Wedding Getaway: Tips for Hosting the Perfect Wedding Weekend!
Hello lovelies!Three day weddings are all the rage! We love a good destination wedding (Hawaii, Costa Rica, Amalfi Coast, oh my!), but many of our couples are reluctant to plan a wedding that isn’t accessible for all their nearest and dearest to attend. More and more couples are coming to us wanting the destination wedding experience, where all their guests spend the entire weekend together at multiple events, but here in SoCal. We love helping our couples host these events and today we’re sharing a few tips & best practices to help you plan a smooth, successful and super fun wedding weekend, start to finish!
Photo Credit: Iris & Light
Tip #1: Have everyone stay at the same place
This makes for simple coordination when traveling from event to event! If you don’t want your guests to splurge on just one single place, try looking for a city or neighborhood that has hotels within walking distance from each other at different price points. That way your guests can still feel included in the weekend but not have to break the bank!
Photo Credit: Lin & Jirsa
Photo Credit: Colby Elizabeth Photography
Tip #2: Choose your location (wisely!)
Especially for a Southern California wedding that might not seem like a destination to you, could be an extravagant trip for your guests near and far! Los Angeles and the surrounding cities (Palm Springs, Carlsbad, Santa Barbara, Temecula, Lake Arrowhead, and the list goes on and on...) are home to some of the most unique and beautiful venues and areas, which means your guests will still call it a destination wedding, even if you reside in the area!
Photo Credit: Iris & Light
Photo Credit: Tim Ronca
Tip #3: Offer activities & options in between scheduled events
These can vary depending on your guests, and even your personal interests! A few suggestions are yoga, shopping, golfing, spa treatments, or a hike! It’s a special way to let your guests explore the city you are hosting your weekend in, and gives you some fun free time with friends & family.
Photo Credit: Jillian Rose Photography
Photo Credit: K Stone Photography
Tip #4: Provide transportation to and from off-site events
You want to make sure your weekend weekend is accessible and safe! For guests who might not know the area well, or who have a drink or two, providing transportation is the way to go. If your guests are tech-savvy, you can coordinate Ubers to each destination, or explore some rental options like sprinter or school buses. Be sure to research the accommodation locations as some hotels or resorts offer transportation between certain destinations.
Photo Credit: Iris & Light
Photo Credit: Lukas VanDyke
Tip #5: Invite everyone to every event!
It is so important that your guests feel a part of every aspect of your wedding weekend, even if they can’t make it to every event. Be consistent with your invitations and communications with all of your wedding guests so they know where/when to be at each event during the weekend (feel free to add in optional events as well!)
Photo Credit: Matthew Bronner
Photo Credit: Amanda McKinnon
Tip #6: Make sure guests have easy access to food & beverages throughout the weekend
Nothing is worse than having a group of guests looking to you when they are hungry! If you’re staying at a hotel, make sure to give guests info on how to access the hotel bar, gift shop, or restaurant if they are looking for a bite or a drink. If you are leaning towards casitas or a mansion, figure out a way to hire a personal chef for a few hours a day to prep snacks that are always accessible.
Photo Credit: Lin & Jirsa
Photo Credit: Hello Studios Photos
Tip #7: Distribute a detailed packing list prior to the wedding weekend
It is super important and helpful that your guests are adequately prepared for the weekend. On your invitation, add in a brief schedule for the weekend and include everything they could possibly need! If you are going to have a pool party, people need to know to bring their bathing suits. If you are offering a golfing excursion, serious enthusiast will likely want to use their own clubs. The more thorough, the better (your guests will thank you later!)
Photo Credit: Iris & Light
Photo Credit: Prim & Pixie
Tip #8: Find new ways to surprise your guests at every event!
This could be as easy as using a different customized cocktail napkin, having different decór element for each event, or simply offering a variety of new cocktails or appetizers when munching throughout the weekend. It sounds very straightforward, but in the age of technology, when people are Snapchatting and Instagram story-ing non-stop, they’ll be so impressed and happy with new details (or even a small gift!)
Photo Credit: Erin J Saldana
Photo Credit: Lin & Jirsa
We hope you grabbed some ideas to use as you plan your fun, fab wedding weekend. We love seeing our tips & tricks coordinated into couple's weddings. Be sure to shout us out if you add some of your personal flair to our advice, we love a client who knows how to personalize! Stay stylish, beauties!