As a venue owner, my staff and I have the pleasure of helping to host some amazing celebrations!  But at the end of a special wedding/reception, we can’t help but recognize “event thieves” which steal time, money and sometimes joy from the families involved.  Here are some of the most common in our experience:

• Table Favors. We throw away buckets of them at the end of every event. Not because they aren’t cute and thoughtful, but because at the end of a party most people don’t remember to pick them up.  If you’d like to offer your guests something special to take home as a token of your love and appreciation, consider having someone pass favors to guests as they exit to the parking lot.

• Too Many Flowers/Vases. Table arrangements that are too tall or too large can crowd guests or block the conversational view.  At the end of the night parents and/or bridal party members, tasked with packing things into their cars, beg us to keep or “give away” the multitude of floral arrangements remaining.  Flowers are a gorgeous celebration accent, but consider condensing the total number (and reducing your florist bill).  A creative planner may suggest repurposing ceremony flowers at the reception, utilizing bridal party bouquets as table centerpieces, or sticking to centerpieces low, simple and without foliage.

• Too Many Beverages.  In a genuine effort to appease the tastes and drinking desires of each guest, an over-abundance of beverage choices are purchased and provided.  At the end of the evening, weary families are left to pack and crate home leftover water bottles, 6 different flavors of soda cans, tea and lemonade jugs, kid apple juice boxes - not to mention any leftover alcohol.  Guests don’t need a beverage buffet.  Use a beverage event calculator and keep your alcoholic and non-alcoholic choices simple.

• Too Many Guest Commemorative Activities. I remember one beautiful event where guests were asked to: sign a guest book, add a special message to a beautiful picture frame mat, record a video of their best marriage advice, and write down a suggestion for a “date night” activity on a popsicle stick. When guests weren’t doing all of these things, the DJ was asked to keep reminding them. The result was not enough participation/responses to any of their cute and creative commemorative activities.