While weddings are timeless, the planning process must keep pace with ever-changing technology and culture. Mindy has updated her comprehensive guidebook to highlight some important considerations.
Announce Your Big News
What should you post? Wait before you publish. Before you send the news out to the rest of the world, make sure you have told your closest friends and family. Keep the news off-line for as long as you can. Not announcing the news early enough can lead to you being pushed into the public phase of the engagement, which is usually when things get more complicated. Trust me. Take some time to relax before you start the planning phase.
Your Wedding Hashtag
You’re welcome to join the club if you are a sharer! You can ensure your guests, and you see the photos posted to Instagram by creating and sharing a hashtag. You can choose a hashtag by entering some options into the app. If you don’t see any obvious options like #EmilyRobertWedding and #TheAndersons, try a combination of your names, such as #Robily. You can share good sneak peeks with your guests by creating a hashtag for your wedding. It would help if you were careful not to share photos from bachelorette parties or showers. Print your hashtag on signs placed at the bar, bathrooms, and the guestbook. If you are going for the photo booth route, ensure that the hashtag is visible on the prop table. If you don’t feel comfortable with DIY paparazzi or the next social media trail, simply putting signage outside the ceremony and reception spaces and a note inside your printed programs should convey the message. It doesn’t have to be complicated.
Accommodations for Dietaries
Although you can’t cater to all diets, it’s possible to accommodate some. Talk to your catering contact if guests require a gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free or vegetarian meal. To ensure seamless service, give your maitre d’ notice of any special menus and table numbers to the caterer before the reception. Consider having a buffet of stations if you know that your guests have different food preferences than normal. Many venues have options for all dietary requirements these days. I often find myself fighting with brides about whether gluten should be included. I have done completely vegetarian and vegan weddings and even tricked my wedding guests into eating gluten-free cakes (no one was wiser). But I still believe that everyone should be able to enjoy their starch.
Ferrying your Guests
It can make a huge difference to everyone’s mood, so I recommend that you provide guest transportation whenever possible, even if this means cutting another expense on your budget. Uber and Lyft have made it easier and cheaper to transport your wedding guests. One of their greatest strengths? They offer flexibility for you and your guests. You can contact the ride-sharing company you prefer to arrange for a group discount. The discount code is given to guests. They then enter the code in the app on their phones, and everyone gets a lower ride. Many guests will not have used the service before and are eligible for a completely free ride — the best price! You can also combine the group discount with a portion of your guests’ rides to get a higher level. Your guests will enjoy a break while you customize your contribution to your budget. You can let your guests come and go as you please. If they get too drunk, they can also leave the car behind. Once you have completed the initial setup, there is no need to coordinate anything.
