The Weekenders: Help Your Wedding Guests Party All Weekend Long
Turn your wedding weekend into a mini vacation for your guests, with advice from top local pros.
October 23, 2018
In a sense, your Minnesota wedding is a destination wedding for everyone who’s traveling to attend. Planning a whole weekend of festivities allows you and your fiancé to showcase all Minnesota has to offer, enjoy family and friends, and act as gracious hosts.
“Making the fun last two, three or even four days can give the couple the chance to truly spend time with their guests,” says Maddie Huntwork, founder of wedding planning company Ask For the Moon Events. “Because, of course, the true wedding day pulls the bride and groom in a hundred different directions.” Here’s how to create an entire weekend of togetherness without breaking a sweat.
Budget, Book and Block
Professional planners encourage couples to set a budget, choose a date and venue, and book accommodations early. Once you’ve chosen a central hotel or resort, you can block in nearby activities. “You’ll want to plan activities that are easily accessible from the hotel,” says Josey Stafford, founder and head planner at Sixpence Events.
Think about destinations your hotel shuttle might already visit. “Many hotels offer great shuttle services for guests to venture out on their own to explore the city, so this could be a great option without any additional planning,” notes Lindsay Kunz, co-owner of Pink Peony Weddings & Events.
In the city, destinations like the airport, Mall of America and Target Field are all connected via the light rail. Visitors and locals alike will appreciate events within an easy-to-walk radius. For serenity and convenience, choose a resort on a lake. The whole weekend can be in one location and you can forget transportation completely.
Thou Shalt Not Overschedule
More good news for your planning to-do list: No guest wants a mile-long itinerary full of mandatory events. “We love a well-thought-out plan more than anyone,” says Pink Peony co-owner Kimberly Seymour, “but we don’t want guests feeling overscheduled. Keep in mind that your wedding weekend may also be a mini vacation for your guests, an excuse for a little rest and relaxation.”Newlyweds Amanda Jansen and Ken Savary hosted a weekend wedding on the , and Jansen says it felt like a big family vacation. They worked with Mariah McKechnie of in to showcase the gems of the area, from a lighthouse tour to stops and cookouts. “Our close friends and family arrived as early as Wednesday, so we really got to spend time together up there,” says Jansen.“Give your guests the gift of time,” says Gretchen Culver, owner of . “If you have a lot of out-of-town guests, they will want to have the ability to explore on their own. Limit the planned activities to three or four, and let them choose what sounds interesting to them.”Consider creating a guide to your favorite places: the restaurant where you had your first date, your favorite bike trails or a well-loved . Share what you love best about Minnesota, but leave your guests plenty of room to make their own discoveries. “Everybody loved exploring an area they had never visited, and many said they understand why we are staying in Minnesota for years to come,” says Jansen.