Turning the Wedding Day Into the Wedding Weekend

By Mark Kingsdorf, MBC™, Mission Inn Resort, Orlando, Fla. Photos Courtesy of Mission Inn ResortFor planners and wedding professionals, a wedding can seem to go on forever—starting well before hair and makeup and ending after strike. However, for engaged couples, the wedding day flies by. Their interaction with family and friends is limited during the ceremony, and the photos, formalities, and reception pass before they know it.In years past, a wedding consisted of a ceremony, generally at a local house of worship, and sometimes followed by a reception in the adjacent hall or local banquet hall. In many cases, the couple’s parents lived in the same area in which they grew up, as did the couple and the extended family. Weddings then were not only a family affair, they were a neighborhood affair.Boy, have times changed!Today’s couples are more transient. The parents might not live in the same location where their children were raised. The couple may not be from the same city. Family and friends travel in for the wedding from all over the country and, often, all over the world.While the focus is still on the importance of the ceremony in which two families join together, the wedding is more than a single event. Couples want to spend meaningful time with their family and friends. To do so, they are hosting multiple events, on multiple days and turning the wedding day into a “wedding weekend.” As a result, many couples seek the convenience of a single location with lots of activities and multiple venue options.Bring the fun to any locationWhether their wedding is urban, located on a beach, or at a destination resort, today’s couples want to design a fun, interesting weekend that reflects both of their personalities and interests.While budget is always a consideration, there are things that can be done that don’t have to add expense. Those wanting to add texture to their wedding weekend can share information with their guests on local things to do at or near their venue and that guests can do on their own. In urban settings, the couples often book a host hotel or venue with several adjacent hotels at varying price points. They might create welcome bags for guests. These can contain lists of favorite local restaurants, shops, bars, and attractions. What to include? Anything and everything. This could mean guided tours of a historic district to winery tours to experiences that allow guests to get a flavor of the community or that focus on fun and action like paintball, laser tag, golfing, or other bonding activities.Beach weddings offer a never-ending list of aquatic activities for just about every taste and activity level as well as restaurants featuring seafood, local fare, and unique beverages.Destination weddings don’t necessarily mean a wedding out of the country, that guests need a passport, or that the guest list must be smaller. There are many domestic options within driving distance or a direct flight that offer amenities and services that help create and accent the wedding weekend experience. Couples from different states can pick a central location for their families and friends to reach, rather than hosting in one of their home cities.Meet, greet, and mingleFor out-of-town guests, meet ups at a local gastro pub or brewery the night before the wedding offer a great chance for guests to mingle. The key is make the meet up as convenient as possible. Provide ideas unique to the location. Include something where the couple and their families can interact, catch up, and spend time with people from across the country or across the world who they might not see very often.Consider a full-service resortRegardless of the climate or scenic views, a full-service resort offers a great option for wedding weekends. Having guest rooms as well as dining and activity options on property is great foundation for a wedding weekend. Activities range from lying by the pool sipping a cocktail to getting a massage or participating in activities like boating, golf, tennis, or fishing. This makes the wedding experience a mini vacation for guests, even if they are fairly local. Hosting a rehearsal dinner, having a ready room where hair and makeup can be done on site, having a honeymoon suite, or a farewell breakfast on site make it easy for everyone.Don’t overscheduleThe key to creating a wedding experience involves finding a location that speaks to your couple and reflects their personality and taste. Next, explore and research the activities that are available. Remember to keep the scheduling simple and offer options, rather than over scheduling. This allows the couple and the guests to enjoy the wedding weekend and spend as much time as they want to with those they love and rarely get to see. It also allows guests to mix and mingle at their own pace. Make it easy on your couple, and make it fun and interesting for their guests by helping them host the "wedding weekend" of their dreams!