Want It Memorable?
Great weddings and events live on for years through the stories told by guests.
"That was the most incredible wedding I've ever been to."
"I'll never forget seeing your Dad dance to Usher so hard."
"I loved seeing you cry like a baby when Caroline walked down the aisle."
"I can't believe you found that song and played it. That took me way back!"
"Remember when your wedding got so crazy the police showed up?"
"We'll be re-living that moment for years to come."
Those are just a few of the many many statements we've heard, but the list goes on and on. You and your guests will remember what transpires at your wedding or event for years. And if it was fun, they'll talk about it. They'll post pictures. They'll be inspired. They'll thank you for being part of such an amazing event. And they'll pass on stories to friends and future generations. Whether it's a wedding or corporate event, there are some fundamental focuses to making it memorable. Here they are:
START IT OFF RIGHT
Make the first element of your event memorable. Whether it's the wedding ceremony, cocktail hour, or networking and welcome time at an event…create elements that capture your guests attention. Find some favorite songs of your guests and have the DJ send a shout-out to them. Work in a "did you know" game to generate conversations and engagement. Create an impactful moment during the ceremony through things like entrances, readings, unity elements, and of course music. Those are just a few of many ideas. The key is keeping your guests in mind and finding ways to create immersive elements.
THINK OF YOUR GUESTS
If there's a central theme to making your event memorable, this is it. A wedding is a celebration of your love. A chance to tell your story. To throw your party. But if you don't find a way to weave in your guests interests and their role in your story, they'll tune out at some point. The same applies for a corporate event. You want to celebrate big victories and build a company culture, but if that culture doesn't hit the love languages of your people, they'll walk away unmotivated and under-appreciated.
So how do you do that? Thankfully, music makes it easy. Find the favorite songs of your guests & work (the good ones) into your playlists. Shares quick stories of people tied to music. Play some trivia to dismiss dinner tables with questions focused on the couple, company, and guests. Work in design elements that recognize people. Things like pictures, artwork, signage and custom cocktails. Put someone in charge of certain fun activities. Play the Mission Impossible Theme and take pictures with every table during dinner. The opportunities are endless, and essential, to help create personal guest engagement.
ENGAGE SOUND, SIGHT & SMELL
There are studies that show memories are stronger when tied to sound, sight, and smell. How many times have you heard a song, smelled something, or seen something and it takes you back to a memory? So often that's all it takes to start a story. We've already touched on the power of music to do that - hearing that song that takes you back to a place in time. Create some of those endless "take-home" items and your event will always be remembered.
In today's society, everyone's going to be grabbing videos on their phones. Create a custom hashtag or place to collect all those videos. Maybe even share them back out so your guests can do the same and create that domino effect reliving your event. If you had a professional video done, certainly share that out to your guests.
Consider adding a photo booth. There's a reason photo booths are timeless. It offers a whole new vantage point of your event. It's a place for new people to meet and old friends to reunite. It's a place to let go a little. And it offers a tangible take-home to people in the form of photo strips or digital pictures that get shared over and over again.
Whether it's pictures, videos, or even things like custom candles and koozies, get something your guests can see, hear or smell days down the road that brings them back to your event.
Be bold. Don't be afraid to try new things. Balance what's tried and true, with what's unique to you. Celebrate and tell your story, but allow room for others to discover theirs. When your story leaves space for your guests stories, that creates more stories. Stories that get told about your wedding or event and remembered for years.