After nearly 10 years of working in the wedding industry and attending lots of weddings myself over the years, I have learnt an incredible amount about what makes a couples day more memorable, for all the right reasons! And it's maybe not what you think! In this blog post I am going to be sharing what I think couples should be focusing on, so that their guests are left raving about their day, long after it's all over. The insights I'll be sharing will help you create a wedding day that leaves a lasting impression on your guests. I'll be sharing what some of the top things are that your guests will notice and what they'll take away with them, so that when they think about your wedding, they have nothing but amazing things to say. 

So let's take some time to look at what you're guests will actually remember about your wedding day, so that you can put your valuable time, energy & budget into these areas. As well as sharing with you what they are, I'll be advising the best ways you can achieve them for your day.

Let's get into it..

The Atmosphere

So when your guests are reminiscing about your wedding day, the first thing they will remember is how they felt. They will think about the atmosphere by recalling on their feelings from the day. They might of felt emotional during your speeches, they may felt well looked after and welcomed while drinks on arrival were being served, they may of felt comfortable at your wedding breakfast, they may of even felt spoilt by the vast food options your caterers served up or extra special from the wedding favours you decided to gift each guest. Guests will always remember, without a doubt, how you made them feel on the day. 

So how do you create the right atmosphere?

Making the decision of what you want your atmosphere to be like, at the start of your wedding planning, will make choosing everything so much easier for you. It doesn't mean you have to have the same atmosphere all the way through the day, but if you know from the start what you want your wedding to feel like, everything will be easier to decide.

What makes an atmosphere?

The atmosphere is created by literally everything you choose, so couples should give it a lot of thought. It will be created by, how you want the day to flow, the type of music that's played, how you both enter the room, how the food is served, how you welcome your guests to the table, how you decorate your space and so on and so on.

It's important to note, that each couple will want to create a different atmosphere for their day because they want the day to align with what their all about. I've worked with lots of couples and finding out what they want the vibe to be like is key to getting the overall design perfect for them.

Power of the aesthetics

The aesthetics really do have the power to create an atmosphere, right from the shades of colours you choose, to the style of decorations you place on the table. When I'm styling tablescapes, considering the mood it's the key ingredient that elevates a design to the next level. I help couples do this in my tablescape packages which you can explore here.

So how do you want it feel? Romantic & intimate, fresh & fun, dreamy & elegant, or calm & cosy? Get this part right, and your guests will remember the vibe forever.

Personal Touches

Another thing that your guests will remember from your wedding day are your personal touches. If you don't include any, let's be honest, your guests could be at anyone's wedding. If you share snippets of your unique love story with your guests this creates a lasting impression on them, because these details are really memorable. 

So how do you include personal touches?

There are literally loads of ways to personalise your wedding, so I'm choosing some of my favourites to share with you, that I think have that lasting impact you desire. 

Interactive Table Plan

Something that I know guests absolutely love is an interactive element such as a unique table plan, which transforms a mundane necessity into a stand out moment. Guests love it when they feel involved and they notice that you care about their experience to find their seat for the evening. It's a fantastic way to share your love story and personalities with your guests, which will make your day more memorable. They will telling people all about it!

I happen to have a real thing for table plans, I just love coming up with creative ideas that really help couples inject some of their story and personal style into it. You can take a look at some of the seating plan designs I've created, which may inspire you here. If you want to create your own I do offer individual table plan cards in my shop here to help you with your display. 

Signature Cocktails

Another way of adding in personal touches is you could serve up signature cocktails to your guests, which is a really nice way to share your relationship. You could pop a fun sign on your bar, for your guests to chose which cocktail they want to try. I have a selection of fun signage to share your drinks here.

Photo 166 Photography

Wedding Table Names

Another popular idea for adding a personal touch is to name your wedding tables. There are loads of ideas for this and in fact I have a helpful blog post here to help you come up with your own idea. But off the top of my head, you could name them places you've both visited if travel is your thing, use key dates in your relationship of important milestones or what about movies you love to watch together. This makes it more memorable as it's more personal and memorable then general numbers. Any of my table numbers in my shop can be customise with names. You can find something to match your style in my shop here, or ask for something bespoke to compliment your theme here.

Table decor

When I am designing tablescapes for couples I help them add in their personal touches with their decor choices. So the decorations could reflect the season they are getting married in or it could include hobbies they have or things they like to do together. This not only makes the design unique to them, it also makes a talking point for the guests which is something they will remember. If you're interested in getting help with styling your tables I offer this service here.

Photo Rebecca Jayne

The Wedding Breakfast

Without question the food you decide to have for your wedding reception will be a hot topic! Like I said earlier, I've been to my fair share of weddings and I even still talk about the food when I'm reminiscing. And that's if it's good or not so good, it gets mentioned. Whether it's a well presented plate of food, an enticing sharing platter, a unique food station or a buffet display, your guests will remember the experience so much more if it's well presented. When your food looks enticing your guests can't wait to dig in, so making sure you consider the visual appeal will make all the difference. We all know that food tastes better when you take the time with the presentation.

Let's be honest, when you're out for a meal and your food looks really amazing, you instantly can't wait to tuck in, right? This is the feeling you want to replicate at your wedding. Taking dining to another level with thoughtful presentation.

So how can you make your dining experience more memorable?

Your wedding tablescapes will help you set the tone for an unforgettable dining experience. Your guests are sat for quite some time, so you want them to feel as  comfortable as possible. If you want your guests to feel a warm welcome when they sit down, a personalised name card goes a long way. There's a fantastic selection in my shop here.

Photo Holly Bryan Photography

Wedding Menus

You may of chosen a seasonal menu for your dinner therefore your table decorations and colour scheme could align with that, creating an immersive experience for you and your guests to remember. 

You may of got your guests to choose what they are having for dinner ahead of time, in which case it's likely they will of forgotten what they decided on. A thoughtful touch is to include a menu on their place setting to remind them of their selection. It's small touches like this that make your guests feel at ease, as you have considered their needs whilst planning, and you're making sure they are well looked after. I offer a selection of menu cards in my shop here that can be customised to suit.

If you're having a buffet style then consider how you can make it look enticing so your guests can't wait to get up there and get stuck in. It's also considerate to label any buffet food so that guests feel at ease choosing what they want, especially if they have dietary requirements. You can find a selection of food labels here in my shop which can customised with your own text.

It's the way you display your food & drinks that will make all the difference to enhancing your guests experience. And the better it is, the more likely they will remember it.

So there you have it, those are my top 3 things that your guests will remember from your wedding. To recap, they will remember your atmosphere, your personal touches and the food. I hope I have inspired you to think carefully about where you spend your time, energy and budget, helping your to focus on the things your guests will definitely remember for years to come.

If you would love some help creating an unforgettable day I can help you with your vision. I am a table stylist that offers tablescape packages to couples in Lincolnshire UK, bespoke stationery design, table plan design & more. If you would like to find out more about me so that we can get to know each other, you can head here for more info

Feel free to ask me any questions via email or my contact form, I'd be more than happy to chat about your plans.