ideas to inspire - Lasting Impressions Weddings

Ideas to inspire
more than just
the big day
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MINNESOTA BRIDE
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mnbride.com
Whether your wedding is an intimate affair or a gala-style fête, chances are you
will be entertaining out-of-town guests. Show them some Minnesota hospitality by
by Ania Urban illustration by Kate Worum
hosting a weekend to remember.
The dresses,
cake…
variety.
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the flowers, the
the plane tickets, the hotel rooms, the
taxis. Traveling to attend a wedding has become the
new norm, and guests often invest a lot of time and
money to spend the weekend in an unfamiliar city.
Recognizing the tremendous efforts of their out-oftown guests, brides are showing their appreciation by
providing opportunities to spend time with their guests
throughout the weekend and making sure their guests
have fun and feel welcome.
Recent bride Laura Soderlund, of Duluth, emphasizes how important it was that her guests get a warm
reception during her wedding weekend. “A lot of our
guests traveled a long way to be at our wedding,” she
says. “For many of them, it was their first time in
Duluth. We wanted them to feel welcome.”
Soderlund and her husband showed their appreciation for their out-of-town guests by preparing welcome
bags filled with homemade snacks, coupon books for
popular locations in Duluth, travel information and the
weekend itinerary, as well as a list of places for guests
to visit that are special to them as a couple. They even
tied personal stories into each of the locations, such as
where her husband proposed or favorite restaurants. “I
heard a lot of positive feedback,” she recalls. “People
were very grateful for it.”
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Welcome to Town
Starting out with a bang sets the stage for a successful
wedding weekend. Many brides, however, struggle with
the best way to welcome guests to town. The night
before the wedding tends to be a busy time, and many
couples prefer to reserve that time for the rehearsal dinner
with immediate family and the wedding party. To
spend time with other guests without inviting everyone
to the rehearsal dinner, Sarah Trotter, owner of Lasting
Impressions Weddings in Minnetonka, suggests hosting
a welcome reception following the rehearsal dinner.
“I’ve had numerous couples host a rehearsal dinner
for the wedding party and then have a cocktail reception for the rest of the guests later in the evening,”
Trotter says. “It allows other guests to join in the
festivities without the bride and groom feeling like
they need to invite everyone to the rehearsal dinner.”
Welcome gatherings can come in a variety of forms.
Soderlund, for example, chose to keep things casual the
night before her Duluth wedding by having a bonfire
following her rehearsal dinner. “It was very laid-back,”
she says, “which is exactly what I needed the night
before my big day.”
Itinerary Planning
While some couples just provide suggestions for activities during their wedding weekend, others choose to
arrange a scheduled itinerary for their guests. If you’re
taking this approach, Stephanie Johnson of Park Place
Planning in Mendota Heights highly recommends
focusing on local activities.
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Richfield
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Couples should plan only as many activities as they
feel comfortable attending during an already busy weekend. “Make sure you are setting up activities that you are
going to be able to enjoy,” Trotter adds. “Don’t get so
preoccupied with all the events and forget why everyone
is there, and that’s to celebrate your marriage.” U
The Welcome Bag
A welcome gift is the perfect way to greet your out-of-town
guests and set the stage for a fun wedding weekend. Help
your guests feel at home with a stylish tote, a colorful gift
bag or a basket full of goodies. Many hotels will deliver
gifts directly to your guests’ rooms or distribute them at the
reception desk. When it comes to making your welcome
gifts, just enlist your bridesmaids and a bottle of wine, and
let the assembling begin! Use these fun yet practical ideas
to create the ultimate welcome gift:
A personalized note
Nothing says “welcome” better than a sincere handwritten
note from the bride and groom.
Weekend itinerary
Keep guests informed of weekend activities by providing an
itinerary, including details about any transportation you are
providing.
615 Second Avenue South · Minneapolis, MN · (612) 288-8888 · www.grandhotelminneapolis.com
Contact information
Provide your guests with a point person they can contact in
case they have any questions. Tip: Make it someone other
than you!
Map
Point out some of your favorite places within walking
distance of the hotel. Bonus: Tie in a story about why you
and your fiancé love each location.
Local treats
Treat your guests to some local delights with Minnesotathemed snacks. Think: Pearson’s Nut Goodies, Honeycrisp
apples or B.T. McElrath chocolates.
Wedding-related
necessities
Having an outdoor
wedding? Provide
your guests with
sunscreen or bug
spray. Planning a
late-night reception? Provide bottled
water and aspirin for
the next morning.
Postcards
Make your guests
feel like they are
truly on vacation by
providing a stamped
postcard they can
send back home.
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