
5.) The Music
A bad DJ or band can totally kill a wedding’s vibe. That’s why you should really splurge on this area. Find someone that you trust and that understands you and your guests – someone who will read what your friends and family respond well to and run with it. Nothing is worse than an empty dance floor. So make sure your DJ or band is delivering! If you’re looking for some of the best Pittsburgh wedding DJs and bands, check out our recommendations in the Vendor Guide.
6.) The After Party
Your guests won’t want the party to end when the last song does. They’ll want to celebrate well into the night! Whether is just a planned meet-up at a nearby bar, a bon fire, or an organized get-together with the works, keep your friends and family entertained for as long as you can. Trust us…you won’t want your wedding day to be over either. So why not prolong it as much as possible?!
