The big day is finally approaching! The day you’ve been dreaming of since childhood – your wedding day! Getting married is such an exciting milestone in life. It’s a chance for you to celebrate the love you share with your soon-to-be spouse! Not to mention, it allows you to host an event where you can create memories with all of your closest family and friends. 

It’s no secret that every couple wants their wedding day to be filled with fun for their guests! After all, you don’t want the festivities to be a doozy! You want everyone to have a blast leading up to the send-off. 

Here are a few ways you can make the celebration memorable for your guests (and keep the party going all night long): 

Pick A Great Wedding Venue

I know we’re a little biased here, but it really is TRUE! The venue sets the tone for the entire event. It’s important that the space matches your aesthetic style and can comfortably accommodate all of your guests. Comfort really is key! 

Mother nature is something every couple should take into consideration when planning their perfect day. Regardless of the season, your venue should have a temperature-controlled area. Additionally, if you’re having an outdoor ceremony, it’s a good idea to have a plan-b option indoors. 

The venue should also have enough personal space for everyone to relax and unwind. This means you should consult your venue for optimal capacity guidelines. Many venues will suggest they can host a much higher guest count than what is actually comfortable. 

Consider All Wedding Guests

To no one’s surprise, your college sorority sisters are probably going to hit the bar and the dance floor all night long. But what about your elder relatives and the kiddos? It’s a great idea to consider all ages when planning your wedding celebration. 

A seated area away from the loud music is a great option for some of your more mature guests. At Madera Estates, we have several seating arrangements throughout the event space to accommodate this exact situation! After all, many of these guests will probably be more interested in socializing and sipping coffee than listening to Old Town Road. 

Side note – if you’re expecting a lot of older relatives, make sure your venue is handicap accessible! 

When it comes to hosting children, having a few activities on-hand is a great idea! Not only will this provide them with some fun, it will also give their parents a break from having to entertain them throughout the evening. Coloring books, outdoor games and a photo booth are some great ways to keep the kids smiling throughout the night!

Have Amazing Food 

Let’s face it, everyone likes to eat! Serving great food is a surefire way to impress your guests! 

Will you opt for a formal dinner with several courses or a buffet? Maybe you’ll choose a finger-friendly assortment of foods instead. Regardless of the route you choose, make sure you offer your guests a variety of options and that they don’t leave the event with a growling tummy! 

Having a cocktail hour with passed appetizers is a great way to transition from the ceremony to the reception. Some wedding itineraries require dinner to be served later into the evening, so serving a few warm bites is a stellar idea. Meatballs, chicken kabobs and stuffed mushrooms always hit a homerun!

It’s also polite to consider the dietary needs and restrictions of your guests. You can do so by asking them to notate any needs on their RVSP. Pass along the information to your caterer, should you choose to have one. Good communication with your caterer will be key to having a successful and memorable meal!

On another note, it’s also important to choose a caterer (and venue) that can keep the food warm! No one wants to eat cold mashed potatoes… 

And, if you’re worried about waste, give out little personalized to-go boxes. These are sure to be a hit for anyone who loves food! 

Splurge On The Open Bar

Whether you personally drink or not, it’s not a bad idea to loosen up your guests with a few cocktails! At Madera Estates, we’ve hosted A LOT of weddings. If you want your guests to dance all night long, we highly recommend providing them with a little bubbly. Trust us with this one! 

Understandably, not all couples have the budget to make their Pinterest wedding come to life. However, the bar is not something we would recommend skipping on.

To put it simply, your Uncle Steve is definitely going to be more impressed with the open bar than the hand calligraphy painted on the menu.  

Have Some Great Music

DJ or band? This is something a lot of couples stress out over. You wanna know a secret?  

It doesn’t really matter.

As long as you have an awesome playlist and keep downtime to a minimum, you’ll be good to go! It’s also important to include some variety in the music selections. Many couples start with the classics such as “L-O-V-E” by Nat King Cole and gradually work their way to Beyonce and Post Malone. 

Keep The Toasts Short

Toasts are an important part of any wedding. And although they can be a sweet display of affection, we recommend keeping the speeches to a minimum. If your toasts drag on, you’re likely to lose your guests attention. 

Traditionally the father of the bride, maid of honor and best man give speeches at the reception. Together these should not exceed more than 20-30 minutes. You want to get to the dance floor after all! If you have a lot of family members who would like to share their thoughts, consider inviting them to do so at the rehearsal dinner. This will make them feel included without taking away precious minutes from your reception. 

Speaking of toasts, we highly recommend checking out the sound system in the reception hall before you sign a contract with a venue!

Go Out With A Bang – Literally! 

Every good fairytale story ends with a carriage ride, singing birds or another magical phenomenon. Yours can too! 

A firework show is a showstopping way to say goodnight to your guests! 

A sparkler send-off also makes for an exciting ending to the evening. Not only will this impress your guests, but the photos will be spark-tacular! 

Get Your Guests Home Safely

Congratulations! You’ve pulled off the wedding of the century and everyone had an absolute blast! Now it’s time to make sure your guests get home safely. 

We recommend having a sign near the exit with contact information for a cab driver. Out of town guests might not be familiar with local driving services. 

You can also share a shuttle back to the hotel! Some hotels will actually offer this service free of charge if they have advance notice. 

You might even want to consider renting a party bus! Your bridesmaids and groomsmen surely kept the dance floor packed all night long. This is a fun and exciting way to take them home safely! 

When In Doubt, Get A Coordinator!

Are you overwhelmed yet?! Planning a wedding can be a lot of work. If you’re open to it, we highly recommend hiring a wedding coordinator to make sure all of your guests have a great experience. 

At Madera Estates, we not only offer a beautiful backdrop to your wedding, but we can also assist you with coordination services! We would be more than honored to help you host the event you’ve always dreamed of! 

Whether you live here in Conroe, the Woodlands, Houston or anywhere else, our mission for every wedding never changes. By laying all the cards on the table during your initial consultation, you’ll know exactly what to expect when the big day arrives! 

Our process is simple: (1) Book a Tour, (2) Pick Your Day and (3) Customize Your Package.

Click here to book a free tour. We’d love to chat with you about your vision. You can also reach out to our team at (936) 441-9337.

Check out our Facebook and Instagram accounts for more wedding inspiration.

Happy wedding planning!