Plan a ‘Guest Friendly’ Wedding & Help Stop Guest Burnout

Wedding guest burnout is real – and it’s on the rise! But a ‘guest friendly wedding’ can help

As the cost of hosting a wedding increases with each year, so does the cost of attending a wedding – with ‘wedding guest burnout’ rising right alongside it. 

 

You see, while you’re planning a single spectacular event, many of your guests will be invited to multiple weddings this year. That means multiple wedding gifts, outfits, plane tickets, and more – like attending multiple bachelorette / bachelor parties and bridal showers. 

 

This can be financially and emotionally overwhelming, leading to what some people call ‘wedding guest burnout.’ 

 

For couples planning a wedding, guest burnout can look like fewer RSVPs, more declines and cancellations, less enthusiasm for pre-wedding activities, and less excitement when discussing your big day. You might also see an increase in anxious questions about your dress code and childcare options. 

 

Related: The Average Cost to Be a Bridesmaid: Itemized List of Expenses

 

And although your guests might never tell you directly that they’re worn out with weddings, frequent complaints on Reddit suggest this problem is widespread. Some of the most common wedding guest complaints are about paying for their own food or drinks, sitting outside too long in the heat or humidity, a lack of clear communication, and being expected to travel long distances to attend.

 

If you’re noticing signs of guest burnout, it’s not personal! Your friends and family are working with limited budgets and time, just like you are, and there’s only so much to go around. Luckily, there’s something you can do… Planning a ‘guest friendly’ wedding means reduced burnout and happier guests. 

 

With this in mind, we’ve gathered eight tips to help you plan a guest friendly wedding. 

 

 

Your guests can be a big part of what makes your wedding so special (Photo by George Chambers / Pexels)

 

 

8 Tips to Make Your Wedding “Guest Friendly” & Reduce Guest Burnout

 

1. Keep the Wedding Dress Code Simple

 

This one might sting, so we wanted to get it over with early: don’t get too creative with your dress code. By this, we mean – don’t choose a dress code that requires the majority of your guests to buy a new outfit.

 

Yes, a ‘pirate themed’ wedding dress code sounds like a fun photo opportunity, but unless your guests are seafaring folk, they’ll probably need to purchase a few items to attend. 

 

Instead, choose a classic wedding dress code or one that leaves room for guests to follow easily. For example, “Dressy Casual” or “Spring Garden Chic – Stylish florals, light hues, and earth tones welcome.” You can also give guests the option between classic attire and themed attire, for example “You Choose: Pirate or Party Chic Attire.” 

 

 

2. Skip the Wedding Gift: Your Presence is Our Present!

 

Consider making your wedding a ‘no gifts’ celebration. Add simple wording to your invitations or wedding website, such as “No gifts please - your presence is the only gift we need!” This lets your guests know upfront that they don’t need to budget for a gift, which can cut down on the total costs – and stress – of attending your ceremony. 

 

 

3. Give Flexible RSVP Options

 

Give guests the option to RSVP to only specific parts of the wedding day, such as only the ceremony or only the afterparty. This helps your guests budget their energy, time, money, and childcare options so that they show up enthusiastic and ready to celebrate. It also makes it easier for older guests, working parents, and guests with health issues or unusual schedules to attend! 

 

Related: Creative Save the Date Wording & Designs for Your Wedding

 

 

4. Low-Stress Wedding Childcare Options

 

If many of your guests have young children, consider providing childcare before and during your event to make it easier for them to attend. 

 

You might hire a wedding babysitter (also called a special events sitter), arrange childcare through your wedding venue or a local hotel where guests are staying, or designate a child-friendly area in your venue, prepped with toys, games, coloring books, and snacks, to keep kids entertained during the celebration. 

Or plan a fully kid-friendly wedding, and keep kids at the center of the celebration with you! 

 

(Note: Don’t ask your guests to provide childcare at your wedding. Your guests are there to celebrate! Unless they request this role, the only 'work' a guest should be doing is standing by your side at the altar as an attendant or the officiant, or serenading you during afterparty karaoke.)

 

Related: Want a Child-Free Wedding? Wedding Babysitters Make it Easy

 

 

5.  Livestream Your Wedding Ceremony!

 

Give out-of-town or out-of-country guests the option to attend your wedding virtually. In the last few years, virtual weddings and live-stream weddings have become increasingly common, and they’re a low cost, low stress choice for wedding guests. 

 

Using audio-visual technology like Zoom or Google Meet, friends and relatives can attend remotely, from anywhere in the world, to watch you get married. This is a great option for friends and relatives who can’t travel to see you in person, but still want to share in the joy of the day.

 

 

6. Cover Transportation & Lodging Costs (Whenever Possible)

 

Consider covering some or all of the costs for airport shuttles, taxis or rideshares to and from the wedding venue, plane tickets, and hotel rooms for close family members or friends traveling from out of town. This can be a big expense for everyone involved, and is not always practice. Still, sharing the burden can make it more affordable for your closest loved ones. 

 

 

7. Second Celebration After a Destination Wedding 

 

Destination weddings are exciting, but they can be very difficult for guests to plan around. You’re likely to see a smaller turnout due to the high costs of travel, lodging, and daily food expenses guests are expected to pay when attending. 

If your heart’s set on a destination wedding, make the experience more guest friendly by planning a second celebration when you return. This way, you can celebrate with local friends and family who were unable to travel with you. 

 

 

8. Make Your Wedding Accessible for Everyone!

 

For a truly guest friendly wedding, plan an ‘accessible wedding’ for guests with disabilities and dietary restrictions. An accessible wedding venue will have easy access for any guests who use mobility aids like wheelchairs or canes; a ‘quiet area’ for guests who have sensory issues to use when it’s time to take a break; assistive listening devices and printed wedding programs for guests who are hard of hearing; or hiring an ASL translator for Deaf guests. To make your wedding menu more accessible, add a few vegetarian, kid-friendly, and gluten free options! 

 

Related: How to plan an accessible and disability-friendly wedding ceremony

 

 

Friends and family members pose with the groom outside the wedding venue (Photo by 150 Billi on Unsplash)

 

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More Wedding Planning Tips

 

• Does the Officiant Get a Wedding Invitation? Etiquette for the Reception & More
   
• The Ultimate Wedding Emergency Kit Checklist: 45 Essential Items
   
• What to do After Getting Engaged in 20 Simple Steps
   

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