Month Nine: Wedding Guests

How you take care of your guests both before and during your celebration will help set the tone for the wedding day. Happy guests make happy weddings - so look after yours from the moment your invitation lands on their doormat. Weddings can be expensive to attend, but by including as much information as you can with your invitations you'll make it sound enticing.  If your guests are travelling from outside Scotland they may well want to make the most of the opportunity to stay a few extra days and indulge themselves in all Scotland has to offer. So include as appropriate: an accommodation list, maps and directions, details of other wedding related gatherings, information about car hire, public transport and local taxi numbers. You might also like to refer them to our guest pages where there is information on accommodation as well as handy A-5 sized Insider Guides offering suggestions of things to do and see in Scotland. The Insider Guides can be ordered free of charge and are also downloadable. Last month we looked at travel to Scotland so also take a look back so as to be able to offer advice on getting here.

Even if you are not based in Scotland do take a look at the dozens of stationers listed on our supplier search, especially if you are considering something with a Scottish theme (which would be very in keeping for your wedding day stationery - so carry the idea through to include the invitations). Indeed Orders of Service, menu and place cards, seating plan and table plans will need to be brought with you for the wedding. But by sourcing locally you may find the solution to shipping, storage and transporting issues.

Providing a reply card and pre-addressed envelopes with your invitations will speed up the response process.  You can also ask for dietary preferences to be indicated as well as details of where guests will be staying. The latter might be useful to you if you are providing transport, or if additional events are being planned before and after the wedding.  If you know where guests are staying you could leave a note welcoming them to Scotland.  Indeed you may decide to take over a hotel for your wedding and a lovely touch could be to leave a small gift or goody bag in guests' rooms ahead of their arrival containing some traditional Scottish gifts: maybe some tablet (similar to fudge but tastier!), a mini bottle of whisky, even some Irn Bru and shortbread for younger guests! You may well find suitable gifts for your guests by using our supplier search.

It used to be frowned upon to enclose details of where you were registered for wedding gifts with your invitations, but most couples now consider it acceptable. Indeed a gift list is for your guests' convenience as much as yours and a discreet mention of where yours is, in with the invitations is usually appropriate. Your guests will know they are spending their hard earned cash on something you really want.   Register with a gift list service about three months before the wedding and ensure you finalise your choices before mailing your invitations.  There are several specialist lists on our Suppliers Search offering a choice between Scottish based companies, on-line services, departments stores and also giveit.co.uk who offer a charity donation gift list service.

Next month we'll be looking at wedding day hair and beauty: how to prepare and how to ensure you've got it all covered for the bridal party to get gorgeous on your wedding day! Until next time "happy wedding planning!"

 
Stationery Checklist

pre-wedding stationery:   
engagement announcements    
and /or 'save the day' cards 
invitations
envelopes
reply cards (could be post cards)
envelopes (if not post cards)
guest info (maps/directions/accommodation list/weblinks/ VisitScotland Insider guides)

wedding day stationery:
orders-of-service
menu cards
place cards
table plan
guest book

post wedding stationery:
thank-you notes
change-of-address cards

VisitScotland's Wedding Planner

Wedding Top Tips
Month One: Getting Started
Month Two: Finding Your Dream Venue
Month Three: Bridal Wear
Month Four: Deciding Groomswear
Month Five: Wedding Day Food
Month Six: Wedding Day Flowers
Month Seven: Photography
Month Eight: Transport
Month Ten: Hair and Beauty
Month Eleven: The Big Day
Month Twelve: Honeymoon