The Indian culture embraces family ties and togetherness like no other. For the same reason, an Indian wedding is not just about the couple, it is about the guest experiences as well. Planning an Indian wedding is hence an affair that requires all the more diligence and attention to detail.
From friends and family to distant relatives, neighbors, and colleagues, a typical Indian wedding is bound to have everyone associated with the bride and the groom in some way, and it is important to ensure that everyone has a fantastic time at the event. This is why you need experts to plan and execute your special day; an experienced Indian wedding planner in Chicago to create an authentic Indian wedding celebration that is memorable for everyone including your guests.
To help you navigate the challenges that come with planning a complex event, here are some tips to ensure an enjoyable experience for everyone.
Ensure a warm welcome with clear signages, instructions, and greetings
One of the biggest reasons for guests to have an unpleasant experience at an Indian wedding is not knowing where to go or what to do. This is especially true if you have multiple events throughout the day, like Haldi and Sangeet, at multiple event spaces. To avoid this, place clear and customized signages at venue entrances to guide people, and try to assign special greeters to offer a warm welcome. A well-guided entry and warm greeting set the tone for a great experience at a large Indian wedding.
Make comfortable seating arrangements
Pay attention when sourcing the furniture and seating for your wedding. Rent only high-quality chairs, sofas, and ottomans that are comfortable and durable to ensure that your guests are relaxed and enjoying being at your wedding. Arrange the seating in a way that is conducive to effortless engagement; a wedding is bound to involve heartfelt chats and exchanges of emotions. Try to group people with commonalities so that the experience is more familiar and comfortable for everyone. At the same time, pay attention to technical aspects too, for example, do not place seats too close to the sound system, or outdoors right under the beaming sun.
An efficient Indian wedding planner in Chicago will help you stay worry-free about smaller details like these.
Establish clear communication right off the bat
Keep your guests well-informed about the event itinerary, the schedule, the layout, and other important details right from the start. For this, create a wedding website with all details including the venue location, the timings of various events, the seating plan, the layout, etc., and share it with your guests, days ahead of your big day. To further help with navigation, place signages as mentioned before along with venue service professionals to guide guests. Clear and prompt communication avoids confusion and allows everyone to be an active part of all events, improving the overall experience.
Include a diverse range of food options considering dietary implications
When deciding on the food menu, consider dietary implications, such as food allergies, diabetes, vegan choices, etc. to allow all guests equal freedom in enjoying the food. Incorporate diverse options in your menu including vegetarian, non-vegetarian, and vegan options, and exclude commonly allergic food items. Consider having sugar-free options for dessert too.
Provide thoughtful favors and inclusive amenities
Wedding favors are an excellent way to offer an engaging and fun experience for guests. Go one step further and provide thoughtful items to improve the impact of your gesture; for example, consider giving out hand fans for an outdoor event, saplings or seeds to encourage eco-friendly practices, local delicacies or other treats to share a piece of the cultural flair of the wedding location, etc.
In addition to providing favors, provide inclusive amenities as well, that make it easy for all types of people to attend your wedding. For example, ramps for guests using wheelchairs, handrails on slippery floors to help seniors walk, etc.
Incorporate fun activities for guests to engage in
Set up fun installations like a photo booth or a social media corner for guests to take pictures and have fun at the wedding. Allow friends and family to enjoy the togetherness and make memories of their own through your wedding. Take the help of a modern and thoughtful Indian wedding planner in Chicago to take advantage of their creative ideas and resources to provide unique photobooth backdrops and banners.
Pay attention to photography aspects
Set up your photography and videography team in alignment with your event requirements and ensure that the guests are not overlooked when planning still sessions. Be mindful when placing live streaming installations to keep unnecessary activities or distractions off the footage. Communicate with your photography team and establish a rapport to allow them to get familiar with the crowd, blend into the background, and capture priceless moments without missing a single important exchange. Convey your wedding vision early on and maximize your wedding package as well.
Create a conducive environment for socializing
One of the best things about big fat Indian weddings is that it is an opportunity for long-lost friends and relatives to rekindle their relationships. Make way for such wholesome reunions by creating conducive environments for socializing. Assign designated mingling areas with comfortable lounge sofas and chairs. Install a high-quality bar away from the core events of the wedding so that it doesn’t interfere with the traditional rituals, while at the same time allowing guests to bond over drinks. Pay attention to the little details to ensure that guests not only get to be a part of your special day but also get to see and be with their friends and family members. Rely on an expert Indian wedding planner in Chicago to create such social-friendly wedding environments.
Express gratitude and acknowledge the presence of your guests
Lastly, take a moment during the wedding to express your heartfelt gratitude and thanks to everyone who attended the event. A meaningful thank you speech or implicit tokens of appreciation, such as take-home favors invariably go a long way in making all guests feel valued and welcomed. It will also become an integral part of a wedding experience that will linger on in their memories for at least a while.
Wrapping up
A great Indian wedding event is not just about the couple’s union; it is also about the collective experience of all attendees present. The key to making it enjoyable and engaging for everyone is to prioritize the comfort and entertainment of your guests. Pay attention to smaller details like planning an inclusive food menu, incorporating accessibility features at your venue, and installing entertainment zones like photobooths, to create enriching experiences as well as cherished memories, both for you and your guests.
Partner with a holistic and thoughtful Indian wedding planner in Chicago, like ForUrEvents to take care of multiple aspects of guest experiences under one roof. For more updates check our Facebook page.
