Congratulations on your engagement! We’re willing to bet that from the moment you announced it, you’ve been inundated with offers from friends and family who are happy to lend a helping hand. Involving your guests in your wedding day can be a lovely way to ease some of the pressure on you and make your loved ones feel they’re contributing, but it can be difficult to know what to delegate and to whom. Luckily for you, we’ve got some lovely ideas for ways your guests can contribute!

Transport

If you want to arrive at your celebration in serious style, you might be looking for a special mode of transport to get you to your ceremony. Do you know someone who owns a vintage or classic car, or a luxury vehicle they’re especially fond of? Consider asking them to drive you to your ceremony! Not only is it a way to showcase their pride and joy, they will also love being a part of such a significant moment. 

Unplugged Ceremonies

Another great way of involving your guests in your wedding at Hodsock Priory is to give a friend or family member a bit of responsibility. More and more couples are choosing to turn off mobile phones and unplug devices for the duration of the ceremony. While it’s worth noting this on your invitations, why not ask a family member to politely remind guests while they’re sitting down that phones are to be put away. This takes away the stress of worrying about whether anyone has remembered too!

Poems & Readings

If you have a member of the family or a close friend who isn’t a part of the immediate wedding party but you’d still like them to have a special role in your wedding day, why not ask them to do a reading during your ceremony. Whether they’re a young or older guest, they’ll be honoured to have been asked. We’ve got a great list of heartfelt non-religious wedding readings on the blog of our sister venue, The Hall Barns – have a read for some inspiration!

Flower Girls & Page Boys

Younger guests love nothing more than having the role of flower girl or page boy, and it’s something they are guaranteed to get excited about. You could even ask them to carry some sweet handmade signs as they walk down the aisle. 

Confetti Distributor 

There’s no doubt about it, the confetti moment is one of our favourite shots here at Hodsock Priory (see our must-have photo opportunities here!) but it’s harder to capture than you’d think. Guests are often so excited and caught up in the moment that they forget to pick up any confetti and as a result, the shot is easy to miss. Delegate the role of ‘confetti distributor’ to one of your guests and ask them to hand out cones or baskets of confetti to your guests. 

Talented Guests

From cake making aficionados to musical mates and crafty cousins, make the most of your guests’ talents! Whether it’s helping you with edible favours or singing the song for the first dance, your loved ones will be more than happy to lend their assistance. Involving your guests in your wedding will make the day so much more special and meaningful for you and them.

If you’re planning your big day at our luxury historical wedding venue, we will be on hand throughout the whole experience. Get in touch to book in a viewing at Hodsock and explore everything we have to offer for an unforgettable celebration!

Images by Essie Lou Triffitt.