Planning a destination wedding has an anticipated list of anticipated to do’s when it comes to prepping for out of town guests, but hometown weddings have their own challenges. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when planning a hometown wedding:
Host a Welcome Party.
One of the best things about getting married in your hometown is the opportunity to really show your out of town guests your favorite places, and a welcome party is a great way to start things off. If your rehearsal dinner is just going to be limited to immediate family and the bridal party, a welcome party is a great way to meet and greet with out of town guests before the wedding day.
TIP: Welcome Party’s don’t have to be extravagant-- they can be as easy as having an open invitation to stop by the local brewery to say hello and grab a drink, or meet up for a dessert social.
Create Welcome Bags.
Welcome bags are a great way to provide wedding weekend reminders, as well as things like water, snacks, etc. It’s also a great opportunity to add in local favorites from the state or town you’re getting married in.
Suggest your favorite local attractions.
Keep in mind that many of your guests may not be from the area, and they may want suggestions for things to do throughout the weekend when they’re not at the wedding. This can be anything from lists of restaurants and kid friendly attractions, to looking up specific events that may be going on that weekend.
Extend the party.
Having a farewell brunch is a great way to take some of the pressure off of the wedding day when it comes to saying goodbye to everyone. People will tell you 100 times that the day passes in a flash, and the last thing you want to do is spend the entire time greeting all of your guests, and then turning right around and saying goodbye to all of them individually as well.
One of the best things about hosting a wedding in your hometown, is that you can showcase some of your favorite places and help depict the love story that you and your fiance have created together. Don't be afraid to use it as an opportunity to showcase your individual personalities and make the weekend personalized to the two of you!