Don’t Have a wedding day—have a wedding weekend
Everything you need to know to have a fun-filled (and successful) wedding weekend
So What is a Wedding Weekend?
A wedding weekend is exactly what it sounds like. A whole weekend dedicated to a wedding, like a mini-vacation! Couples are turning to this idea more and more, as it allows for those traveling to really enjoy their experience. Often, venues like summer camps (like our local Camp Wandawega) and B&B’s let you book the venue for the entire weekend. If you have the option to have everyone in one place, that’s perfect! But you can also have people in different accommodations as long as they’re nearby, just be thoughtful about transporation.
Although it may sound like more work and money, it is also more rewarding. It gives you the chance to connect with everyone. Typically a wedding day goes so fast that you may not even talk to some people. You also get plenty of time to get pictures with your important people and thank them for coming.
So let’s get into what a weekend actually entails. Keep in mind that you can always hire a planning team who can tackle all the different aspects of the weekend so that you can just enjoy yourself. It’ll cost more than a typical wedding day, of course, but since you’re already making an investment, it may be worth it to extend the one time you’ll have all of those important people in your life together in one place.
What Should a Wedding Weekend Look Like?
Day 1: The Welcome Day
The welcome day is the day that all of your guests roll in. Because so many people will show up at different times, we recommend a relaxed welcome event to allow people to partake when they can. This could be a happy hour in a common space or campfires with s’mores outside. Another idea is to ask that your wedding party arrive earlier than the rest to give you an opportunity to do the rehearsal dinner. (If that isn’t possible, make sure that your guests have food arranged to eat while the wedding party is busy.) Traditionally, the groom’s side is in charge of the rehearsal dinner, but it’s up to you who you’d like to be in charge. Just make sure you don’t put everything on yourself.
The other element for the welcome day is to include a welcome basket or gift. It doesn’t have to be crazy, but having gifts waiting in each guest’s room or tagged by name in the common space will make your guests feel so special. It’s also a great way to offer those oft-forgotten things that they may need over the weekend. Here are some items we recommend for the goodie baskets:
A local goodie (local jam, hand-made chapstick, local maple syrup, etc.)
A themed gift (a checkered throw blanket for a camp wedding, a mason-jar goat’s milk candle for a barn wedding, etc.)
Hairspray
Lotion
Advil
Sunscreen
Bug Spray
Band-aids
Day 2: The Big Day
This is the big day! And this can look however you want it to. We suggest a late-afternoon ceremony so that everyone gets the morning to spend time socializing, exploring, and getting ready. A great option is to offer a breakfast buffet so that people have the chance to eat and socialize whenever they’re ready for the day.
As far as activities go, the options are endless! You don’t have to plan every minute of the day, but it’s nice to plan something for people to do. For example, we’ve done weddings where there was a welcome party and then group yoga the morning of the wedding! You can either hire an instructor or ask your yogi friend to lead. That gives you another way to put someone else in charge, so you aren’t over-burdened. The other option is to provide transportation, like a shuttle or trolley to take the crew into town and field-trip. We know that in Door County you can hire a classic red trolley for events and there are so many quaint towns to explore. That way everyone gets to do what they want.
Another option for the morning time is to get your wedding party or closest friends to help you DIY, if you chose to go the route. Some people have their party make their own florals or help craft centerpieces. But remember, those activities do take a while and can sometimes feel like a chore. If you hire a team like ours, you and your crew won’t have to do this part, and that way you also have complete control over how everything looks. (We love creative expression, but sometimes things are better left to the professionals…)
Possible Wedding-Weekend Activities
Yoga
Bus/bike/walk into town
Yard Games (cornhole, volleyball, croquet)
Take advantage of your surroundings (rent a boat, visit a vineyard, reserve a peddle pub)
Hire a makeup and hairstylist to pamper your wedding party
Games (Large Jenga, Connect Four)
Campfires
We recommend activities be optional. That allows guests to do what they want and also accommodates different schedules.
Day 3: Farewell Day
Day 3 may not be a farewell day if you choose to do a long weekend. But on the last day of the wedding weekend, we recommend a final activity to give everyone a chance to reconnect. Whether you decide to do a farewell brunch or not, make sure to feed everyone.
The last day of the wedding weekend is probably the most valuable part of the wedding weekend idea. You’re wedding is bringing together two families and sets of friends. Your wedding gives people a chance to connect with people from the other party’s side. Especially so if you’re getting married to someone in another state than the one you're from, your out-of-town family can get the chance to really get to know your new family. But weddings go so fast. The day after the wedding gives people the chance to reconnect with those they’ve bonded with and really solidify those relationships.
And here’s another reason the final wedding weekend day is important. If you chose to, you can open gifts this morning. That way, you get to thank everyone in person. You know what that means? No thank you cards. We don’t know about you guys, but being able to cross that task off a list is a huge relief. Of course, you can still send cards if you want to.
Another option for the last day is to trek into town for brunch or shopping, and then let people head out from there. Just make sure you plan it all with enough time to get out by check-out time!
Tips for a Throwing Successful Wedding Weekend
Set up a wedding website
Use Zola or the Knot to create a wedding website. That way you ensure everyone has all the details for planning purposes. It’s also always there, unlike a handout that might get lost.
2. Don’t forget transportation
Make sure to consider getting people to and from their accommodations if people are spread out. But also if you’re planning on an outing, like a wine-tasting, make sure you plan transportation so that no one gets left behind and everyone gets to partake.
3. Provide goodie bags or often-forgotten items
If you don’t opt for goodie bags, that’s okay. At least offer a supply of last-minute items that people may need so they don’t have to run to the local Target and miss the festivities. It can be as simple as putting baskets in common areas with band-aids, bobby pins, toothpaste, razors, etc.
4. Don’t forget the food
Seriously, this is such an easy thing to overlook but has such an impact. You don’t have to go gourmet for everything, but making sure people always have the option to snack on something will make sure you don’t have any hanger-based drama.
5. Handoff some responsibilities
This doesn’t have to be an overwhelming experience. If you hire a wedding planner, then you can skip this step entirely, or just task someone with aiding your planner. Simply ask people you know you can count on and who want to help. And make sure to divide evenly. Your responsible friend wants to have fun too!
6. Remember to thank everyone
Time is the most valuable resource we have. Make sure to thank everyone for giving you theirs, especially those who had to travel from afar.