Here it is ladies and gentlemen! The 2016 Wedding Guest survey results! 

Wondering what the majority of your guests need for a memorable experience? Hoping to make sure your wedding is an extra good time but not sure where to begin? Then this is the post for you.

Based on guest experiences at weddings for 2015 and prior, numerous people from around the nation were asked, “which 2 aspects of the modern wedding must be in place for you to have a great time?” With respondents ranging from ages 17-75, from places as far from each other as California to New York, people weighed in on what makes a great wedding for them.

And, although I always stand by the idea that you should do what makes you happy and comfortable for your event, we all know– deep down– we want our guests to be just as excited and comfortable with our BIG day.

So, with options from wedding cake to DJ to Open Bar to beautiful wedding gowns, here is what your guests want to see starting at 8th place:

8) Speeches

Those F.O.B. Toasts and MOH/Best Man speeches can be very memorable. They not only are a nice way to hear how your relationship has shaped others, but a nice way for guests to hear about it as well. According to one respondent, “speeches help you get to know the bride and groom better.” But on the same token, too many speeches or speeches that are far too long can bore your guests. So give your guests what you want, but as always: avoid too much of a good thing.

7) Decorations

Decorations don’t have to be Pinterest elaborate but they should be personal. Ideally, the decor and venue should reflect the couple, not just one half of the couple. The cutest decorations are ones that represent the life and/or interests of both individuals. For instance, one response stated, “we went to a wedding where the centerpieces were different types of toys the bride and groom played with at different ages. For instance, table 4 included a TMNT riding a My Little Pony because, presumably, that’s what the bride and groom played with at that age. It was clever, different, and a GREAT conversation starter for the table!” Decorations are also a great way to set the general mood and tone of the day. For instance, a plethora of fresh flowers, candles, and muted tones says classic romance. Mason jars, wild flowers, and burlap suggests a rustic vibe. My guess is that toy centerpiece wedding probably rocked out to some killer 80’s & 90’s songs and embraced a fun, comfortable atmosphere, but that may just be because TNMT + MLP toys = childhood #ship goals.

6) Romantic Ceremony

Speaking of setting the mood, no matter if you go with a casual, no shoes affair or a formal white gown sunset ceremony, weddings first and foremost are romantic. Remember, the ceremony is not just the main reason you are having a wedding but also the reason why your guests have traveled all the way there too. They want to witness true love in all its different forms. So keep your vows personal, choose personal music, and don’t forget to be completely in the moment during that fleeting time so your guests can be too.

5) Venue

This is definitely a more modern aspect for weddings. In the last decade, the options for not just reception venues but weddings as well has erupted. I have an upcoming wedding in a barn and went to a beach wedding last summer. There are also museums, skyscraper rooftops, golf courses, gardens, churches, restaurants, wildlife preserves, cliffs, castles, mansions, movie sets, and even Disney World has gotten in on the action! With all the variety, it is easy to pick a location that represents the two of you as a couple as well as sets the general atmosphere for your ideal event. While one response casually stated, “an awesome venue can give your guests a unique memory of your day,” another went diehard venue lover and claimed, “the venue can make or break a wedding.” Although I feel there’s MUCH more to a wedding than the venue, it is one of the most important aspects to any wedding and is often the first vendor you acquire, so make sure it works for you, your day, and your guests.

4) Food

Let’s be honest, man or woman, the best way to any of our hearts is through our stomachs. Food is a tradition at most wedding celebrations around the world and has been a key ingredient for thousands of years. No revel is complete without something to chew on. At a modern wedding, food can include pre-ceremony bites, cocktail hour, meals at the reception, cake, desserts, and sometimes even a late-night party food bar. No wonder food is on our minds! That said, get food that you and the majority of your guests would be able to enjoy. Make sure to take dietary restrictions into consideration as best as you can, and ALWAYS follow everything up with some kind of delicious decadent dessert.

3) Open bar

Now, if you don’t drink, then obviously this doesn’t apply, but for those of us who love a summer cocktail or a glass of red wine, then alcohol can play a key role in whether you can let loose at someone’s event. Open bars tell guests you want them to truly celebrate, dance, laugh, and mingle. As Mr. Grimm from California noted, “Good music+booze=dancing, singing, and revelry!” That said, full open bars can be expensive and not everyone has room in their budget. So consider other options like free signature drinks, open beer & wine bars, open bar only after dinner at the reception, or BYOB venues. If all of that is still too expensive and you’ll need to do a cash bar, let guests know ahead of time to bring cash and/or card. Then, drink and be married! Cheers!

2) DJ/Band

A DJ (and MC) can make or break a wedding. If the band or DJ doesn’t play music that matches the vibe you want, forgets events on the timeline, cuts songs too short, or fumbles over the names in the script then guests notice. It can create an awkward environment, which is the last thing anyone wants. One person surveyed explained that “Weddings are a celebration of two families coming together and celebrations should involve lots of dancing and fun with family and friends, so good musical entertainment is key, otherwise your guests will be bored.” Decide if you want an all out party or a more upscale event with less dancing, then find musical entertainment that matches your ideal.

1) Spending Time with Friends and Family

This got well over half the votes and I couldn’t be happier about that! Weddings are most importantly a time to get together with friends and family to celebrate the love of someone you care about. Even if it’s a quaint courthouse affair with 15 close friends and family, it is still a beautiful snapshot of love, culture, and tradition. It also provides both you and your guests time to catch up, meet new people, and solidify bonds. Mike from DC noted that “It is hard to get together with friends and family when you live in different locations, so weddings are a good opportunity to see everyone.” And another response simply noted, “celebrating with people who have a preexisting relationship with you makes you happy.” In fact, the idea that a guest should at least know a few people other than the couple at the wedding was a key qualifier for most respondents. So, if you have a distant cousin or a single coworker that won’t know anyone else at your event by the date of your big day, it may be a good idea to give him/her a plus one. Otherwise, do what I did and do the legwork prior at events like engagement parties, showers, bachelor(ette) parties, and meet & greets to introduce guests to one another. They’ll make new friends and you’ll ensure no one is left sitting alone at a table when the rest of your party is dancing!

So there you have it! The 2016 Guest Survey: Top 8! As you gear up for wedding planning, be sure to have a few of these 8 to ensure a fantastic time had by all.

*We’ll be discussing in a later post what didn’t make the list as well as, in general, what different age groups wished to see most.